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Animals at Brookfield Zoo Enjoy Pumpkin Treat

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After years of trying to find the perfect recipe, I stumbled upon it with my kids in the classroom! Put a little butter in a skillet, throw the pumpkin seeds in with as much salt as you like, and slow-cook over low/medium heat until they are crispy and toasted! Easy and delicious, and the kids can help!

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After visiting the pumpkin farm (one of my favorite field trips!) and bringing back loads of pumpkins, I like to harness my students' excitement about them by planning lots of fun, engaging pumpkin science activities.

Prior to visiting the pumpkin farm, we learned about the life cycle of a pumpkin with activities, games, & interactive resources and even planted some pumpkins of our own. You can read about it in this blog post.

Now it's time to explore and experiment with the pumpkins!

The Parts of a Pumpkin

First we learn the parts of a pumpkin. I use a real pumpkin and start by showing and explaining the outside parts of the pumpkin and their functions (stem, skin, ribs). I like to keep the explanations simple so my young students can understand.

Stem: The stem is what attaches a pumpkin to the vine. It brings water and nutrients to the pumpkin. The stem is green while the pumpkin is still growing. Once the pumpkin is ripe, the stem turns brown or brownish green.

Skin: The shiny, orange outer layer of a pumpkin that protects the insides from insects and disease.

Ribs: Indented ridges running from the top to the bottom. They vary in size - sometimes they are shallow, sometimes they are deep.

Then I cut the pumpkin half from the top down and we learn about the inside parts (pulp, seeds, strands).

Pulp: The part of the pumpkin with which you cook.

Seeds: The seeds have what is needed to grow new pumpkins (if they are planted). They can also be eaten as a snack.

Strands: The stringy, slimy part of the pumpkin that holds the seeds.

I follow up this activity with several fun labeling activities that allow me to see if my students comprehended and understood the parts of the pumpkin (plus they LOVE to label things!).

Easy Technology Integration with Pic Collage and Seesaw Apps

Since getting iPads I love to integrate technology and show students the different ways it can be used. In this activity we are using it to record and label our observations.

I take a photo of the pumpkin halves and students use Seesaw or Pic Collage to label the parts of the pumpkin. I made a worksheet with a word bank for students who need help with the words. They simply set it as the background in Pic Collage and then upload the photo of the pumpkin and label it using the word bank as a reference.

Parts of a Pumpkin Science Center

This hands-on science center activity allows students to closely explore and investigate the different parts of a pumpkin and then label them.

I cut the pumpkin into the individual parts and place the parts in a sorting tray at the science center along with magnifying glasses and label cards.

Students use the magnifying glasses to closely examine the parts of the pumpkin and then use the label cards to label them.

The Seesaw app makes it super simple for me to hold students accountable for their center work. Students simply take a photo of the completed center and upload it to their Seesaw journals and I can review them later. They can even use the Record tool to explain what they learned about each pumpkin part.

Parts of a Pumpkin Labeling Pages

Since my students love to label I created these 2 fun parts of a pumpkin labeling pages for them.

Parts of a Pumpkin Craft

I've been doing this pumpkin craft for nearly 20 years - the students love doing it and it's a fun way to review and reinforce the parts of a pumpkin.

First, students paint the back of a paper plate orange. They paint the inner section of the plate a lighter orange or yellow/orange color to resemble the inside of the pumpkin. The outer part of the plate with the ridges represents the outside of the pumpkin (the skin and ribs).

While the paint is drying, students cut out a stem and cut apart parts of a pumpkin labels.

Once the paper plate is dry, students glue the stem at the top and some seeds and pieces of yarn in the center area to represent the strands and seeds.

Lastly, students glue the labels in the appropriate places on their pumpkin.

Pumpkin Sink or Float Experiments

I love doing sink or float experiments with pumpkins because my young students are often surprised at the results! Instead of just using one pumpkin, we test 3 different pumpkins:

a large pumpkin
a small pumpkin
a pumpkin with the insides removed

Prior to beginning the experiment, I let the students observe and hold each pumpkin and then draw their predictions for each pumpkin on one half of a recording page. Having them draw the pumpkin either floating on top of the water or sinking to the bottom below the water helps them understand the difference between what it means to sink or float.

We then test each of the pumpkins. Students are often very surprised that the large pumpkin floats too!

As we test each pumpkin, students draw the results on the right side of their pages.

Afterwards we discuss the results and I explain that pumpkins float even though they are large because they are not very dense. They are mostly hollow inside and there is enough air trapped in the center of a pumpkin to make it less dense than water and float.

Pumpkin Investigations

This is a fun activity that allows students to make hypotheses about various attributes of a pumpkin and then test to see if they are correct.

I like to give them "official" Pumpkin Investigation pages on which to record their predictions and results. It makes them feel like little scientists! They have pictures to help guide them along. They record their predictions on the left hand side and the actual results of the investigation on the right hand side.

There are a number of different pumpkin attributes that students can investigate.

Pumpkin Girth

Explain to students that a pumpkin's girth is the measurement around the middle of the pumpkin.

Use a measuring tape to measure around the middle of the pumpkin.

Pumpkin Ribs

Count the number of ribs (indented ridges running from the top to the bottom) on the pumpkin.

Sink or Float

Place the pumpkin in a tub of water that is deep enough for it to float without touching the bottom.

Pumpkin Weight (With and Without Seeds)

Weigh the pumpkin and then cut it open, clean out the seeds and strands, and weigh it again to see the difference.

Count the Pumpkin's Seeds

Cut open the pumpkin, separate the seeds from the strands, and count the seeds. To make it easier for my younger students, I have them put the seeds in groups of 10 and then, if necessary, make groups of 100.

Pumpkin Tower STEM Challenge

The challenge is for students to build the tallest freestanding structure using candy pumpkins and toothpicks within the given time period.

Candy pumpkins (I've found that the softer Jelly Pumpkins are a little easier for very young students to use, the Mellowcreme Pumpkins can be hard for them to insert the toothpick)

Students can complete this challenge in pairs, teams, or individually.

The object of the challenge is for each team or student to build the tallest freestanding structure on the surface of a table within the allotted time period of 5 minutes (time can be adjusted).

Rules of the Challenge:

The structure must be constructed using only the candy pumpkins and toothpicks.

The structure must stand unsupported long enough to get an accurate measurement.

Structures will be measured from the table top to the highest point of the tower.

Give each team or student a pile of candy pumpkins and approximately 50-75 toothpicks.

On your signal students can begin constructing their pumpkin towers.

When time is up, students must step away from their towers. Measure each tower from the table top to the highest point. The winner is the structure that stands the highest vertical point above the table.

Afterwards I like to have students reflect on what was easy, what was a challenge, and what they learned.

For very young students who can't write all their thoughts, I have them upload a picture of their pumpkin STEM towers to their Seesaw journals and use the Record tool to tell me what they learned.

What Dissolves Candy Pumpkins?

Please note that the liquids used for testing can be modified (warm or hot water works best so I advise that be used). These were the ones we had on hand and the students wanted to test: water, oil, pop (soda), vinegar, corn syrup.

Fill each jar or class with the same amount of each liquid. We used 1/2 cup which was more than enough. Label each.

Have students predict which liquid they think will dissolve the candy pumpkins the quickest. I have them write it on a recording page.

Drop a candy pumpkin in each glass at the same time.

Observe the jars/glasses. You should observe that the candy pumpkin begins to dissolve in the warm water fairly quickly followed by the vinegar. It was bubbling in the pop (soda) but not dissolving quite as quickly as it was in the water and vinegar. It didn't seem to do much at all in the oil or corn syrup.

You can either wait to see which liquid completely dissolves the candy pumpkin first or take out the pieces after a while to more closely observe the results (this is what I did to make it easier for students to observe and record the results).

I have students draw the results of the experiment and record which solution worked best. Since getting iPads, we have completed the recording page in Pic Collage which allows students to upload actual photos of the experiment.

Pumpkin Density Experiment

This is a very cool experiment that helps students learn about the density of different parts of a pumpkin by creating and using a density jar.

To make the density jar, first add food coloring to the corn syrup (any color can be used). This helps to differentiate it from the water.

You will need equal amounts of corn syrup, water, and oil to fill your jar (1/3 full of corn syrup, 1/3 full of water, 1/3 full of oil).

Put the colored corn syrup in the jar first. Then slowly add the water by pouring it down the side of the jar so it slowly dribbles into the jar and settles on top of the corn syrup. If you dump the water in or add it too quickly they will mix together and the experiment will not work. Do the same with the oil. It should look like 3 layers of liquids.

Use a spoon to push each part of the pumpkin to the bottom of the density jar.

Watch the pumpkin parts rise according to their density.

In our experiment, the piece of pumpkin pulp was the most dense and stayed down at the corn syrup level. The pumpkin strands went up to the water level. A few pumpkin seeds went up in the oil and others kind of floated between the water and the oil. The stem was the least dense and floated to the top of the oil.

I like to have students predict which pumpkin part they think will be the most dense, draw the results, and write what they learned or observed. Since getting iPads, we complete it in Pic Collage which enabled us to use an actual photo of the density jar.

Pumpkin Boats STEM Challenge

Since students loved creating apple boats I decided to do a similar activity with small pumpkins. I wanted to see if they could remember and transfer what they learned from the apple STEM challenge to this one and also see how the pumpkin boats differed from the apple boats.

To prepare this activity, I made a variety of pumpkin boats from which students could choose. I cut some pumpkins in half across the center and some in half from top to bottom. I scooped out the insides of some of the pumpkin halves and left some with the seeds and insides intact.

