These autumn homeschool ideas are perfect for kids in preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary grades who are learning about pumpkins.

They’ll investigate pumpkins up close, learn about the parts of a pumpkin, and the life cycle of a pumpkin. Add these to your list of Elementary Science Worksheets to work on this year.

This pack of free printables includes five science worksheets that will help your children learn more about pumpkins.

Pumpkin Science Worksheets

There are so many fun things to teach children about pumpkins. Here are a few engaging ideas that will help you teach your children about pumpkins, how they grow, and more.

Pumpkin-Themed Movies for Kids

I love to incorporate movies and videos into our unit studies whenever possible. They’re perfect for sick days or rainy days. Here are a few ideas for kids:

• Spookley the Square Pumpkin
• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Kids Books about Pumpkins

In addition to movies, I love to include a wide variety of books in my lessons. I use some for read-alouds and save others for independent reading (when appropriate).

Below, I’m sharing a few of my favorite nonfiction books about pumpkins. I find they’re perfect for introducing the life cycle of a pumpkin, increasing vocabulary, and illustrating important information.

• The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons
• Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie by Jill Esbaum
• From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

PUMPKIN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Most kids love hands-on activities. They help children engage with the topic at hand.

When teaching your kids about pumpkins, you can add one or more of these activities to your to-do list:

• Pumpkin counting activity
• Pumpkin craft
• Salt crystal pumpkins

Pumpkin Science Printables

In this worksheet packet, you’ll find five worksheets that are sure to engage your students during your pumpkin lessons.

Pumpkin Investigation

This is so much fun for kids! Go out and pick pumpkins from the pumpkin patch or grab a few from the grocery store.

Let your kids explore pumpkins inside and out. Have them describe their pumpkins, test whether they sink or float, count the seeds inside, and more.

Pumpkin Facts

After reading one or more of the nonfiction pumpkin books I’ve shared above, let your kids complete this worksheet.

They’ll read statements about pumpkins and determine whether they’re true or false.

Parts of a Pumpkin

As your kids explore their pumpkins, help them learn the parts of a pumpkin. Then, they can complete this cut and paste worksheet labeling the pumpkin.

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

This two-page activity is going to teach kids how pumpkins grow. One page is a fact page showing a diagram of the life cycle of a pumpkin.

The second page is a cut and paste sequencing page where kids will sequence the stages of the life cycle on their own.

Teaching Resources

Learn all about the parts of a pumpkin. How do they work? What do they do? This parts of a pumpkin felt board set is simple enough for preschoolers and detailed enough for use within homeschool or early elementary classrooms.

Provide your preschooler with hours of Halloween fun with the 5 Little Pumpkins Sensory Bin!

More Fall Learning for Kids

• Fall Worksheets
• Fall Counting Worksheets
• Fall Leaf Scavenger Hunt

The post Pumpkin Science Worksheets appeared first on Affordable Homeschooling.

Pumpkin vines are easy to grow, and the pumpkins themselves are a fun way to learn about the different stages of a plant’s life.

From planting to harvesting, let’s explore all there is to know about growing pumpkins!

Pumpkins are a type of fruit that grows on a vine. The pumpkin vine is easy to grow, and the pumpkins themselves are a fun way to learn about the different stages of a plant’s life.

Pumpkins have a hard outer shell that protects the seeds inside. The seeds are what we plant in the ground to grow new pumpkin plants.

The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

Pumpkins go through four different stages in their life cycle: seed, sprout, vine, and fruit.

The first stage is the seed stage. This is when we plant pumpkin seeds in the ground. The seeds need to be in warm soil to germinate, or start growing. Once the seeds start to grow, we see the second stage, the sprout stage.

At the sprout stage, the pumpkin plants start to grow leaves and roots. The roots help the plant to anchor itself in the ground and absorb water and nutrients. The leaves are important for photosynthesis, which is how the plant makes its own food.

The third stage is the vine stage. This is when the pumpkin plant starts to grow vines. The vines are what the pumpkins grow on. The pumpkin plants can grow very long vines, up to 30 feet (9 meters) in length!

The fourth and final stage is the fruiting stage. This is when the pumpkins start to grow on the vines. Pumpkins take about two to three months to grow from a small, green fruit to a big, orange pumpkin. Once the pumpkins are fully grown, we can harvest them and enjoy them in all sorts of ways!

Pumpkins are not only a fun and festive way to decorate for fall, but they are also a great way to teach kids about the life cycle of a plant.

Planting pumpkin seeds is a fun and easy activity for kids of all ages. And watching the pumpkins grow from tiny sprouts to big, orange fruits is sure to be a hit with any little ones in your life!

Pumpkin Life Cycle Books

Pumpkin life cycle books are the perfect way to teach your little ones about the pumpkin life cycle.

From pumpkin seeds to pumpkin pie, these books provide a fun and educational way to learn about pumpkins.

