One of the ways I like to challenge my kids as little scientists is to have them describe objects with as rich of detail as possible. Describing the properties of objects is also an important learning objective in science classrooms. Below I share a fun fall activity that uses a pumpkin to develop these important scientific skills.
For this activity, I printed out a copy of the Describe a Pumpkin Worksheet for each of my kids. (There is a link to download a copy of this printable at the end of the post.) I set out the worksheet along with a pumpkin and a pen, and then invited my kids to participate.
I invited my kids to explore the pumpkin. As they did, I encouraged them to provide really rich descriptions by asking open-ended questions such as “how does it feel?” and “what do you see on the top/sides/bottom of the pumpkin?” I also encouraged rich descriptions by inviting them to “tell me more” when they made an observation. For example, if my child said the pumpkin was “hard” I would say, “Tell me more. How hard is it? Which parts are hard? What is it as hard as?”
Having previously completed a learning unit on the five senses, I reminded my kids about the fact that our five senses are how we learn about the world around us. I pulled out the worksheet and invited them to provide details about the pumpkin based on what they could learn from each of their five senses.
Because my kids still have limited literacy skills, they dictated their answers to me while I recorded them on the Describe a Pumpkin Worksheet.
Below you can see XGirl’s completed worksheet. We both agreed she did not have to taste the pumpkin if she did not want to, so that section was left blank. But it would be a great idea to cut up a pumpkin and have kids taste the pulp or seeds inside if they wanted to!
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More pumpkin resources for kids
More pumpkin posts from Gift of Curiosity:
- Books about pumpkins
- Pumpkin decomposition demonstration
- Pumpkin decomposition experiment
- Pumpkin math: Measuring the circumference of a pumpkin
- Pumpkin arts and crafts
- Pumpkin do-a-dot printables
- Printable pumpkin outlines
For more pumpkin activities and fall-themed printables, see my Halloween activities for Kids page and my Fall Activities for Kids page.
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Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Fall activities for kids on Pinterest.
I’m a speech-language pathologist, and I love this activity for language development! A lot of my caseload is working on describing, and this is perfect! Thanks for posting!
Great printable. We did your 5 senses unit and my little one loved it 🙂
Aw, so glad your little one enjoyed it!
This is a wonderful way to explore a pumpkin! Thanks for linking up at “A Little Bird Told Me” Wednesday link party. You have been featured on Mama’s Happy Hive blog! 🙂