Students first decided what type of boat and what type of sail they wanted to make. I had them design it first on paper.

After drawing and designing their sails and deciding what type of pumpkin to use for their boat's bottom, students began to build their pumpkin boats.

Students cut out and designed their sails from construction paper and drew their design and name on them.

Students used a toothpick to attach their sail to the pumpkin bottom of their choice to create their pumpkin boat.

Next they got to set sail and test their boats in tubs of water!

Afterwards I like to have students draw their boats in the water and write whether they floated and what they learned from completing the challenge.

Pumpkin Catapults

In this activity students design and build pumpkin catapults and then test them with various objects. Since we had a lot of small pumpkins from the pumpkin farm, I added an additional challenge by having the students put their pumpkin catapults on a pumpkin! If you do not have pumpkins available, you can have students launch their catapults on the floor or on a table.

Prior to beginning this activity, I explain to students that a catapult is a simple machine that is used to launch an object. Since I teach young students, I show them the basics of making a catapult by first stacking 5 popsicle sticks on top of each other and securing them together with rubber bands on each end.

Then, I stack 2 popsicle sticks on top of each other and place a plastic spoon on top of them and secure them together at the bottom with a rubber band.

Next, I lift up the spoon to form a "V" and place the bundle of 5 popsicle sticks in between the spoon and the 2 sticks to create the catapult.

I then tell students that they can choose how many popsicle sticks to use in each stack and where to place the bundled group (towards the bottom (handle) of the spoon or up near the launch location).

Lastly, I show students how to attach the catapult to the pumpkin using several rubber bands. I explain that they can decide where on the pumpkin to place their catapults.

Then the students designe and build their pumpkin catapults. When I did this with my younger pre-k students, they needed help securing the rubber bands so if you teach young ones it may be best to do this activity on a day when you have some parent volunteers.

The objects that students launch in their catapults can vary. Since we did this in the fall, we used candy pumpkins and acorns. You could also use fall colored pom-poms, candy corn, cotton balls.

We launched our catapults in an open area of the room and measured the distance the objects flew with measuring tape. You could also set up paper targets, plastic cups in a pyramid, buckets or tubs to check the accuracy of the catapults.

I allowed students to make any changes to their catapults (change the number of popsicle sticks, move the base, change the object launched) in between launches so they could test different theories.

After students were finished launching their catapults, we discussed the results.

What objects flew the farthest?

How did the number of popsicle sticks used affect the results?

How did the placement of the catapult on the pumpkin affect the results?

Does the object land nearer or farther when you push down on the spoon a little compared to when you push down a lot?

How did changing the position of the launching stick affect the results?

We also discussed how catapults work.

Catapults work because of energy being converted from one type to another and transferred from one object to another. When you push down on the spoon to prepare for launch, you add energy to it. This energy is stored in the spoon as elastic stored energy. When you let go of the spoon, this stored energy is released and converted to energy of motion which is transferred to the launch object making it fly through the air.

I had students complete a challenge page where they first designed their catapult, recorded the distances for each object, and wrote what they learned.

If you would like to get more detailed step-by-step instructions, the science recording pages, additional technology integration ideas, and parts of a pumpkin word wall cards (real photographs) CLICK HERE to download my Pumpkin Science & STEM resource.

If you would like both the pumpkin science activities and the pumpkin life cycle activities, printables, and PowerPoint you can get them for 20% off here - Pumpkin Science Mega Bundle.

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Pumpkin Science Experiments & STEM Challenges - Lessons for Little Ones by Tina O'Block

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After visiting the pumpkin farm (one of my favorite field trips!) and bringing back loads of pumpkins, I like to harness my students' excitement about them by planning lots of fun, engaging pumpkin science activities. Prior to visiting the pumpkin farm, we learned about the life cycle of a pumpkin with activities, games, & interactive resources and even planted some pumpkins of our own.

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I have done this with golf tees, but never with tacks -- I'm not sure how well tacks will stay in the pumpkin, but you can try! I love using golf tees with small hammers and letting the kids pound them in. I add yarn, rubber bands, paint, and other collage materials when I do this in the classroom. You can keep it as clean as you like at home, or move the activity out to the yard and bring on the mess! :)

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Making a geoboard pumpkin is an amazing way to explore pumpkin math concepts with the kids. It expands the traditional geoboard concept into a three-dimensional math experiences kids love getting their hands on!

What a Fun Idea for Pumpkin Math this Fall!

This simple, but super fun, pumpkin math activity was originally inspired by our homemade geoboard and hammering golf tees. We've made geoboard pumpkins many times, both at home and at school, and the kids always enjoy it.

Materials We Used

How the Kids Explored the Geoboard Pumpkin

I began by setting the materials out on one of my classroom tables. Then I sat down with the kiddos and added pushpins to one of the pumpkins. It's fun to just play with the kids, listening to their conversations and laughing with them! I didn't do much beyond adding some pushpins to one of the pumpkins before the kiddos were off and running with their pumpkin math fun!

At first, the children added more pushpins, then began using the rubber bands to make patterns and shapes.

From there, they discovered the wooden mallets and golf tees! Most of the kiddos LOVED using the mallets to hammer the tees into the pumpkins. Some tried to make designs with the golf tees, while others just enjoyed the process of hammering them into the pumpkins!

As always, I really enjoyed watching the children and listening to their comments. A few kids spent only ten minutes with the geoboard pumpkins, while other spent over an hour! Since this activity was such a success, I had it up in the classroom for multiple days without the students tiring of it!

Some of the skills involved in all this geoboard pumpkin math fun

Fine motor skills = pushing the pins into the pumpkins and maneuvering the rubber bands

Gross motor skills = hammering the golf tees into the pumpkins

Creative expression = using the rubber bands and golf tees to create original designs

Math = geometric shapes and 3D exploration of the shapes, along with patterning

Science = observing how the pumpkins changed with the insertion/removal of the pins and golf tees

Literacy = so much language and conversation

Have you ever made a pumpkin geoboard with the kids? Be sure to check out Still Playing School's jack-o-lantern geoboard for even more pumpkin math!

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How to Make a Geoboard Pumpkin for Super Fun Pumpkin Math

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here. Making a geoboard pumpkin is an amazing way to explore pumpkin math concepts with the kids. It expands the traditional geoboard concept into a three-dimensional math experiences kids love getting their hands on! This simple, but super fun, pumpkin math activity was originally inspired by our homemade geoboard and hammering golf tees.

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Bring pumpkins into your homeschool preschool lessons with these pumpkin theme activities! Kids will love these hands-on pumpkin STEM activities for kids.

We've been busy getting ready for fall at my house. We've dug the scarecrows out of the basement, planted some new fall mums, and decorated the front porch with pumpkins.

Speaking of pumpkins, now is the perfect time of year to integrate pumpkins into your fall preschool themes.

What is STEM?

Before we dive in to these activities, I wanted to take a moment to talk about stem activities for kids. To begin, STEM combines four academic areas which include science, technology, engineering, and math.

Working on STEM activities with your preschoolers helps to create critical thinkers. Those activities increase science literacy and math skills.

Each one of the pumpkin STEM activities below, is designed to launch your preschoolers on the path to becoming lifelong learners!

Pumpkin STEM Activities

This is a great way to pair a fun STEM challenge with a treasured Spookley pumpkin STEM activity pumpkin picture book. Little Bins for Little Hands

With this 3-D Spookley the Pumpkin math activity kids will explore 2D and 3D shapes as they attempt to build square pumpkins out of straws. Buggy and Buddy

Complete this experiment with your preschoolers to find the answer to this question. Do pumpkins sink or float? There's Just One Mommy

My boys loved to explore rotting things. They would have loved exploring pumpkin decomposition if I had thought to do this activity with them when they were younger. Gift Of Curiosity

While arrays are often taught in conjunction with beginning multiplication, you can make a pumpkin patch array to work on repeated addition with your little ones. School Time Snippets

Pumpkins with squishy circuits rely heavily on help from an adult, but it's well worth the effort when the pumpkins are done. STEAM Powered Family

Enhance your pumpkin lessons with these resources.

Present your child with a pumpkin anatomy felt board activity and they will learn to identify the parts of a pumpkin pretty quickly.

LEGO fans can act out their favorite pumpkin stories with this fun Farmer's Market block set.

Young Star Wars fans will love creating their very own R2D2 no-carve pumpkin this Halloween.

Your little artists will love making a fun pumpkin salt painting this fall. It's so easy!

Related Posts

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19 of the Very Best Pumpkin STEM Activities for Kids

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Bring pumpkins into your homeschool preschool lessons with these pumpkin theme activities! Kids will love these hands-on pumpkin STEM activities for kids. We've been busy getting ready for fall at my house. We've dug the scarecrows out of the basement, planted some new fall mums, and decorated the front porch with pumpkins.

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If your child does not like the feel of pumpkin innerds, this is a great way to allow them to explore the inside of a pumpkin!

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During the Fall season it is always fun to carve jack-o-lanterns! But before you toss the guts and roast the seeds kids may enjoy digging into a gooey sensory experience! If your child isn't into slimy sensory play or you have a toddler, you can allow them to freely and safely explore pumpkin guts with a mess-free pumpkin guts sensory bag! (Updated 9-17-2016)

This post may contain affiliate links.
Exploring Pumpkin Guts with Toddlers
Safety reminder: Toddlers and young children should never be left unattended with sharp knives and plastic bags. Please be extra careful when doing this activity.
To set up this activity, cover your table with an opened up large paper bag or other table covering. Using painters tape will help hold the brown paper in place without damaging your table. Then set out a plastic bin and some spoons for scooping. Finally carefully cut open the pumpkin, place it in the bin and allow your child to explore the pumpkin inside and out.

