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Kindergarten teachers Tina Mason and Jenna King turned their classrooms into a pumpkin patch last week, with straw, corn husks and plenty of pumpkins to measure, scoop seeds from and use in a science experiment.
The event was the pinnacle of a math, science, art and reading unit that was practically all things pumpkin, from the “Five Little Pumpkins” song and “From Seed to Pumpkin” storybook to jack-o-lantern art projects and count-the-pumpkin worksheets.
“We’ve been talking about pumpkins for two weeks,” King said.
On pumpkin patch day, the children took turns at different stations. Activities included pulling seeds from pumpkins and counting them, coloring a pumpkin worksheet, measuring pumpkins and finding out if a pumpkin sinks or floats in a bucket of water.
Five-year-old Amy Pratt said she was surprised that a pumpkin floated.
“I thought it was going to sink because it was so heavy,” she said.
The children also frosted fresh doughnuts and enjoyed a visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog, who was at the school to promote a book fair.
Mason said the event helped reinforce several skills that are important in kindergarten, such as counting and observing, predicting, following directions, teamwork and taking turns.
The pumpkin patch was opened for students in a full-time kindergarten class, two half-day kindergarten classes and the school’s adaptive learning special education program.
Many students had never felt the inside of a pumpkin, and some had never visited a pumpkin patch, Mason said.
“It was a learning opportunity for them,” said Laci Vohnoutka, a parent volunteer who was working in the classroom. “Very hands-on.”
The event also was messy, and the teachers paid for most of the supplies out of their own pockets. But watching the children light up while they enjoyed the activities made it worthwhile, Mason said.
“I think we got more out of it than if we went to the pumpkin patch,” she said.
Pratt said her favorite part was pulling seeds out of a pumpkin.
“It was awesome,” she said. “It felt really gooey.”
Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433
lpemberton@theolympian.com
theolympian.com/edblog
