Kindergarten Pumpkin Lesson Plan

by ChristaCarol Jones
Objective:
Through learning about the signs of fall, the student will be able to correctly: sort objects
based on different factors (size, color, shape), count objects up to 20, explain the order of
a pumpkin’s growth, know the physical external and internal characteristics of a
pumpkin, and remember specific vocabulary words: pumpkin, vine, stem, tendril, leaves,
skin, meat, and seed.

TEKS 111.12. Mathematics, Kindergarten. (K.1) Number, operation, and quantitative

reasoning. The student uses numbers to name quantities. The student is expected to:
(A) use one-to-one correspondence and language such as more than, same
number as, or two less than to describe relative sizes of sets of concrete objects;
(B) use sets of concrete objects to represent quantities given in verbal or written
form (through 20); and
(C) use numbers to describe how many objects are in a set (through 20) using
verbal and symbolic descriptions.
(K.10) Measurement. The student directly compares the attributes of length, area,
weight/mass, capacity, and/or relative temperature. The student uses comparative
language to solve problems and answer questions. The student is expected to:
(D) compare two objects according to weight/mass (heavier than, lighter than or
equal to).
112.11. Science, Kindergarten (10) Organisms and environments. The student knows
that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them
survive within their environments. The student is expected to:
(A) sort plants and animals into groups based on physical characteristics such as
color, size, body covering, or leaf shape;
(B) identify parts of plants such as roots, stem, and leaves
110.11. English Language Arts and Reading (5) Reading/Vocabulary Development.
Students understand new vocabulary and use it correctly when reading and writing.
Students are expected to:
(A) identify and use words that name actions, directions, positions, sequences,
and locations;
(C) identify and sort pictures of objects into conceptual categories (e.g., colors,
shapes, textures); and
(D) use a picture dictionary to find words.

Materials:
• From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer
• It’s Fall by Linda Glaser
• Laminated “Anatomy of a Pumpkin” poster
• Wipe off markers
• Plastic bags of different corn kernels (red, yellow, orange and white Indian corn)
• Plastic bags of pumpkin seeds
• Different sized pumpkins
• Several different colors and types of leaves (faux or cutouts)
• Small scale
• Poster Chart with question: Which Weighs More: 20 Pumpkin Seeds or 20 Corn
Kernels? Have student name’s written down the left side. Use pictures to illustrate.
• Paper and pumpkin seeds for Pumpkin Sequence book
• Vocabulary Cards (pumpkin, vine, stem, tendril, leaves, skin, meat, and seed)
• Picture Cards to match Vocabulary Cards
• 20 pumpkin cutouts numbered
• Pumpkin Counting file folder game
• Pumpkin dot to dot activity sheet (optional)
• Orange, green and brown construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers or crayons
• “That’s How a Pumpkin Grows” CD song (optional)