Toddlers Learn through Exploration

We did this activity when my son was a young toddler as part of our tot school Halloween week. Caden, then age 22 months, loved exploring the pumpkin and learning through his senses. He helped to scoop out the pumpkin guts and seeds. He enjoyed banging on the hollow pumpkin with the spoons and listening to the sounds it made. He also spent a good amount of time playing with the pumpkin top, taking it off and fitting it back on just right.

Making a Pumpkin Guts Sensory Bag

Caden wasn't too fond of the sticky, slimy guts so I put them into a resealable sandwich bag. I wasn't too worried about the bag opening, but if you are you can tape over the resealable edge with clear packing tape.

My son really enjoyed squishing the seeds and pulp around in the bag. He kept repeating "squishy, squishy". Then he decided to put the guts back in the pumpkin and take them back out. He repeated this action a few times.

Caden enjoyed the squishy bag of pumpkin guts so much, I am sure if I let him he would have played with it all day!

Overall, we had a good time exploring the pumpkin guts! Caden and I spent a good half hour playing with the pumpkin, which if you know toddlers they don't spend much time doing anything!

And my favorite part, we surprisingly didn't make too much of a mess! Happy Halloween!

© 2012 - 2016, Stir The Wonder. All rights reserved.

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The Mess-Free Way to Explore Pumpkin Guts with Toddlers

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During the Fall season it is always fun to carve jack-o-lanterns! But before you toss the guts and roast the seeds kids may enjoy digging into a gooey sensory experience! If your child isn't into slimy sensory play or you have a toddler, you can allow them to freely and safely explore pumpkin guts with a mess-free pumpkin guts sensory bag!

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Pumpkins are everywhere during the fall season and kids just love exploring pumpkins in the classroom! While it's fun to explore the inside of a pumpkin with children, it can be messy, smelly, and too slimy for some. Today, I'm sharing an option for children to learn what's inside of a pumpkin and feel pumpkin "guts" without getting their hands dirty! Keep reading to learn how to create these super easy pumpkin sensory bags your kids will love.

Pumpkin Sensory Bag

Sensory play is a great activity to expand a child's sense of touch. Sensory bags are an awesome way to bring sensory play into the classroom.

It allows the child to explore materials without being overly messy. Sensory bags are so fun to touch even I had a hard time putting them down! These are also great to use with children who have sensory issues.

Prepare the Pumpkin Sensory Bag
Materials Needed:

pumpkin guts (scoop out the insides of a pumpkin)

Ziploc gallon-sized freezer bags

items to fill the bag for an I-spy activity (we used Halloween erasers found in the Target dollar bins and plastic shapes. You can also find the erasers on Amazon.)

I-spy printable (see below)

To prepare the sensory bags, scoop out the inside of a pumpkin and place it in a gallon-size Ziploc bag. I like to use freezer bags because they are thicker and don't tear open easily.

You can make your bags with just pumpkin guts inside, or you can add other items inside for an I-spy activity. We used Halloween erasers found in the Target dollar bins. I also included some plastic shapes I found at the Dollar Store.

Explore the Pumpkin Sensory Bags

After the bags are prepared, invite the children explore them. Let them squish the bags and search for items inside. I gave my children a checklist of items to find. They loved finding the items on the I-spy printable.

My kids helped me scoop out the pumpkin and they definitely preferred the pumpkin sensory bags over touching the pumpkin guts with their hands!

This pumpkin sensory bag would be a great sensory play center idea or even a whole class activity. I love using this with children because it teaches them what's inside of a pumpkin and what pumpkin guts and seeds feel like. And there's no mess!

Click on the image below for the I-Spy printable!

BIO: Angela is the writer of Teaching Mama, where she shares hands-on learning activities for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. She is a former teacher, turned stay-at-home-mom to 3 wonderful boys. She is also the author of The Preschool Journey, a resource for preparing your child for Kindergarten. You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

More Pumpkin Ideas

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Pumpkin Sensory Bag for Preschool (+ Free Printable!)

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Pumpkins are everywhere during the fall season and kids just love exploring pumpkins in the classroom! While it's fun to explore the inside of a pumpkin with children, it can be messy, smelly, and too slimy for some. Today, I'm sharing an option for children to learn what's inside of a pumpkin and feel pumpkin "guts" without getting their hands dirty!

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This is a fun activity with cut-in-half mini pumpkins, too! Leave the insides intact for a bigger sensory experience. :)

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We provided our kids with an open ended pumpkin process art invitation. The sensory opportunity of painting with the pumpkins allowed for artistic exploration which was perfect for a fall preschool theme!

Pumpkin Process Art

Process art focuses on the experience of creating instead of the end result. Children learn about artistic materials, tools, and techniques instead of following step-by-step directions to copy a specific end result.

How can we adapt any preschool theme to allow for process focused art opportunities for kids? Let's start with pumpkins in autumn!

Pumpkin Process Art Materials:

You will need:

An adult should cut the pumpkins prior to this activity. You can include kids in this step, too, by allowing them to watch you work. Think aloud as you plan and execute the task. "I have a knife to cut these pumpkins. I always have to be careful using a knife even when I'm a grown up! What shapes could I cut into the tops of the pumpkins?" Cut around the pumpkin stem to allow this to become a handle for painting and stamping. Once the top of the pumpkin is pried loose, trim away the excess seeds and debris.

Pumpkin Art Exploration

Put paint into trays. We used paper plates. Again, allow the children to have input into every step of this creative process by asking them to choose the colors available for painting. Our kids picked orange, yellow, and red as we've been identifying fall colors!

We like to protect our art area with cardboard on the floor. We taped card stock to the cardboard (which is a recycled box disassembled) so the children wouldn't have to worry about their papers sliding around as they worked. Alternatively, kids could paint outside on the ground, at an easel, or at tables.

Invite the children to choose their pumpkin top and paint colors. We had some kids stamping, some painting with a sliding motion using the pumpkin as a paintbrush of sorts, and even finger painting! The beauty of process art is saying "Yes!" when the children hesitate to ask, "Can I paint with my hands?"

Encourage exploration and experimentation. This type of experience has no "right" way. Children can explore the materials and different ways to use them. Enjoy the results!

BIO: Devany LeDrew is a former kindergarten teacher who writes at Still Playing School where she shares play based learning activities. She specializes in fine motor activities and has co-authored the book 99 Fine Motor Ideas! Follow Still Playing School for more engaging educational ideas on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

More Pumpkin Activity Ideas

Easy Pumpkin Decorating Exploration- Pumpkins are a great learning tool for the fall. Touching them, measuring them, cutting them, exploring them. In my classroom, we sang about pumpkins and decorated them as part of our exploration. Use this activity as you explore pumpkin, fall, harvest, Thanksgiving, or related themes. This activity is easy to do with minimal supplies - and your kids will love it.

Melted Crayon Pumpkin Decorating- Melted Crayon Pumpkin decorating is a fun experience for kids (and adults) of all ages. This no-carve crayon art pumpkin decorating project is gorgeous and it's also lots of fun to make! Check out these crayon dripped pumpkins made by Miranda Hamilton's Pre-K class.

Paper Plate Pumpkin Pie Craft- What goes best with Thanksgiving dinner? Pie, of course, and the old lady, who has an out of this world appetite, starts off her night with just that in the book, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson. Your kids will love making this fun paper plate pumpkin pie craft to go along with the book.

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We provided our kids with an open ended pumpkin process art invitation. The sensory opportunity of painting with the pumpkins allowed for artistic exploration which was perfect for a fall preschool theme! Process art focuses on the experience of creating instead of the end result.

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Making a playdough recipe with your kids is always fun, especially when it's scented with pumpkin spice! Your kids will have fun making and playing with it for hours.

I'm so excited to be sharing a pumpkin spice playdough recipe today! It's officially November and the season of Thanksgiving! We have already been super festive this week. We officially decorated on Monday and I'm in love with our decor. There is something so cheery about this time of year.

We've started our I'm Thankful For ritual every night, as well! Such a great way to teach kids to recognize specific things in their day.

I even got festive with the kids today, too! We made pumpkin spice scented playdough and the kids were in heaven!

I had to clarify a couple of times that we don't eat the playdough, it just smells good!

As I was putting my kids down for naps, Lanae asked... Mommy, why don't we do that more often?

I thought it was an excellent question! It was so fun!! But then I looked around at my kitchen and I remembered why.

Occasionally the mess is worth it!

They were both so happy and quietly playing for over an hour and they took crazy long naps after! Huge benefits, right? Plus another awesome benefit is some amazing quality time and lots of fun memories.

So I know that both of my kids love to help me in the kitchen, but sometimes having them both in there means fighting, screaming and lots of frustration for me. I decided to avoid this today. We made two batches and the kids took turns helping with a batch.

I started with Lanae because I knew that I could trust her to play with the playdough on her own while I worked with Owen to make his batch. Owen's a bit younger and still sometimes has a hard time following instructions when he is super excited.

If you haven't tried this playdough recipe, it is a real winner!

Pumpkin Spice Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1/4 cup salt

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

2 tsp cream of tarter

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

food coloring (enough to get it to the color you would like)

Directions:

Toss all the ingredients into a saucepan and stir until everything is combined and there are no lumps.

