This three-day mini assignment between units is a great low steak but high reward lesson that gets the students not only working directly with unique materials, but as an educator, helps gauge a variety of students work habits and process within the studio. Inspired by a particular interest or hobby, students are able to share more about themselves and make connections that help to build a classroom community. Even through something as simple as pumpkin carving, the students are asked to look deeper into the theme of layers, and what it means to change appearance from what we carve away. Through a series of ideations and reflections, the students ultimately produced pumpkin carvings with unique perspectives from personal interests that reflected the artist who made them.