Pumpkin Preschool Activities: Learning from Nature

Autumn has arrived in Sweden. We enjoy all the beautiful colors in nature. We also want to show our thankfulness to nature. Nature is a source of happiness and provision. It takes and it gives. Nature has so much to offer. We as a family have had so many good memories together outside in the garden. When we spend time in nature and work with our hands in nature, we learn so much. It is a perfect homeschooling environment for preschoolers and older homeschooling children. We also come closer to God.

“The things of nature are the Lord’s silent ministers, given to us to teach us spiritual truths. They speak to us of the love of God and declare the wisdom of the great Master Artist.” -Ellen G. White

As we start spending more time inside and the days become shorter, we need find fun ideas on how to make inside life fun and cozy for our young little children. So, our children never went to a preschool classroom but, we have always had them with us, either playing on their own, or helping us with gardening, cultivation, exploring out in nature or working inside with their little hands. The kids have had so much fun outside exploring, either finding how the insects work, how the frogs jump or listening to the birds sing. There is no end to learning experiences when we go outside. Last couple of years we have cultivated different types of pumpkins. The kids have marked out a face and together, we have carved out the market parts to make faces on our pumpkins. We put a little candle inside to light it up when it became dark. The autumn is the perfect time of year to have pumpkin fun or work with creative pumpkin activities. Scroll down to find your pumpkin unit for kindergarten students. These pumpkin printables are great for children as it helps them to work with their fine motor skills and gives them fine motor strength. Invite other children with you as you work with the fun pumpkin activity! In these preschool pumpkin theme your child will learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin, pumpkin shape, learn about the inside of a pumpkin and also, how the letter p is written. In this pumpkin season, it is a great time to learn a little bit about pumpkins and dive inte pumpkin theme activities. Below you have examples of pumpkin-themed preschool activities for children.

Preschool Pumpkin Activities: Fun and educational for preschoolers

Preschool pumpkin activities are a great way to engage young children in fun and educational experiences during the fall season. Here are some creative and age-appropriate pumpkin activities for preschoolers:

1. Painting the pumpkin: Supply the children with little pumpkins and washable paint. Let them use brushes or their fingers to paint the pumpkins. This sensory play is a fun way to encourage creativity and fine motor skills.
2. Carving the pumpkin: Older preschoolers (with adult supervision) can be introduced to pumpkin carving. This is fantastic fun. Use spoons and other child-safe tools and let them scoop out the seeds. They can use their hands to scrape everything out. Help them mark where the eyes, nose and mouth should be. An adult can cut out the marked pieces. 
3. Pumpkin sensory bin: For younger preschool children, fill a large container with pumpkin seeds that are clean and dry, together with small plastic pumpkins. Children can explore the texture of the seeds and practice scooping, pouring and counting. This activity is hands-on fun!
4. Pumpkin and math: In this pumpkin game, use mini pumpkins as counters for math activities. Add, subtract or create simple patterns with the pumpkins.
5. Learning how to sort pumpkins. Provide lots of pumpkins, in variety, different shapes and sizes and colors. Have the children sort them into categories based on these attributes.
6. Pumpkin life cycle: Use the pdf below to teach the preeschooler about the pumpkin life cycle. You can alsoe use pictures or real pumpkins to show the seed, and how it grows into vines and becomes a pumpkin.
7. Storytime about pumpkins: Read pumpkin-themed books like “Too Many Pumpkins” by Linda White. Afterward, have a discussion about the story, ask “why” and “how” questions to engage the child and give them time to think and answer.
8. Sing pumpkin songs: Sing pumpkin-themed songs or say rhymes. Look for a song online or create your own to make it more interactive.
9. Pumpkin science: Cut a pumpkin in the middle into two pieces and let the children explore the insides. Discuss the different parts, which are seeds, pulp and the flesh, and discuss about their different textures. You can even roast the pumpkin seeds for a tasty snack.
10. Pumpkin art: Create crafts like pumpkin collages using orange and green paper, or make pumpkin face masks with paper plates. 
11. Pumpkin cooking: With adult assistance, involve the children in simple cooking activities like making pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin soup or candy pumpkins. This is one of the easy ways to introduce them to math and cooking skills.
12. Cultivate a pumpkin: This activity needs planning beforehand. The seed grows quickly, which makes it a perfect activity for children. It will grow quickly into a big plant. Provide the children with seeds, soil and bucket. Help the children to put the soil in the bucket and 2-3 seeds in each bucket. Water regularly.
13. Pumpkin patch visit: If possible, take a field trip to a local pumpkin patch. Let the children pick their own pumpkins and discuss the different varieties they see.
14. Pumpkin measurement: Use small pumpkins to teach measurement concepts likes size and weight. Discuss the difference between heavy and light, big and small. You can also measure the circumference with a string and compare them with each other.
15. Pumpkin puzzles: Create simple pumpkin puzzles by cutting pumpkin pictures into pieces. Have the children put the puzzles back together.