Turn the stove on to medium heat and continuously stir until it starts to clump... Then keep stirring until it is all one big clump!

Remove from heat and knead by hand.

Don't overcook because then it dries out. If you do accidentally overcook the playdough, just spray some cooking oil on your hands and knead it into the dough.

*If it is too sticky, sprinkle a little flour on the table while your kneading and it will stop sticking!

*Store in an airtight container and it will last a long time!

Another playdough we love is this Kool-Aid Playdough ...

And check out this fun Fall project with shiny Gold Leaves!! I'm in love!!

Here are so more fun ideas for kids this fall season:
30+ Halloween Kid Craft Ideas

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Playdough Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Scented Playdough

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Making a playdough recipe with your kids is always fun, especially when it's scented with pumpkin spice! Your kids will have fun making and playing with it for hours. I'm so excited to be sharing a pumpkin spice playdough recipe today! It's officially November and the season of Thanksgiving!

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Mix Yellow and Red or Pink playdough together! What color do you get? How many different shades of orange can you make? Can you make an orange that matches your pumpkin?

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Mix Yellow and Red or Pink playdough together! What color do you get? How many different shades of orange can you make? Can you make an orange that matches your pumpkin?

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Each fall, the leaves of the trees begin to turn colors, creating a beautiful backdrop that only nature can provide. As the leaves begin to fall and temperatures begin to drop, you start seeing typical fall decorations appear in preparation for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Along with scarecrows, gourds, cornucopias, and black cats, you're also likely to see a lot of large orange objects. What are we talking about? Pumpkins, of course! All you have to do is look around to find jack-o'-lanterns decorating the front porches of houses everywhere.

One popular party game that often makes an appearance in the fall is for apples. It can be so much fun to tie your hands behind your back and attempt to retrieve a floating apple from a large tub of water.

Know what would be even more fun? for pumpkins! But can you even do that? Many pumpkins are the size of watermelons. Surely, those big pumpkins wouldn't ! Or would they?

If you've ever dipped a in the bathtub or thrown one into a lake, you know for a fact what might surprise many people: pumpkins do indeed ! But how is that possible? How can they not be too heavy to ?

It's not all that surprising if you think about it another way: do you ? Are you heavier than a ? Both of those answers are a resounding yes! So what's the key to floating anyway?

To learn why we - and pumpkins! - , we only need to turn to science. Particularly, we just need to consult an ancient Greek scientist named Archimedes. Hundreds of years ago, while taking a bath, he discovered the secret to floating and jumped naked from the tub to run the streets, shouting "!" and explaining what he learned to anyone who would listen.

Basically, Archimedes' (as it came to be known) holds that an object immersed in a fluid will be buoyed up by a equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces. Simple enough, right? Don't worry! You're not the only one who needs that clarified a bit more.

Think of it this way: if you place a into a bathtub full of water, some of the water has to get out of the way to make room for the . The water that gets out of the way is from where it used to be.

Where does the water go? There's only one place for it to go: upward. That's why the water level rises when you put the into the bathtub. But gravity is still pulling that water back down, and it wants to return to where it came from.

The only problem is that there's now a where the water used to be. Fortunately, water has a of about 62.4 pounds per . That means it can push back on the with about 60 pounds of .

Since the is less dense than the water, the water is able to push the up quite a bit, so that it floats. If the were denser than water, the water would not be able to generate enough upward . In that case, the would .

Based upon this , we can conclude that any object less dense than water will . On the other hand, objects denser than water will . Pumpkins, although large, aren't very dense because they are mainly hollow inside. Given their large size, though, they displace a large amount of water. With a mainly hollow , it's easy for a to weigh less than the large amount of water it displaces!

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Each fall, the leaves of the trees begin to turn colors, creating a beautiful backdrop that only nature can provide. As the leaves begin to fall and temperatures begin to drop, you start seeing typical fall decorations appear in preparation for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

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Some homeschool science experiments can be super duper simple. OF course some are not so simple, I went with simple this week because I had in-laws coming and costumes to finish. Lots of costumes to finish for Halloween, sigh silly girl. But, back to the experiment: Does a pumpkin float?

Before we find out does a pumpkin float...

Pumpkin science. There are a lot of very fun math and science activities you can do with a pumpkin. Back when I taught first grade we would spend a whole day working through different activities. Here's what we would do:

1. Measure the circumfrence of the pumpkin with a piece of string, guess how long it would be (learning measurment and predicting)
2. Count the lines around the pumpkin, it's interesting to compare the number of lines with different sized pumpkins. I'm totally blanking right now, but it might fall into the Fibonacci sequence (and I'm sure I mispelled that). Fibonacci is a sequence an Italian scientist discovered back during the Renaissance. It goes like this: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13. The next number is the sum of the two previous numbers.
3. Weigh pumpkins.
4. Count pumpkin seeds, estimate how many will be in there.

As you can see it's a lot of counting and math, but here's the two things we did.

Does a pumpkin float?

1. Talk about how different things will sink or float. We threw different things in the bath tub (I really shouldn't have filled it that full, but live and learn). They had lots of fun figuring out what each thing was going to do. The boat floated, Joker slowly sank.

2. After throwing lots of things in make your prediction will it sink or float. Superman guessed it would float, the other two thought it would sink (I did the super formal stand on this side of the bathroom if you believe it will float).

I"m not sure how much of this was Princess believing it would sink, and how much was, I don't want to stop playing in the water.
* also notice the boys are wearing shorts. We're working on them remembering to wear shorts.

Result: The pumpkin floated, just like it should. So, then I let the kids have a few more minutes of throwing in toys and whatever else they could find they could convince me to throw in.

And my bath tub after the experiments:

Yeah........ That wasn't as much fun to clean up, however I have a nice clean floor because of all the water splashed.

Expanding on does a pumpkin float to make it an elementary science lesson

A few years later we repeated this experiment, but we took what we'd learned from this experiment to see what would happen with other fruits.

I grabbed another smaller pumpkin, apple, orange, and a tomato. We talked about what happened with the pumpkin, and what we thought might happen with the new fruits.

Than we made our predictions, will they sink or float? Since they all remembered the pumpkin floating, everyone was quite sure the fruit was going to float.

I don't have pictures of the other fruit in the bathtub, but they all floated.

Why does a pumpkin float?

It all has to do with density, shape, and things like that. Basically, a pumpkin's density is lower than that of water, so the water "pushes" the pumpkin up to the top.

Are you ready for something screwy? Take the peel off of the orange and see what happens to it.

Check out some more fall science on my Fall for Kids board.

OR you can check out all of our Halloween posts over at Homeschool Halloween.

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Some homeschool science experiments can be super duper simple. OF course some are not so simple, I went with simple this week because I had in-laws coming and costumes to finish. Lots of costumes to finish for Halloween, sigh silly girl. But, back to the experiment: Does a pumpkin float?

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What would it feel like to touch Could you hold it, mold it, or squish it? We sought to find out the answer to this "3-year-old question" using a few ingredients and a little imagination. Read on to see how you can easily make a pumpkin cloud?
pumpkin cloud dough at home.

Cloud dough is an incredibly fun play dough for kids! It is squishy, mold-able, and SO SOFT it feels like clouds, or at least what we imagine clouds to feel like. Cloud dough can also be stored after play and used again and again! Are you ready for the recipe?

Pumpkin scented cloud dough Recipe

Combine the dry ingredients in a play bin or container and mix well.

Add the vegetable oil and slowly mix until combined.

You will then have a slightly damp, mold-able material known as cloud dough.

I gave Rosie cookie pans and utensils, and she had a blast building and creating!

She loved pretending to bake and eveneven opened up her own pumpkin bakery.

All of her creations smelled just like pumpkin pie, too!

Extend the Fun
MORE PUMPKIN RECIPES FOR KIDS

A Few Tips:

If you do not have powdered paint on hand and would like to color your cloud dough you can make your own paint powder using chalk.

All you have to do is place a few pieces of chalk in a zip-lock bag and hammer it until it is a fine powder. Then, combine the powder with the other dry ingredients before adding the oil. Full tutorial here.

Store your cloud dough in an airtight container between play, and it can be used again & again!

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What would it feel like to touch Could you hold it, mold it, or squish it? We sought to find out the answer to this "3-year-old question" using a few ingredients and a little imagination. Read on to see how you can easily make a pumpkin cloud? pumpkin cloud dough at home.

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Pour dirt right inside a hollowed out pumpkin (with some seeds left inside) and watch what happens!

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a celebration of early childhood learning -- in and out of the classroom

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This is one of my all-time favorite pumpkin activities. We read the story Pumpkin Jack, and then allow a jack-o-lantern with some seeds left inside to sit outside in the elements. We observe the pumpkin each day, and note its changes. If you have placed your pumpkin in a place where seeds can grow, you will most likely have a small pumpkin patch come spring! Such a great examination of the cyclical nature of plants, and a fun experiment to conduct at home.

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What does your family do with your jack-o-lanterns after Halloween is over? Most years we just throw them away. But last year we decided to do use our jack-o-lantern do some some Halloween science. An old jack-o-lantern was perfect for showing the kids the process of pumpkin decomposition. Decomposition, also known as rotting, is a process by which organic substances are broken down after death. Eventually, decomposition breaks organic matter down so that it becomes part of the soil again.
Note: You can find more Halloween activities on my Halloween Activities for Kids page.
So a few days after Halloween last year, we made the decision to NOT throw out our jack-o-lantern. Instead, we put our already-starting-to-rot pumpkin into an unused gardening box.

