Final Unit Project Connie Richwine November 2009 Kindergarten Level Pumpkin Unit

Describe - Show class the Reynolds Farm website to show students what they will see on their field trip to the pumpkin farm. Read the book, Pumpkin, Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington. Explain - Present steps for the “life cycle” of the pumpkin through a power point. The steps are presented in the book, Pumpkin, Pumpkin. Use for facts about pumpkin and for a carve a pumpkin activity.

Science - Put together life cycle pumpkin project. Color booklet pages and assemble into mini booklet. Access booklet pages at for sequencing booklet. Paint paper plates orange. They are cut on top for an opening, and stapled together with plate bottoms out. Draw a “jack-o-lantern face on both sides. There are 6 pieces that will be attached to a green piece of yarn, 30 inches long –Paint 2 paper plates orange on the bottoms of the plates. Staple the plates together to make a pumpkin with a pocket in the middle, (see sample). You will place the life cycle booklet inside. Cut a green piece of yarn 30 in. long. Attach the following parts for the life cycle by tying each piece about 2 in. apart. –Cut brown construction paper 3 in. x 3 in. That represents the soil. Glue a pumpkin seed on the middle of the brown square. – –Cut a piece of green crepe paper about 5 in. long and tie to the yarn spacing it about 4 in. from seed card. This is the sprout. –Have students cut out the next 4 steps. The pumpkin plant is drawn green construction paper for cutting out. Punch a hole and put reinforcer around the hole. Tie 4 in. from the sprout.

–Cut out a light orange pumpkin flower, punch hole, and tie onto “vine ( green yarn ) 4 in. from plant step. –Cut out a small green pumpkin, punch hole, reinforce, add to vine. –Cut out larger orange pumpkin, punch hole, reinforce, and add to the “vine”. –Staple or punch a hole in corner of the top side of the plates and attach the vine to the plate with the seed card nearest to the plate.

Religion lesson – Use the pumpkin shaped prayer card. Make copies on orange paper. Have students cut out the pumpkin shape. Give them each a piece of black construction paper, 4 1/2 in. x 6 in. Glue the pumpkin prayer to the construction paper. Read the prayer together and talk about what it means. Then carve a real pumpkin while reading the Pumpkin Prayer that begins with, “Dear Jesus”. Math Lesson – 1. Estimation lesson: a. Have children guess the weight of a large pumpkin and a small pumpkin b. Guess how many seeds are in the pumpkin. Have students help scoop out the seeds in the pumpkin. Then count the seeds. 2. Measurement: Ask the school nurse to bring the scale to the class room to weigh the pumpkins. See who came closest to the correct weight. Measure the height of the two pumpkins and compare the difference.

Persuade – Culminating activity: language arts/art, “Build a pumpkin”. Use website and click on the pumpkin icon. Music – Use “5 Little Pumpkins” poem, and music found in the websites included throughout this report. Assess- Social Studies Go on field trip to Reynolds Farm. Discuss parts of a pumpkin and do worksheet about “What a Pumpkin Needs”. Extending activities – Bake pumpkin seeds for snack: Clean seeds in cool water and dry. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil on a jelly roll pan. Place dry seeds in a single layer on sheet. Sprinkle salt to taste. Place in 200 degrees. Bake about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the seeds so they don’t overcook.; make pie, cookies, pudding, etc.

Other helpful websites: Pumpkinnook.com Enchantedlearning.com

Growing Pumpkins Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

Step #1 Plant a pumpkin seed

Step #2 The pumpkin seed sprouts

Step #3 The pumpkin plant grows

Step #4 A pumpkin flower grows.

Step #5 A green pumpkin forms.

Step #6 The pumpkin gets bigger and becomes orange.

What Can You Do With Your Pumpkin? Carve it. Make pumpkin pie. Count the seeds. Bake the seeds for a snack. Guess its weight