Our third theme for our 13 day countdown is pumpkins. Here are some of the fun ideas I have found (sorted by category). And while I will only have time to do two or three of these ideas, I wanted to include everything I found that was noteworthy. Many of these were found on Pinterest (i just LOVE this site!) some are on my wiki, and some I have found through google searches.
Service Project (Same concept as 12 days of Christmas...but with a Halloween twist!)
- Carve a jack-o-lantern and fill it with treats and leave them on a friend's doorstep.
- Volunteer to help kids in a community school or shelter carve pumpkins (and if necessary donate some pumpkins for the cause)
- Make some pumpkin treats to share with a friend!
Literature
Big Pumpkin- this has to be one of the greatest Halloween books of all time. The recording of this book is whimsical and fun- unfortunately it is hard to find... however there is a copy of the audio recording on Youtube!
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever- another cute pumpkin story- would be fun to read before carving a pumpkin!
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever- another cute pumpkin story- would be fun to read before carving a pumpkin!
Learning Time Fun
Mathwire has a whole section of great pumpkin math activities. I love the symmetrical pumpkin, a pumpkin farm game (similar to battleship- learning about coordinate pairs), and the pumpkin jumble game which teaches kids about pattern blocks and probability. I have a feeling this is one incredible math site!
File Folder Fun has a cute phonics pumpkin game.
Prek-8 has a pumpkin odd one out game... great for talking about similarities and differences!
A site that I have come to LOVE is Making Learning Fun. They have a great, great, great section of pumpkin stuff. Pocket chart activities, magnet pages, tracing pages, printable books, easy pumpkin recipes for kiddos, math and science activities... this site is like one stop shopping!
Our wiki also has a bunch of free printables centered around the pumpkin theme- including this idea for finding the missing number, a pumpkin puppet, creative writing pages, and expanded notation math!
More cute pumpkin printables from Kidsparkz!
First School has a whole section of pumpkin learning ideas and crafts- lots of free printables!
More cute pumpkin printables from Kidsparkz!
First School has a whole section of pumpkin learning ideas and crafts- lots of free printables!
Treats & Eats
The Creative Mama shared a healthy (yet delicious) pumpkin snack. I never thought about carving a banana to look like a jack-o-lantern's smile- cute!
Bee in our Bonnet wrote a guest post on eighteen25 about her jack-o-lantern in a jar. She describes it like an edible Halloween version of Mr Potato Head (and so much cuter). Very fun for the kids!
Don't forget to snack on pumpkin seeds! My personal favorite treat all year long!
Arts & Crafts
Billy Bear 4 Kids has a super cute pumpkin fingerprint activity.
Cute pumpkin craft from East Coast Mommy that can be made in about 5 minutes. Great lacing activity for little hands, too!
I really like this pumpkin stained glass art project from Kaboose- simple enough for my preschooler, and I like the look of the sun shining through.
Fun pumpkin mosaic from Pebbles in my Pocket. She also has posts about pumpkin cupcakes and twirly pumpkins. Very cute blog!!
Paper mache pumpkins from Enchanted Learning.
Pumpkin Carving Fun
Power tools and pumpkins? Great idea Play at Home Mom! Love it!!!
Fresh Home Ideas suggests using cookie cutters to carve pumpkins. This is a great way to get those perfect shapes.
Games
Pumpkin grid game from Mama Jenn. (If you haven't checked out her Education Cubes site, you must!)
Pumpkin Nook (by the name of their site alone I am sure they have tons of pumpkin ideas!) shared a pumpkin golf game. Just carve a pumpkin and make an extra big mouth, and with the aid of a cardboard ramp start golfing!
Pumpkin Nook (by the name of their site alone I am sure they have tons of pumpkin ideas!) shared a pumpkin golf game. Just carve a pumpkin and make an extra big mouth, and with the aid of a cardboard ramp start golfing!
Fingerplays and Songs
October Time
October time is pumpkin time,
The nicest time of the year.
When all the pumpkins light their eyes
(encircle eyes)
And grin from ear to ear.
(big grin)
Because they know at Halloween
They'll have lots of fun,
Peeking through the windowpanes
(put hands over eyes and look)
Watching children run!
Once There Was a Pumpkin
Once there was a pumpkin (Make small pumpkin with hands)
And it grew (Make bigger pumpkin)
And grew (Bigger)
And grew (Bigger)
Now it's a jack-o-lantern
And it smiles at you (Point to smile)
And you (Point to child)
And you! (Point to next child)
(I usually speed up and point to all the children). And they point at each other and me!
I Am A Pumpkin
I am a pumpkin big and round
Once upon a time I grew on the ground
Abut now I have mouth, two eyes and a nose
What are they for, do you suppose?
When I have a candle inside, shining bright
I'll be a jack-o-lantern on Halloween night!
Cut Into A Pumpkin
Cut into a pumpkin (Make motion as if cutting)
Scoop it with a spoon (Make scooping motion)
Carve a little mouth that turns endwise like a moon (Pretend to cut a moon)
Cut two eyes to twinkle
And a big three-cornered nose.
Use for teeth, 10 shiny seeds
Place them in grinning rows (Hold up ten fingers)
Light a little candle
And when the shadows fall
Set the jolly fellow in the darkest hall. (Pretend to set the pumpkin down)
Listen for the laughter as folds spy him (Put a hand behind your ear)
Grinning down at us all!
Five Little Pumpkins...
(Hold up fingers for pumpkins)
Pumpkin, Pumpkin...
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Sitting on a wall;
(have a child sit down)
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Tip and Fall;
(have child tip over)
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Rolling down the street;
(child rolls on floor)
Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Trick or Treat!!!
Pumpkin Bells
(Sung to the tune Jingle Bells)
Dashing through the streets
In our costumes bright as day!
To each house we go
Laughing all the way!
Halloween is here
Making spirits bright!
What fun it is to trick - or - treat
And sing pumpkin carols tonight!
(Chorus)
Oh, Pumpkin bells
Pumpkin bells
Ringing loud and clear!
Oh what fun Great Pumpkin brings when Halloween is hear!
Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said, “Oh, my it’s getting late.”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air”.
The third one said,”But we don’t care!”
The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run”.
The fifth one said, “I’m ready for some fun!”
Wooooo, went the wind
And out went the light
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!
There are also pumpkin songs for wee ones from Activity Mom.
Misc
Uncommon posted a pic of these darling pumpkin pillows. While I couldn't find a tutorial (and let's face it, I am no seamstress) I thought they were too cute not to post! Maybe they will inspire someone else out there in the blogosphere...
And last, but not least...
Don't forget to watch Charlie Brown's Halloween episode... The Great Pumpkin. That is a classic!
Don't forget to watch Charlie Brown's Halloween episode... The Great Pumpkin. That is a classic!
Happy Haunting!