As you can see, even at the one week post-carving mark, the pumpkin was already starting to mold inside.

At the two week mark, the inside had turned black. Further, the pumpkin had started to shrivel and was beginning to collapse on itself.

And at the four week mark, it had shriveled up. By observing this process, the kids were getting a good sense for the process of pumpkin decomposition.

We actually let the pumpkin sit outside for several months. It eventually turned into a flat, hard item that was barely recognizable as a former jack-o-lantern. Sadly, I failed to get any pictures after the 4 week mark, and eventually one of the kids tossed it in the garbage. But we may just give this pumpkin decomposition experiment another go this year to see how it turns out.

If you plan to do this activity, you may also enjoy reading the book Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell. It is the story of a boy who carves a jack-o-lantern for Halloween, and then leaves it to rot in the backyard. By springtime, little was left of the jack-o-lantern, as it had mostly decomposed. But then a pumpkin vine began to grow where the jack-o-lantern had rotted, so the life cycle continued.

More pumpkin resources for kids

More pumpkin posts from Gift of Curiosity:
You can find more Halloween activities on my Halloween Activities for Kids page and Halloween Activities for Kids Pinterest board. Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity's board Halloween Activities for Kids on Pinterest.
Looking for more Halloween projects that incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM)? Then you'll love STEAM Kids Halloween.This e-book includes 50+ pages of spooky fun STEAM activities that will wow the boredom right out of kids!

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What does your family do with your jack-o-lanterns after Halloween is over? Most years we just throw them away. But last year we decided to do use our jack-o-lantern do some some Halloween science. An old jack-o-lantern was perfect for showing the kids the process of pumpkin decomposition.

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Pumpkin slime is a wonderful fall sensory play idea for kids who love squishy, stretchy, oozy fun! This sensory activity for kids is easy to make and lasts for about a week. Add in some pumpkin seeds for some added interest and learning opportunities

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I had been thinking (already!) about Pumpkin carving ideas for my Sammy. It is tough - pumpkin carving with a 3 year old. They are too little to carve, but I knew Sammy would want to do more then paint. So, as I was pondering, a light bulb went on (ha!) What about a Lite-Brite Pumpkin!

This pumpkin carving idea was so simple! We cleaned out the pumpkin and scraped one side of the pumpkin (where I wanted the face) quite thin. Then I used the end of a long, thin spoon to poke holes in the shape of the pumpkins eyes, nose, and mouth.

I checked after a few holes to be sure the Lite-Bright pieces would be the right fit. A skewer would work well too. When I had put all the holes in, I pushed the Lite-Bright pieces in each hole ... just to be sure of the fit ...

And then I put a flashlight inside ... just to be sure .... oh who am I kidding - that was just for fun!!

The picture really doesn't do it justice. It looks really neat! The Lite-Bright pieces really glow perfectly - just like a Lite-Brite.

Then, I finally decided to share and gave Sammy the pumpkin and the Lite-Brite pieces.

He loved it! He was able to complete this pumpkin carving activity completely independently. And it was an excellent activity for his developing fine-motor skills.

And great for his Self- Confidence ... because he did it all on his own!! We took it into a dark room so he could see it glow. He was so excited.

This was one activity that Sammy wanted to do again and again. And the pumpkin has held up great! So far he has put the Lite-Bright pieces in and out 3 times (and I have done it once ... or maybe twice) and it still looks great.

Pumpkin carving ideas for kids can be tricky and time consuming for parents. This one still definitely took me some time (the scraping and poking) but it was well worth it in the end, as Sammy has easily spent 3 times as long playing with his pumpkin.
I know you have creative pumpkin carving ideas - and I would really love you to share them! Please tell us, what pumpkin carving ideas have you used?

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I had been thinking (already!) about Pumpkin carving ideas for my Sammy. It is tough - pumpkin carving with a 3 year old. They are too little to carve, but I knew Sammy would want to do more then paint. So, as I was pondering, a light bulb went on (ha!)

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Is a pumpkin a fruit or vegetable? What kind of pumpkin is used to make pumpkin pie? Students learn the answer to these questions and others as they watch these pumpkin videos for kindergarten and first grade. They're the perfect complement to a pumpkin unit for young learners!

Pumpkin Life Cycle

Students learn how a pumpkin grows from a seed to a fruit in this short two minute video from Scholastic.

This video is so cool! At just 3 minutes long, it's a time-lapsed video of the pumpkin life cycle. It's amazing to see how big the vines grow in such a short time!

This song set to the tune of "Do You Know the Muffin Man?" teaches kids the parts of a pumpkin life cycle.

Pumpkin Songs and Stories

This classic pumpkin song has been around forever. It's perfect for your pumpkin unit or Halloween.

A cute pumpkin song with a catchy tune that your students are sure to love!

This stop-motion animation video retells the story of Spookly the Square Pumpkin.

Fun Pumpkin Videos

Did you know that the jack-o'-lantern pumpkin isn't used to make pumpkin pie? Watch the process from farm to can to see how pumpkin puree is made in a Libby's factory.

A young girl and her dad demonstrate step by step how to draw a pumpkin. This art project makes a great center or early finisher activity.

If your students are writing about how to carve a pumpkin, this is a great video to show, especially for those who have never carved one before.

A young girl named Abbey shares 8 cool facts about pumpkins. Will your students know if a pumpkin is a fruit or vegetable?

This video is a fun way to assess students' knowledge of pumpkins at the beginning or end of the unit.

More Pumpkin Videos

Find more videos on my pumpkin videos playlist on YouTube. I've collected over 25 pumpkin videos for kids that include songs, stories, crafts, information and more.

Need another activity for your pumpkin unit? Don't miss my parts of pumpkin free printable post!

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Pumpkin Videos for Kindergarten and First Grade - Primary Theme Park

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Is a pumpkin a fruit or vegetable? What kind of pumpkin is used to make pumpkin pie? Learn the answer to these questions and others as you watch these pumpkin videos for kindergarten and first grade. They're the perfect complement to a pumpkin unit for young learners!

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Here is a teacher approved list of pumpkin videos for you and your classrooms. This list includes videos that are filled with information as well as rhymes and stories that will get your kids excited about reading and science.

The Pumpkin Lifecycle for Kids by Tim Russell (5:12)

This video offers realistic pictures of each stage of the lifecycle of a pumpkin. However, it does not offer narration so you will need to read the words on the slides to your students. At 3:23 the slides illustrating lifecycle of the pumpkin end and there are a few slides with interesting facts about pumpkins.

This video is perfect for talking about the pumpkin life cycle and actually planting pumpkins with your students. We have the perfect science journal for that, walking you through the steps of planting (this is just the actual dirt page, there are many more to build up to that) and the life cycle as you watch your pumpkins grow. Click here to check it out.

5 Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate by Kiboomers (1:57)

This short rhyme is a great visual for subtracting 1-5 and so fun to sing this time of year.

Learn Fruits and Vegetables for Kids: The Pumpkin by Your Kids TV (3:37)

This animated video shares basic facts about pumpkins in by using other fruits and vegetables.

Spookley the Square Pumpkin (4:21)

The narrator reads the popular story of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Jo Troiano. The video is a simple animated version of the story.

Lifecycle of a Pumpkin by Amanda Ellis (2:37)

This song is about the lifecycle of a pumpkin to the familiar and catchy tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man. You definitely want to play this towards the end of the day because this is one of those songs your students (and yourself) will get it stuck in their head and they just can't stop singing/humming it... don't say I didn't warn you.

Pumpkin Science is also fun. Our science units are easy to follow experiments that all follow the same format. Erupting pumpkin, sink and float, taste testing, and so much more! Click here to check it out.

That's How a Pumpkin Grows by Brian Vogan (2:13)

This factual song is fictionally animated. It discusses "how a pumpkin grows" (very basic) and picking a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.

Lifecycle of a Pumpkin by Carrrrxo23 (3:47)

This video describes the lifecycle of a pumpkin in detail but is not narrated. It's still worth watching because it is set to classical music and very peaceful and calming. (You can almost even play it without reading the narration).

8 Cool Facts About Pumpkins by Cooking with Abbey (2:36)

This video is narrated by a young girl. She tells 8 "cool" facts about pumpkins. I personally think this video is adorable and your students will enjoy it.

Sid the Science Kid: Super Fab Lab! Decay by The Jim Henson Company (4:41)

I love Sid the Science Kid! This episode is all about decay. The class investigates a decayed pumpkin and a fresh pumpkin. The vocabulary they use in this video, it is a great way to tie in and/or review important Science terms this Fall.

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater by Mother Goose Club (1:34)

This familiar rhyme is fun to say along with the video. Encourage your students to really annunciate the p sound and say the rhyme faster and faster every time.

We also have lots of pumpkin-themed centers, morning work, and STEM activities. Click here to check out all of our pumpkin resources!

Peppa Pig Pumpkin Party by Justin Goodchild (5:00)

Peppa has a "Pumpkin Party" with her friends where they enjoy creating a jack o lantern, dressing up and spending time with good friends.

Do you want MORE Halloween Videos? CLICK HERE

Do you have any Pumpkin Videos to add to our list?

Comment below.
What's after Pumpkin Videos? Election Videos. Don't miss this Teacher Approved List of Election and President Videos for kids.
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Here is a teacher approved list of pumpkin videos for you and your classrooms. This list includes videos that are filled with information as well as rhymes and stories that will get your kids excited about reading and science. This video offers realistic pictures of each stage of the lifecycle of a pumpkin.

