I know we’re at the end of October, which in many households means the end of all things pumpkin, but over here we’re still going strong till Thanksgiving! So for those of you (like us) who are not ready for fall to end, or for future reference, I thought I’d share the Pumpkin Week homeschool unit we did this year.
This post contains some affiliate links. This means I receive a small compensation if you purchase an item using that link at no extra charge to you. I’m just sharing what I love because I love y’all!
If you know me, you know I love all things pumpkin, and I am so very proud to say that I’ve passed that love on to my two older children (Ellie is TBD). So naturally I *had* to dedicate an entire week this year towards learning about all things pumpkin. I am so glad I did, because it’s been such a sweet time with the kids. They’ve learned a ton, and it’s been such a joy to share something I love with them. Just saying, but if you have the heart and the ability to do so, homeschooling is seriously SO rewarding!
I decided to break this post into these sections:
Pumpkin Week Homeschool Unit
Resources
- Pumpkin Mini Study by Stephanie Hathaway (my fave!)
- Charlotte Mason Inspired Pumpkin Unit Study by Treehouse Schoolhouse
- Pumpkin Nature Study by Raising Up Wild Things
Book List
I was able to find many of these books either at my library, on Hoopla or even as read alouds on Youtube! If you can’t afford to buy them, then those are great options to look into. Click here for links to each book, and to browse a few more titles that weren’t listed below. Epic! is also a great resource for reading, but it does require a subscription.
- Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie by Jill Esbaum
- From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer
- The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons
- Little Boo by Stephen Wunderli
- Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Shultz
- Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson
- The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs
Activity Ideas
This is the part where you can really have fun! I love coming up with fun, hands on activities to do with the kids. When they are able to explore and (literally) dig in with their own hands, it makes a world of difference in retaining what they’ve learned.
- Watercolor
I drew some different shaped pumpkins on some watercolor paper with a sharpie, and let James paint them in. We used the pictures in Julia Rothman’s Farm Anatomy book for reference (I highly recommend – her books are so cool!). - Go on a Pumpkin Hunt!
If you visit a patch with lots of variety or go somewhere like the Dallas Arboretum, go on a pumpkin hunt! I created this simple template where they kids searched for pumpkins that were the same shape, then colored them in and either checked them off (June) or wrote the name (James) in the empty box. They had a blast, and they enjoyed searching for the *perfect* pumpkins for their scavenger hunt.
- Pumpkin Life Cycle
We watched a couple videos about pumpkin life cycle on Youtube, then did the life cycle cut and paste activity from Stephanie Hathaway’s mini study. The poster from her study was on our board all week, so we would continue to reference it daily. - Memory Game
This also came from Stephanie Hathaway’s mini study, and it can be used in so many ways! For older kids, it’s a great way to learn the different types of pumpkins. For my kiddos, we used it to discuss whether or not the pumpkins matched (“even though they’re both orange, are they both the same size?” etc). - Parts of a Pumpkin
We read a book on Epic! about pumpkins, then used the felt “puzzle” from (once again) Stephanie Hathaway’s mini study for a hands on activity.
- Parts of a Pumpkin Part 2
The next day, we cut open a small pumpkin, a gourd and a butternut squash to see what they looked like inside. We identified all the different parts, and compared/contrasted the three different squashes. It was so much fun, and both kids (ages 3 and 5) had fun dissecting them. James recorded his observations by drawing and coloring the three squashes, verbally telling me the similarities and differences, and copying each name on his paper.
- Carve a pumpkin!
We ended the week by carving a pumpkin with Daddy. It was great for sensory play (all three kids loved squishing the pulp), and a fun way to involve Isaac in the learning.
- Bake with a *real* pumpkin
We didn’t do it this year, but you can buy a sugar variety and make your own puree to use in recipes (this blog post was very informative).
- Roast the Seeds
After carving, we removed as many seeds as we could, washed them off and let them dry overnight. Then we seasoned and roasting them for a tasty treat! You can use a recipe like this one.
Field Trip Ideas
- Go to a pumpkin patch!
Many patches have things like hayrides, corn mazes, petting zoos, and so on. If you can find a patch that has an actual pumpkin field, even better! You can see the life cycle of pumpkins in real life, and teach your children that food doesn’t magically appear in grocery stores.
My favorite ones in the DFW area: Goober Farms (they have a *real* pumpkin field), the Dallas Arboretum, Hall’s Pumpkin Farm (busy, but they have fun activities for the family), Mainstay Farm Park (never been, but I’ve heard GREAT things)
- Visit a local Farmer’s Market
We love checking out some locally grown produce at farmers markets. Look for all the different varieties of pumpkins and squash, and try some new foods or goods!
Some to visit in the DFW area: Dallas Farmers Market (their “patch” is up all week, and the booths are open on the weekend in the Shed), Coppell Farmers Market, McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square
Good luck with your future Pumpkin Week Homeschool Unit! I hope you have as much fun as we did with our favorite fall squash. :)
SHARE THIS POST