Procedure:
1. Review with students what they already know about fall.
a. Introduce the lesson by reading It’s Fall and when finished, discuss the
signs of fall and some signs they might be discovering already.
b. Call on students as a group to explain how they think a pumpkin grows.
c. Demonstrate with the “Anatomy of a Pumpkin” poster each important part
of a pumpkin and focus on the vocabulary words.
2. Introduce how a pumpkin grows.
a. Read From Seed to Pumpkin. Ask story comprehension questions and
sequence questions.
b. Teach the This is How Your Pumpkin Grows song for retention (see
attached lyrics). What are some ways we use pumpkins? Discuss open
ended questions about pumpkins with students. Through discussion, lead
students to understand the order a pumpkin grows, from seed to plant to
flower to pumpkin.
c. Distribute the 20 pumpkin cutouts to the class. Remaining students get to
be the “Farmers”. Teach the Twenty Little Pumpkins for counting
retention. (see attached lyrics).
3. Learn Through Center Time (Guided Practice):
a. Split the students up into centers. (This is a good time to play “That’s How
a Pumpkin Grows” in the background).
b. Math Center: Have the seeds, kernels, leaves and pumpkins in the math
center with the scale. Which is heavier, 20 pumpkin seeds, or 20 kernels?
Each child will place an X next to their name, under their answer on the
Poster Chart hanging in the math center. Be sure to have plenty of paper
and graphing paper and encourage students to write or draw their results
for the other items, like leaves and pumpkins, and offer them ideas to sort
objects based on color, size, shape, or amount (If you have five pumpkin
seeds here, and five over here, how many do you have?) etc. Have the
Pumpkin Counting File Folder Game available for students to play.
 c. Reading Center: Have plenty of books about fall and pumpkins available
to look at and read. Have the vocabulary cards and picture cards on a
magnetic board (or other type of board) for the children to take turns
matching.
d. Writing Center: Set out the materials for the children to make their own
pumpkin sequence book (paper folded book style and a pumpkin seed for
each student). Have an example available. Each page should have text at
the bottom with a vocabulary word (e.g. “This seed grows into a
pumpkin.”; “Vines have tendrils on them.”; “The stem is at the top.”; “The
skin is orange.”, etc.) Encourage children to illustrate each page,
beginning with the first page pasting their pumpkin seed. Have the
“Anatomy of a Pumpkin Poster” available if student’s want to take turns
tracing the vocabulary words with a wipe off marker.
e. Art Center: Set out orange, brown and green construction paper with
scissors, glue and markers, and have students make their own pumpkins.
f. Computer Center: Have choices of Star Fall’s pumpkin patch game, or
carving your own pumpkin link (provided at the bottom).
Assessment:
1. Assess through observation during center time. Students will be able to play
the Pumpkin File Folder game by putting each pumpkin in correct numerical
order from 1 to 20. Students will correctly match vocabulary words to the
picture they belong with. Students will properly identify the sequence a
pumpkin grows with their sequence book. Students will use most or all parts
of a pumpkin when creating their own in the art center.
a. Sing Twenty Little Pumpkins again at the end of class and review the
“Anatomy of the Pumpkin” poster with class. Optional: Provide the
pumpkin dot to dot sheet in their take home folder.

This is How Your Pumpkin Grows

(to the tune of “Hi, Ho, Dairy-O”)

Pumpkins come from seeds, (be a seed, crouch with your arms curled over your head)
Pumpkins come from seeds,
this is how a pumpkin grows, (sway from side to side, still a seed)
pumpkins come from seeds.

They grow lots of vines, (your arms become vines and grow)
they grow lots of vines,
this is how a pumpkin grows, (sway your arms, get taller)
they grow lots of vines.

The vines have twirly tendrils, (wave your arms, jiggle your legs)
the vines have twirly tendrils,
this is how a pumpkin grows, (twirl around, get taller)
the vines have twirly tendrils.

A stem and leaves up top, (raise one arm for the stem,
A stem and leaves up top, (and bend the other one like a leaf)
this is how the pumpkin grows, (jump up and down)
A stem and leaves up top.

On the outside is the skin, (hug yourself and twist at the waist)
on the inside is the meat, (Arms out for a “hug”, sway side to side)
and now your pumpkin is all grown, (big arm wave)
and so we get to eat! Yum! (rub your tummy)

Twenty Little Pumpkins

(Child holds up their numbered pumpkin when it is sung. Farmers circle the group of
pumpkins “watering” and “tending” to them).

One little, two little, three little pumpkins;

Four little, five little, six little pumpkins;
Seven little, eight little, nine little pumpkins;
Ten pumpkins in a row.

Eleven little, twelve little, thirteen pumpkins;

Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen pumpkins;
Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen pumpkins;
Twenty little pumpkins grow.

Work and Ideas Cited

• Pumpkin Dot to Dot

http://www.kidsparkz.citymax.com/f/Pumpkin_dot_to_dot.pdf
• Carve pumpkin computer time:
http://www.cubpack81.com/images/carve_pumpkin.swf
• Facts and anatomy of a pumpkin
http://www.pumpkinnook.com/facts/anatomy.htm