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Save some seeds from the pumpkins you carve this year and plant them in the garden next year!

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Save some seeds from the pumpkins you carve this year and plant them in the garden next year!

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On Sunday night, I was home with Janie (who had a cold) while the rest of the kids were at church. She was so grouchy, and we needed something fun to do! I saw several little pumpkins (they're probably actually gourds) that we used for our pumpkin balance and decide to make her some pumpkin boats for our water table. This was definitely a big hit!

If you're using the little pumpkin shaped gourds, you'll want to cut off the top third or so in order to leave enough to make a boat. When I cut the tops off, they looked like this:

I used the knife to cut out a circle of the flesh, and then it was easy to scoop out the seeds.

I put the pumpkin boats in our PVC pipe sand and water table along with some acorns and some little toys to use as passengers for the boats. Here in Texas, it's still quite warm outside! If it's chilly where you live, do the boats in the kitchen sink or the bathtub.

Janie loved this activity! Her favorite thing was to put a "people" in a pumpkin and then pour water over the top. Then she would say to the toy figure in a very motherly voice, "Now go play!" I'm not sure what exactly she was pretending, but it was cute!

I wasn't sure if the pumpkins would float, but they did. They would float even better if I had taken the time to scoop out more of the insides, but Janie was ready to get on with playing.

She enjoyed pouring water from one pumpkin to another and stacking the pumpkins.

I knew that Jonathan would be sorry to have missed this activity, so I stored the pumpkins in a ziploc bag in the refrigerator. This has worked well to keep them from rotting, but they definitely won't last forever.

Here's a better view of our PVC pipe sand and water table if you're interested! You can see how to build one here: PVC Pipe Sand and Water Table
Have fun playing!

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Pumpkin Boats Fall Sensory Play Idea - Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls

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Carve little pumpkins into boats that really float! On Sunday night, I was home with Janie (who had a cold) while the rest of the kids were at church. She was so grouchy, and we needed something fun to do! I saw several little pumpkins (they're probably actually gourds) that we used for our pumpkin [...]

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The Runaway Pumpkin (Read Aloud stories for kids) rhyming | Fall Halloween books

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Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds Recipe! Don't throw away the seeds when you carve pumpkins this year! Save them and make this recipe for the perfect sweet and salty fall snack!

Have you carved your pumpkins yet? We have 6 kids so that always means lots of pumpkin seeds. They love helping me separate the seeds from the pulp, just so we can make these Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds.

I know it's a lot of work, but trust me when I tell you that taking the time to save the seeds to make roasted pumpkin seeds is so worth it.

Especially if you decide to make these Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds! This recipe only has 6 ingredients, is super easy to make, and results is the perfect sweet and salty fall snack!

How to make Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

Let's walk through this recipe step by step.

Let the seeds dry completely

The key to making excellent Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds is letting them completely dry before roasting! To do this, remove the seeds from the pumpkins and rinse thoroughly. Make sure there are no stringy orange guts left!

Let the seeds drain, and line a large baking sheet with paper towels. Spread the seeds on the baking sheet in one, even layer and let sit for 24 hours. At the 12 hour mark, change the damp paper towels for dry ones and stir every now and then!

Add the ingredients

Coat evenly. Once the seeds are completely dry, you are ready to make these roasted pumpkin seeds! Simply melt the coconut oil or butter in a microwave safe dish. Mix in vanilla and stir in the pumpkin seeds, making sure the seeds are evenly coated with the mixture!

Thoroughly mix the dry ingredients together, then toss them into the bowl of coated pumpkin seeds, once again making sure they are evenly coated!

Then, spread the coated seeds out on a large baking sheet in a single layer and bake.

Do not over bake

A little helpful tip, be very careful not to over-bake these Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds! When they start to brown ever-so-slightly they are done.

Test for doneness

by taking out 3 or 4 seeds and letting them come to room temperature. If the roasted pumpkin seeds become nice and crispy then your seeds are done baking! If they remain soft, toss them back on the pan and bake a touch longer!

Helpful Tip (H ow to re-crisp roasted pumpkin seeds)

If your seeds become soft after a day or two...simply reheat them at 250 in the oven for 5-10 minutes! When you remove them and they cool completely they will perfectly crisp up like they were freshly made that day!

Store

Store these pumpkin seeds in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Cinnamon Sugar Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Substitutions

This recipe is delicious as-is! But If you are looking to make some substitutions here are a few that have passed the test:

Coconut oil: Butter and vegan butter (like Earth Balance) are delicious substitutions for the coconut oil.

Granulated sugar: I use raw, organic sugar in this recipe. But you can choose your favorite granulated sugar and use it with great results! You can also use coconut sugar for a paleo version.

That's it! There are only 6 ingredients in this recipe for Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds and I don't recommend substituting any other ingredients!

FAQs about roasting pumpkin seeds

Are roasted pumpkin seeds a healthy snack?

Yes! They are a high-protein, high-fiber snack!

Should I dry my pumpkin seeds before roasting?

Yes, drying the pumpkin seeds is imperative for crispy roasted pumpkin seeds that do not get soggy.

Can I halve or double the recipe?

Yes to both! You can easily scale this recipe as needed.

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

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Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

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Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds Recipe! Don't throw away the seeds when you carve pumpkins this year! Save them and make this recipe for the perfect sweet and salty fall snack!

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We caught our first cool fall breeze this week. Do you know what that means? It's pumpkin muffin time.

I snapped some new photos of my favorite pumpkin muffin recipe as I satisfied my pumpkin craving. These pumpkin muffins are perfect for chilly fall mornings and afternoon snacks.

They're healthier than most, since they're made with whole wheat flour and oats, sweetened with real maple syrup or honey, and call for coconut oil or olive oil instead of butter. Believe it or not, this healthy pumpkin muffin recipe yields light and fluffy muffins.

These pumpkin muffins wouldn't be complete without plenty of warming spices, including cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Most "pumpkin spice" flavor comes from the spice, not the pumpkin!

I love these muffins with a spread of almond butter, peanut butter or pecan butter on top. Nut butter adds some extra protein, which means that I'm not hungry before lunchtime. If you're going pumpkin-crazy this time of year, enjoy your muffin with a homemade pumpkin chai latte.

These pumpkin treats have the magical power to convert "healthy muffin" skeptics into fans. Let's make some!

The Best Pumpkin Muffins

1. These muffins are easy to make with basic ingredients. Only one bowl required!

2. They're made with 100% whole grains, yet they're fluffy and delicious. No one will know the difference.

3. They're also naturally sweetened with maple syrup or honey, rather than loaded with refined sugar. The maple syrup (or honey) offers a touch of extra flavor, which I love.

4. These muffins feature a few of your favorite warming spices so they taste like your favorite pumpkin latte.

5. They freeze well for later, too. Just defrost individual muffins in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds, or until gently warmed through. You don't want to overdo it.

Five reasons to love this pumpkin muffin recipe:
Healthy Pumpkin Muffin Notes & Tips

Change it up. Add nuts, chocolate chips or chopped fruit cranberries or crystallized ginger. See recipe notes for details.

Simplify the recipe. Substitute 2 teaspoons store-bought pumpkin spice blend for the individual spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice). Or, if your spice drawer is empty, simply use 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and call it good.

Craving a sweet topping? Liz topped these muffins with my maple glaze from my pumpkin scones recipe, which sounds marvelous.

This muffin recipe is special diet-friendly. You can easily adjust this recipe to make it vegan, dairy free, egg free and/or gluten free. See the recipe notes for details.

Baking Tips for Success

How to Measure Flour

How you measure your flour is important. Why? If you measure incorrectly, you could end up with up to 50 percent extra flour, which will make your muffins dense, dry and flavorless. Use the spoon and swoop method:

1. Gently stir your flour to loosen any clumps.

2. Spoon your flour into the measuring cup with a big spoon or a flour scoop. Do not scoop up the flour directly into the measuring cup.

3. Level off the top of the cup with a knife. Repeat as necessary.

Use Baking Soda, Not Baking Powder

They are not the same thing. Both are leaveners that help your baked goods rise (baking powder contains some baking soda, but that's a long story). For ideal results, always follow the recipe and measure carefully.

How to Stir Your Batter

This muffin batter is super simple to stir together by hand, and that's how I recommend making these muffins. Why? Whipping your batter will make the flour's gluten protein too strong, yielding tough muffins.

I know it can be tempting to use a stand mixer or hand mixer when it's within reach. Please don't! Follow the instructions below and you'll end up with light, fluffy muffins.

Watch How to Make Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

Craving more wholesome muffins and pumpkin treats? You're going to love these recipes:

Please let me know how these pumpkin muffins turn out for you in the comments. I love hearing from you, and hope these pumpkin muffins become your new favorite.

P.s. That beautiful mug in the photos above and below? That's handmade by my friend Margaret.

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

Easy, one bowl, healthier pumpkin muffins made with whole wheat grains and naturally sweetened! These pumpkin muffins are as light, fluffy and delicious as their coffee shop counterparts. Recipe yields 12 muffins.

Ingredients

⅓ cup melted coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil*

½ cup maple syrup or honey

2 eggs, at room temperature

1 cup pumpkin purée

¼ cup milk of choice (I used almond milk)

2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground allspice or cloves)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon salt

1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour**

⅓ cup old-fashioned oats, plus more for sprinkling on top

Optional: 2 teaspoons turbinado (raw) sugar for a sweet crunch

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius). If necessary, grease all 12 cups of your muffin tin with butter or non-stick cooking spray (my pan is non-stick and didn't require any grease).