With pumpkin theme activities and pumpkin life cycle information, your homeschoolers will be sure to love these books.

Whether you are looking for a pumpkin life cycle book for a homeschooler or for a pumpkin lover of any age, these books are sure to please.

Pumpkins (First Step Nonfiction ― Plant Life Cycles)

Get a close-up view of the life of a pumpkin.

Read More

Seed to Pumpkin

A seed sprouts into a vine with pretty blossoms. Soon a bright orange pumpkin will be ready to pick.

Get an up-close look at the life cycle of this festive fall fruit-from seed to pumpkin.

Read More

Pumpkin (Life Cycle of a . . .)

How big can pumpkins grow? Why do pumpkins have very big leaves? What can we make with pumpkins? Explaining concepts through stunning photographs and simple text, 'Life Cycle of a Pumpkin' takes an in-depth look at this familiar but fascinating plant.

Read More

Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden

We can be sure of this: It's a circle without end. It's pumpkin seeds to pumpkins to pumpkin seeds again! This treat of a picture book comes cloaked in the colors of fall.

Bouncy verse and glowing photographs show a backyard pumpkin patch move through its natural cycle-a bug's eye and a bird's high view of seeds sprouting, flowers blooming, bees buzzing, pumpkins growing . . .and then going back to earth.

Read More

Let's Look at Pumpkins (Plant Life Cycles)

How do small, flat pumpkin seeds become large, round pumpkins?

This title uses carefully leveled text and vibrant photos to show younger readers the pumpkin life cycle.

Read More

From Seed to Pumpkin: A Fall Book for Kids (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom.

Plus it includes includes a find out more section with activities such as an experiment to show how plants use roots to drink water from the ground and a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds.

Read More

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie (Picture the Seasons)

Who can resist the sight of big, round, orange pumpkins ripening in a field? Children piling off school buses to pick one out.

Carving out funny faces, smiles, or scary frowns to illuminate Halloween doorsteps. Making room for that last piece of pumpkin pie after a delicious Thanksgiving feast.

In this book, pumpkins aren’t just a fruit, they’re a symbol, a scent, a flavor of the entire season

Read More

Amazing Life of Pumpkins: Rhyming Book With Colorful Illustrations For Kids

This rhyming children’s book helps kids discover how tiny pumpkin seeds grow to become large round pumpkins.

The book comes with colorful illustrations and rhyming texts that make learning fun and easy.

Read More

Pumpkins (Celebrate Fall)

Big orange pumpkins grow in a patch. Fall is here! Celebrate the season with this easy-to-read book. Lovely photos and a simple design beautifully support early readers.

Read More

Let It Grow

A young boy has a pumpkin seed. A very small pumpkin seed. A very small but special pumpkin seed. And what will become of this very small but special seed?

He'll only find out if he lets it grow…and grow…and grow! Because sometimes the smallest things can lead to the biggest adventures! 

Read More

Pumpkins are not only a fun and festive way to decorate for fall, but they are also a great way to teach kids about the life cycle of a plant.

Planting pumpkin seeds is a fun and easy activity for kids of all ages. And watching the pumpkins grow from tiny sprouts to big, orange fruits is sure to be a hit with any little ones in your life!

The post Pumpkin Life Cycle Books appeared first on Affordable Homeschooling.

It’s also a great way to introduce them to the concept of plant growth and development. Plus, it’s super easy to use!

Just print out the pumpkin life cycle sequence cards and cut them out. Then, have your child put the cards in order from start to finish. Voila!

You’ve now got a fun and educational activity that your kids are sure to love.

In order to learn about the world around them, it is important for children to learn about the life cycles of living things. By understanding how plants and animals grow and change over time, they can gain a greater appreciation for the natural world around us.

In addition, studying life cycles can also be a very educational experience. Not only will students learn about the basic stages of development, but they will also learn about the different adaptations that allow plants and animals to survive in their environments.

By teaching students about life cycles, we can help them to better understand and appreciate the world around them.

Pumpkin Science

Pumpkins are an interesting fruit to learn about, especially for kids. For science, pumpkins are classified as a berry.

They grow on vines that are part of the cucurbit family which also includes cucumbers and watermelons. Pumpkins need plenty of space to grow as the vines can sprawl out over a large area.

Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween though you may see them in the fall most often due to their association with the holiday.

Pumpkins can be used in baking, as they are often called for in pies. When cooking with pumpkins, you need to cook them first to make them softer before scooping out the flesh to use in your recipe.

Did you know that pumpkin seeds can be roasted and are a healthy snack? When teaching about pumpkins to kids, have them help you roast the seeds as a tasty science experiment!

Let them experience different parts of the pumpkin life cycle from seed to plant to ripe fruit.

Preparing the Worksheet

This one-page printable requires no advanced preparation. Just print and go! If your kids don’t like coloring, you can print this activity on colored printer paper or print the color version.