Remember to adapt these activities to the specific age and developmental level of the preschoolers, and always prioritize safety, especially when using small objects or tools. These pumpkin-themed activities can be a delightful way to incorporate learning and fun during the fall season.

The Pumpkin Life Cycle: Fun and Engaging Activity for Preschoolers

The life cycle of a pumpkin refers to the stages of growth and development that a pumpkin plant goes through from seed to maturity. Watching the pumpkin grow together with your child is amazing. The plant grows very fast and the child can own a plant himeself to care for. Learning about the different stages will help the child to identify them when they occur. Here are the typical stages in the life cycle of a pumpkin:

1. Seed Stage: The life cycle begins with a pumpkin seed, which is typically planted in the spring when the soil is warmed up. You can start indoors as well, to start earlier. We ususally start planting many different kinds of seeds  in early spring in our kitchen to watch the plants grow near us. It is fun to see how each different plant grows and to experience how the pumpkin seed grows quickly after we have planted it. A tip is to take the kids with you into the store and look for seeds that you want to grow. Engage them in preparation and planning. Once the soil temperature is around 60°F (15°C), the seeds will start to sprout. The seedling emerges from the soil and the first set of leaves appear, which are called cotyledons.
2. Seedling Stage: As the pumpkin seedling continues to grow, the true leaves will develop, which look different from the initial cotyledons. The seedling needs regular watering and protection from pests.
3. Vine and Vegetative Growth Stage: As the pupmkin plant matures, it starts to produce long, trailing vines with large, lobed leaves. The plant focuses on vegetative growth and produces more leaves and establishes a strong root system. Pumkpin plants require a lot of water Consistent watering, sunlight and nutrients are essential in order for the pumpkin to thrive.
4. Flowering Stage: At this stage, the plant begins to produce male and female flowers. Bees and other pollinators play a crucial role in transferring pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers. The female flowers have a small pumpkin-shaped bulge at the base, which becomes the fruit when successfully pollinated.
5. Fruit Development Stage: After successful pollination, the female flower’s ovary starts to develop into a pumkpin. The pumkpin grows rapidly and changes in shape, color and size over time. Consistent watering is essential for healthy fruit development during this stage.
6. Ripening Stage: As the pumkpin matures, it changes in color, flavor and texture. The green skin gradually turns orange (or other designated color, depending on the variety). As the pumkpin ripens, the pumkpin’s flesh becomes sweeter and more flavorful.
7. Harvesting Stage: The pumpkin is ready to be harvested when the pumkpin reaches its full size, ripeness and color. Cut the pumkpin carefully from the vine, leaving a few inches of stem attached to the fruit. Handle the pumpkin gently to avoid damage during the harvest.
8. Storage and Consmption: Pumpkins can be stored in a cool dry place for an extended period, depending on the variety. You can use the pumpkins for cooking, carving or decorative purposes. 

The life cycle of a pumpkin varies slightly depending on the specific pumpkin variety, climate, and growing conditions. These stages provide a general overview of how the pumpkins grows from seed to maturity.