2. In a large bowl, beat the oil and maple syrup or honey together with a whisk. Add the eggs, and beat well. Add the pumpkin purée, milk, pumpkin spice blend, baking soda, vanilla extract and salt.

3. Add the flour and oats to the bowl and mix with a large spoon, just until combined (a few lumps are ok). If you'd like to add any additional mix-ins***, like nuts, chocolate or dried fruit, fold them in now.

4. Divide the batter evenly between the muffin cups. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with about a tablespoon of oats, followed by a light sprinkle of raw sugar and/or pumpkin spice blend if you'd like. Bake muffins for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.

5. Place the muffin tin on a cooling rack to cool. These muffins are delicate until they cool down. You might need to run a butter knife along the outer edge of the muffins to loosen them from the pan.

6. These muffins taste even better after they have rested for a couple of hours! They'll keep at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They keep well in the freezer in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months (just defrost individual muffins as needed).

Notes

*Oil options: I love coconut oil here. I used unrefined coconut oil and can hardly taste it in the final product. Olive oil might lend an herbal note to the muffins, if you're into that (I tested with California Olive Ranch's "Everyday" variety and couldn't even taste it). Vegetable oil has a neutral flavor but the average vegetable/canola oil is highly processed, so I recommend using cold-pressed sunflower oil or grapeseed oil if possible.

**Flour alternatives: White whole wheat flour works great, if you can find it. Whole wheat pastry flour yields extra light and fluffy muffins that are delicate until cooled. All-purpose flour and gluten-free all-purpose flour blends work as well.

**Change it up: You could really go crazy with add-ins here. After stirring in the flour and oats, gently fold in up to ¾ cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts, and/or some chopped dried cranberries or crystallized ginger.

Serving suggestions: These muffins are great on their own, with a pat of butter, or spread with almond butter. They would also be fantastic with homemade pecan butter or coconut butter.
Make it egg free: Readers report that these muffins turn out well with flax eggs!
Make it vegan: Use maple syrup, flax eggs and non-dairy milk.
Make it dairy free: Simply use your non-dairy milk of choice.
Make it gluten free: Bob's Red Mill gluten-free all-purpose blend works well instead of the whole wheat flour.

Make it oat free: Simply omit the oats. No other changes necessary.
Recipe adapted from my honey-sweetened pumpkin bread.
Make it lower in fat: I would argue that this bread contains a healthy amount of fat, but you can replace the oil with applesauce if you're following a low-fat diet. Choosing olive oil instead of coconut oil will reduce the saturated fat content; total fat content will remain the same.

Update September 24, 2019: I removed white whole wheat flour as an option simply because I can't find it in stores any more. I also upped the amount of spice from 1 ½ teaspoons to 2 teaspoons.

▸ Nutrition Information

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Healthy Pumpkin Muffins Recipe - Cookie and Kate

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We caught our first cool fall breeze this week. Do you know what that means? It's pumpkin muffin time. I snapped some new photos of my favorite pumpkin muffin recipe as I satisfied my pumpkin craving. These pumpkin muffins are perfect for chilly fall mornings and afternoon snacks.

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🎃 Kids Book Read Aloud: PUMPKIN JACK by Will Hubbell

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HD - A Read Aloud of "It's Pumpkin Time" by Zoe Hall

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Use ten squares or other sorting tools (ice cube trays, muffin tins) to count how many seeds are in a pumpkin!

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One of my favorite parts of Halloween is carving pumpkins. After the trick-or-treaters clear away, and Halloween is officially over, don't trash your pumpkins! There are several ways to recycle them with wildlife and your garden in mind. How do you reuse pumpkins in your yard?

1. Compost Your Pumpkins

If you've carved a jack-o-lantern, it may already be decomposing. Pumpkins are 90% water, which means they easily and quickly break down. This makes them a great addition to your compost pile. Prevent unwanted pumpkin plants by removing the seeds first (set seeds aside for #3 and #5). If you don't have a compost bin or pile, check your local government, nearby farms, or community gardens to see if they collect old pumpkins.

2. Make a Snack-o-Lantern

This is one of the most creative ideas I've seen to recycle pumpkins. You can turn your jack-o-lantern into a snack-o-lantern for wildlife! It's fairly easy to make, and the squirrels and birds will love it. Just make sure to only use fresh pumpkins (if they've begun to mold, composting them is a better idea) and to only fill them with enough seed for the wildlife to eat within a few days to prevent the seed from becoming moldy.

3. Leave Seeds for Wildlife

Many birds and small mammals will eat pumpkin seeds if you offer them in your yard. Collect seeds from your pumpkins before composting them, and let the seeds dry. Please don't add salt or seasoning. Place seeds on a flat surface, tray, shallow bowl, or mix in with existing bird seed in your garden.

4. Cut it into Pieces for Animals

Many backyard animals will eat pieces of pumpkin flesh. You can cut it into pieces and leave it out. This porcupine doesn't even need it cut into pieces! Don't do this if large animals such as bears might be attracted to your yard (in most places brown and black bears are entering their winter dormancy by the time Halloween passes).

5. Plant Pumpkin Seeds

The squash bee is one of many insects to that visit pumpkin flowers as a source of nectar and pollen for themselves and their young. If you have room in your yard, you can save seeds to grow your own of pumpkins next year and feed the pollinators in the process.

Garden for Wildlife All Year

Autumn is a fantastic time to make your yard wildlife-friendly by adding food, water, cover and a place for animals to raise their young!

IMPORTANT: Check with your state wildlife agency to confirm recycling your pumpkin outside is permitted: in states experiencing outbreaks of Chronic Wasting Disease, attracting deer to a pile of pumpkins could lead to disease spread. Also, please keep in mind this applies to non-painted pumpkins, as the toxins in paint can be harmful to wildlife. And keep pumpkins away from the house, ideally near trees.

Retweet to share with your friends and family!

Happy #NationalPumpkinDay 🎃! After Halloween, don't trash your pumpkins: there are several ways to recycle them with wildlife and your garden in mind. Learn more: https://t.co/0MyCAzI8Tc pic.twitter.com/uOVvKpsdB9

- National Wildlife Federation (@NWF) October 26, 2018

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How to Recycle Halloween Pumpkins for Wildlife * The National Wildlife Federation Blog

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One of my favorite parts of Halloween is carving pumpkins. After the trick-or-treaters clear away, and Halloween is officially over, don't trash your pumpkins! There are several ways to recycle them with wildlife and your garden in mind. How do you reuse pumpkins in your yard?

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Deer eating giant pumpkins (2000+ pounds!)

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Vibrant orange is the color that jumps to mind when we think of the portly pumpkin that symbolize all things autumn. Today, bright orange is only one of the many pumpkin colors available. There are varieties in shades from deep, robust scarlet to a light blue and ghostly white.

Wearing White After Labor Day

Coming on the scene only a dozen years ago, naturally white pumpkins, once an oddity found only at farmers' markets, are now making their way into more and more homes and are becoming an autumn favorite.

A bit more expensive than their traditional orange counterparts, a white pumpkin has an eerie look. The white skin and pale yellow flesh produces a ghoulish glow when carved and lit from within. The larger carving white pumpkins are the Lumina, the smallest are the tiny, 3" Baby Boo.

Decorators love white pumpkins because they are crisp, clean, and classic in any decor. They can be arranged with mums are elegant atop sterling silver or can serve as a chic vase for a fall floral arrangement. Any way you display them, these ivory beauties are a must for your seasonal centerpiece or decoration.

Not So Little Boy Blue

Blue pumpkins are very striking, unusual, and get noticed. Of all the non-traditional colors for pumpkins, blue seems to be the most unexpected.

Blue pumpkin colors are gorgeous when mixed with their complementary orange cousins.

The most well-known blue boy is the Jarrahdale or Australian Blue. The Blue Max is another popular variety that is a deeper blue gray.

Blushing Beauties of the Patch

The idea of a red pumpkin isn't quite as shocking as a blue or white variety, but the vibrant, sunsets hue make the red varieties just as sought after.

One of the most famous red pumpkins is featured in a well-known fairy tale. It is said that Cinderella's carriage was fashioned after the Rouge Vif d'Estampes pumpkin, an heirloom from France that was introduced into the US in the late 1800s.

This impressive variety of pumpkin ranges in color from red to pink to a deep red-orange with deep ribs. The flattened shape allows for stacking other colorful pumpkins on top of them, creating a lovely display.

The Lal bhopla, has vibrant red skin with a lumpy texture. When displayed with the smooth Lumina or a group of deeply ribbed orange pumpkins, the rippled surface adds an unexpected dimension to the grouping.

Earthtone and Texture Galore!

The earthy brown and natural texture of these pumpkins adds a sensory twist to the traditional.

The Musquee de Provence Pumpkin is a favorite among chefs for its flavor. It is also a favorite of those with an eye for color. This beautiful heirloom from the South of France is green when immature, and then turns a lovely rich brown with deep orange flesh when fully ripe.

The Galeux D'Eysines is another heirloom pumpkin from France and its name translates as "embroidered with warts from Eysines", a small town in southwest France. A unique decorative piece that adds texture to your autumn display.

Spin the Pumpkin Color Wheel

With such a rich and varied color palette beyond the beloved traditional orange; pumpkins are ideal for your autumn decor. Whether you choose white, blue, red, or brown, you can be sure any of these unique pumpkins will bring a bit of fantasy to your fall décor.

