Pumpkins may just be the fruit of fall (yes, it’s a fruit… I’m still getting used to that); but more specifically, pumpkins are tied to October. The spookiest month of the year falls (pun intended) right in the middle of autumn, right after the back-to-school themes wear out but before Thanksgiving decorations go up. So what to do in the classroom during the mid-autumn month? Pumpkin activities and lessons are the answer!

Pumpkins can provide a theme for many fun writing, science, and center activities. Check out these favorite pumpkin-themed activities from Evan-Moor’s Teachers Pay Teachers store:

Halloween Pumpkins Activity Pages for Grades PreK–Kindergarten

• This unit provides three fun worksheets, including a cut-out six-page mini-book, connect-the-dots count-to-10 activity, and a color-in pumpkin! This activity is great for younger students!
• Find this unit on Teachers Pay Teachers here.

Pumpkin Phonics and Art Project for Grades PreK–Kindergarten

• Students will pick out objects that “start like pumpkin,” complete a four-piece cut-and-glue puzzle, and learn about how a pumpkin grows from a seed in this fun and festive unit.
• For this unit and more, check out TeachersPayTeachers.

Sequencing Activity: The Pumpkin for Kindergarten–1st Grade

• This activity asks students to cut out six pictures showing the stages of pumpkin growth from seed to adult and put them in the correct order. This activity is presented in both Spanish and English!
• Follow this link to purchase this activity.

Pick of the Patch Bulletin Board for Kindergarten–6th Grade

• This fun fall bulletin board is a festive way to display student work during your pumpkin-themed month! This unit comes with teacher and student instructions, cut-out letters for the board, and a pumpkin poem! Fun for all ages, fun for the whole class!
• For this fun project and more, click here.

The Biggest Pumpkin (A Tale from Africa) for 1st–2nd Grade

• The African tale of how pumpkin seeds became the stars in the sky is featured in this two-page short story! Following the short story are activity pages that test reading comprehension with questions about the story, as well as skill practice pages that introduce silent k’s.
• For this fun project and more, click here.

Seeds to Pumpkin Writing Center for 1st–3rd Grade

• This unit provides directions for a “Seeds to Pumpkin” center activity. Students will cut out six pictures and place them in the correct sequence to show the stages of a pumpkin’s growth. This art activity also includes a writing extension.
• Find this unit on TeachersPayTeachers here.

Critical Thinking: Comparing Pumpkins for 1st–3rd Grade

• This art center is all about comparing pumpkins. The center, which includes student and teacher instructions, asks students to use their critical thinking skills to examine two pumpkins and use their checklists to list similarities and differences!
• To get access to this unit and more fun activities, click here.

Pumpkin Art Projects for 1st–4th Grade

• Find your fill of pumpkin art projects with this unit! You have your choice of five different projects: Jack-o’-Lantern Fun, The Pumpkin Patch (with ghosts), Jack-o’-Lantern Pals, Positive-Negative Pumpkins, and Pumpkin Smiles!
• Follow this link to purchase this unit.

Jack-o’-Light Science Experiment for 2nd–4th Grade

• This pumpkin-themed science experiment is super fun for the whole class (but be careful, please)! The experiment studies how fire needs oxygen to burn and how candles inside jack-o’-lanterns are affected by replacing the lid on the pumpkin. The unit also includes instructions, list of materials, and worksheets.
• Find this activity and others like it here.

Watch a Movie!

• As a special Halloween treat, show your students one of the many Halloween- or pumpkin-themed movies! I’ll list some of my favorites below…
  
  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
  • Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest
  • Spookley the Square Pumpkin
  • Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space
  • Casper’s Scare School
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas

Basic Pumpkin Art

• To keep things simple, gather up some orange, white, brown, and black construction paper and have kids cut out and design their own pumpkins! This is an easy and simple activity, and allows for a lot of freedom. You’ll just need the construction paper, glue, and scissors!

Have fun this October!! There are so many possibilities when it comes to pumpkin crafts and activities. I love Halloween month, but don’t forget that pumpkins transition nicely into pumpkin pie come November. Happy fall!
 

---

Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help