Our Pumpkin Project began with a 2 pound sugar pumpkin. We passed it around our circle for observation and discussed what we already knew about pumpkins. We used our senses to describe our pumpkin. The pumpkin was cut in half and everyone had the opportunity to estimate how many seeds they thought might be in our pumpkin. Each student took turns grabbing a handful of seeds and placing them in tens frames. When we were done, we counted exactly 450 seeds! With the help of some wonderfully, generous, volunteers, we spent one morning engaged in several math and science activities that centered around a 'group' pumpkin. Our class was divided into six different groups, and each group had a pumpkin to explore. We checked to see if our pumpkins would sink or float in water. We measured their weights, as well as their circumferences. We counted the lines around our pumpkins, and also learned about a the life cycle of a pumpkin. Before designing our October quilt, we talked about symmetry. Each student designed half of a pumpkin face. They then traded their paper with another student who then became the copy artist. It was the job of the copy artist to draw the same design as the original in a mirror image. They did an outstanding job!    |