Exterior Colors Schemes Inspired by Pumpkin Colors

Pumpkin colors even inspired these exterior colors schemes I put together for DaVinci Roofscapes:

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Pumpkin Colors: Beyond Orange | Sensational Color

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Vibrant orange is the color that jumps to mind when we think of the portly pumpkin that symbolizes all things autumn. Today, bright orange is only one of the many colors of pumpkins. There are varieties in shades from deep, robust scarlet to a light blue and ghostly white.

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[Full] Pumpkin growth time-lapse: from the seed to the mature fruit in 108 days and nights

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This is one of my all-time favorite pumpkin activities. We read the story Pumpkin Jack, and then allow a jack-o-lantern with some seeds left inside to sit outside in the elements. We observe the pumpkin each day, and note its changes. If you have placed your pumpkin in a place where seeds can grow, you will most likely have a small pumpkin patch come spring! Such a great examination of the cyclical nature of plants, and a fun experiment to conduct at home.

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What does your family do with your jack-o-lanterns after Halloween is over? Most years we just throw them away. But last year we decided to do use our jack-o-lantern do some some Halloween science. An old jack-o-lantern was perfect for showing the kids the process of pumpkin decomposition. Decomposition, also known as rotting, is a process by which organic substances are broken down after death. Eventually, decomposition breaks organic matter down so that it becomes part of the soil again.
Note: You can find more Halloween activities on my Halloween Activities for Kids page.
So a few days after Halloween last year, we made the decision to NOT throw out our jack-o-lantern. Instead, we put our already-starting-to-rot pumpkin into an unused gardening box.

As you can see, even at the one week post-carving mark, the pumpkin was already starting to mold inside.

At the two week mark, the inside had turned black. Further, the pumpkin had started to shrivel and was beginning to collapse on itself.

And at the four week mark, it had shriveled up. By observing this process, the kids were getting a good sense for the process of pumpkin decomposition.

We actually let the pumpkin sit outside for several months. It eventually turned into a flat, hard item that was barely recognizable as a former jack-o-lantern. Sadly, I failed to get any pictures after the 4 week mark, and eventually one of the kids tossed it in the garbage. But we may just give this pumpkin decomposition experiment another go this year to see how it turns out.

If you plan to do this activity, you may also enjoy reading the book Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell. It is the story of a boy who carves a jack-o-lantern for Halloween, and then leaves it to rot in the backyard. By springtime, little was left of the jack-o-lantern, as it had mostly decomposed. But then a pumpkin vine began to grow where the jack-o-lantern had rotted, so the life cycle continued.

More pumpkin resources for kids

More pumpkin posts from Gift of Curiosity:
You can find more Halloween activities on my Halloween Activities for Kids page and Halloween Activities for Kids Pinterest board. Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity's board Halloween Activities for Kids on Pinterest.
Looking for more Halloween projects that incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM)? Then you'll love STEAM Kids Halloween.This e-book includes 50+ pages of spooky fun STEAM activities that will wow the boredom right out of kids!

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What does your family do with your jack-o-lanterns after Halloween is over? Most years we just throw them away. But last year we decided to do use our jack-o-lantern do some some Halloween science. An old jack-o-lantern was perfect for showing the kids the process of pumpkin decomposition.

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Gorilla Family Chows Down on 'Big Mac' Pumpkin

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This is the full lifespan of my giant pumpkin from planting to harvest.

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Giant Pumpkin Jack O Lantern carved with a Chainsaw

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Pumpkin Recipes Archives - Pumpkinlicious

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Find the best pumpkin recipes for 2019 and 2020! There is something to suit most diets including vegan, gluten, paleo!

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Estimation is a tricky concept, and one that is often not covered at great length in school. And while I love teaching through the use of math story books, there are not a lot of resources that I've found that cover estimation. I do love, however, the book How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin, by Margaret McNamara. In this story, kids explore estimation as well as counting techniques, so I decided this was the perfect excuse for not only some pumpkin seed estimation and skip counting, but also a wonderfully healthy Fall snack!
*Please Note: This post contains affiliate links which help support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure here.*
One of the things I love about this book is that in addition to introducing important math concepts, it also teaches a lot about Pumpkins. So I decided we would spend the week learning about pumpkins and their life cycle in addition to counting the seeds!

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?

In addition to reading How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin, here are some other fun pumpkin books:

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever
Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie
From Seed to Pumpkin

I also used some of the pumpkin printables about the parts of a pumpkin and their life cycle from Mama's Learning Corner and Embark on the Journey.

And of course, we have been reading Sixteen Runaway Pumpkins and playing our board game.
And then it was time to get messy!
Materials Needed for Pumpkin Seed Estimation:

One or more pumpkins

Knife to cut out the top

Spoon for scooping out seeds

Plastic bag for collecting pumpkin goo

Bowl to collect the seeds

Newspaper to cover table or floor (we worked outside, so we didn't need this)

FREE Printable Recording Page (scroll to the end to grab your download!)

To Get Started:

As I said, this was a multi-day process (though I guess it doesn't need to be, we just didn't have time to do everything in one day). So the first day, after reading the book, we went outside to examine our pumpkins and discuss estimation strategies.

Each of my kids picked out a pumpkin, so we have four of varying sizes. My kids noticed right away that some have more ribs than others, indicating more seeds.

And just like in the story, the outside appearance would indicate that our largest pumpkin does not have as many seeds as some of the smaller ones.

We also spent some time trying to count the number of ribs on each pumpkin, and comparing those numbers.

Then we decided which pumpkin to cut open and got to work! This is the messy part, and while my daughter was SUPER excited to stick her hands in and get messy, my son was not. He was happy to use the spoon and scrape a few off the top, haha!

I helped with some of the scrapping so that it would be easier to get the seeds out, but mostly my kids did this themselves. We also scooped them onto a paper towel first, to try and get some of the pulp off before transferring them to our bowl.

Cleaning the Seeds:

Once you have successfully gotten all the seeds out of the pumpkin, it's time to clean them and dry them! I didn't really do any research before hand to find the best way to approach this, but I did soak them overnight, then rinsed them the next day in a colander to try and get the rest of the goo off.

This worked pretty well, but was a lot of work. You may be able to find a trick that works better!

Drying and Roasting the Seeds:

After I had a nice pile of clean seeds, I patted them dry with a paper towel and laid them out on a baking sheet in a single layer. I figure if we're going to go to all this work to clean out the pumpkin and clean up the seeds, we might as well eat them when we're done, right? 😉

I basically followed this recipe for roasting them, but set my oven at 300 degrees instead of 350. It worked great, and we honestly had a hard time waiting to eat some until after we had counted them!

Estimating and Counting:

Once we had a nice pile of roasted pumpkin seeds, it was time to get serious about estimating and counting. We started by discussing ways we might accurately estimate, as well as the difference between an estimate and a guess.

In the story, one of the guesses is one million seeds. As my kids looked at their pile of seeds, they quickly decided that was WAY too large of a number. Wanting something more reasonable, my daughter said, "I think it's probably a little more than one hundred."

Then I reminded them that the number of ribs is an indication of the number of seeds, so we talked about how we might use that to get an estimate. The pumpkin that we chose had about 28 ribs, so if there are ten seeds per rib, perhaps there are approximately 280 seeds in the pumpkin. (This was just a guess, though. I have no idea how many seeds per rib there actually are in a typical pumpkin).

My kids also knew from reading the story that they wanted to count the seeds by ten (since that would be the fastest), so we looked at a pile of ten seeds and compared it to the rest to try and get an estimate.

My daughter used the size of that pile to go through our larger pile and count by tens to get a quick estimate. She counted to 200, so we had another possibility for the total.

Then it was finally time to start counting! All three of use worked hard to make nice and neat piles of ten. We ended up with 8 left over, so I removed that pile and let them count the rest by tens.

This was a great counting exercise for both of them, as my daughter doesn't usually count past one hundred, and my son has not even worked on skip counting yet!

The final tally? 438 seeds.

Can you believe it?! The pile just didn't seem that large to me! My daughter's first response was, "Wow, our estimate was WAY off!"

And, full disclosure: When I was rinsing the seeds in the colander, it slipped to the side and a large pile of seeds fell out in the sink. Like probably 20-30 seeds. So actually, our count should be slightly higher! Whoa!
So after the amazement at such a large number of seeds, we discussed how we could improve our estimate the next time:

Perhaps use 15-20 seeds per rib as an estimate

Estimate "piles of ten" more carefully

Don't drop a huge pile down the sink 😉

Even with all the mess and losing seeds and time consuming counting, this was such a great learning experience! It's great to read about pumpkins and color some fun worksheets, but how much better to really get your hands in there to see, smell, and feel all the pumpkin goodness!

And then, of course, enjoy some delicious roasted pumpkin seeds and what will soon be a delicious pumpkin pie! 🙂

What do you think? Do you usually roast pumpkin seeds? Have you ever taken the time to estimate or count them? Do you have any tips for cleaning all the goo off the seeds?? Share with the rest of us!

And of course, be sure to grab the simple, printable recording page for estimating and counting how many seeds are in YOUR pumpkin!

Want more FUN estimation ideas? Try one of these:
Gumball Estimation {FREE Printable Pack} "Mummy Math:" Estimating Toilet Paper Squares

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How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? Fall Estimation Fun!

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Estimation is a tricky concept, and one that is often not covered at great length in school. And while I love teaching through the use of math story books, there are not a lot of resources that I've found that cover estimation. I do love, however, the book How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin , by Margaret McNamara.