You can also make this a reusable activity by printing it on cardstock and laminating it for durability. Cut out the sequencing cards at the bottom of the page.

Add a velcro dot to the backside of each sequencing card and in each empty box on the worksheet. Then, the kids can sequence the life cycle of a pumpkin over and over again.

Completing the Activity

Choose the version of this activity that suits your needs – color or black and white. If you choose the black and white version, have children color the life cycle images.

Cut out the life cycle pictures at the bottom of the page. Paste the pictures in order from seed to adult.

While your child completes this activity, be sure to spend a little time introducing new vocabulary words such as seed, sprout, fruit, etc.

Teaching Life Cycle

I love to teach about life cycles- it’s a science lesson that is fascinating for both students and teachers alike. There is something special about watching a plant grow from a tiny seedling into a full-fledged flower or watching an animal grow from an egg into a fully-grown adult.

Teaching about life cycles is a great way to introduce students to the science of how plants and animals grow and change over time. It’s also a great opportunity to instill a love of science in young students.

Pumpkin Facts for Kids

Pumpkins are a type of fruit that belongs to the gourd family. They are native to North America and have been grown by Native Americans for centuries.

Today, pumpkins are widely grown across the United States and are often used to make pies and jack-o-lanterns.

Here are some fun facts about pumpkins:

• Pumpkins are actually classified as a fruit because they contain seeds.
• Pumpkins come in a variety of colors, including orange, green, white, and even blue!
• Pumpkins are very low in calories and are a good source of fiber.
• Pumpkins can be used to make a variety of things, including pies, soup, bread, and even beer.
• The largest pumpkin on record weighed over 2,000 pounds!

Pumpkin Books for Kids

While pumpkin-flavored everything has become synonymous with fall, there is one type of pumpkin product that is perfect for any time of year: books!

For young children, there are plenty of pumpkin-themed stories that are both fun and educational.

In The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, a brave grandmother takes on a series of spooky pumpkins who turn out to be nothing more than harmless clothes.

In The Runaway Pumpkin, a mischievous pumpkin causes havoc on a farm before finally settling down in the most unlikely of places.

These and other pumpkin books are sure to delight kids of all ages. So whether you’re looking for a Halloween treat or a year-round classic, be sure to check out the many wonderful pumpkin books for kids.

Whether you’re looking for a fun read aloud or a thought-provoking novel, be sure to check out one of these books about sunflowers for kids.

LIFE CYCLE PRINTABLES

If your kids enjoyed this life cycle of a pumpkin worksheet, they’ll love learning more about life cycles with one or more of these life cycle printables:

• Dragonfly Life Cycle Worksheet
• Life Cycle of a Plant Worksheet
• Life Cycle of a Ladybug Worksheet
• Human Life Cycle Worksheet
• Free Butterfly Life Cycle Worksheet

The post Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Printable appeared first on Affordable Homeschooling.

You guys have been asking for more cut and paste worksheets, and I’m happy to create them for you!

This set of free printables is perfect for your autumn lesson plans. You can add them to your pumpkin or Halloween themes.

These pumpkin printables are perfect for kids ages 4-7. There are activity pages that help kids practice counting to ten, ordering numbers to ten, beginning and ending sounds, and more.

Pumpkin Cut and Paste Worksheets

Because these worksheets are print-and-go, they are perfect for busy moms and homeschool co-op teachers. There is no prep work involved.

Young learners will love working on a variety of math and literacy skills this fall as they practice cutting and pasting.

Preparing the Worksheets

All you need to do to prepare these worksheets is print them out! It’s that easy.

However, if you’d like to make them reusable, you can laminate them after printing them out.

Then, add velcro dots to the back of each cut off piece and each blank box on the page.

What’s Included?

Counting to Ten

There are two counting to ten worksheets. Children will count the pumpkins in each set, and then glue the correct number beside it.

Number Words

As with the first two worksheets, children will count the pumpkins in each set. On this worksheet, however, they will glue the correct number word beside each one.

Sorting by Size

Children will cut out the twelve items on the page. They’ll sort them into the correct box according to their size – big or small.

Beginning Sounds

Children will cut and paste objects that begin with the /p/ sound.

Ending Sounds

Children will cut and paste objects that end with the /p/ sound.

Number Order

Preschoolers will cut and paste the numbers in order from 1-10.

CVC Words

Kids will read ten CVC words. Then, they’ll paste a picture of that word in the box.

BOOKS ABOUT PUMPKINS

Fill your book basket with a great collection of books about pumpkins. Most of these books can be found at your local library or used bookstore.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them through my Amazon affiliate links by clicking the images below.

• How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? – Carve out family time with this Halloween read that features the beloved Mr. Tiffin and his students and makes for a fun way to reinforce counting skills at home!

• The Pumpkin Book – In this cheerfully-illustrated, simply-presented book, children can learn about the growth cycle and many varieties of pumpkins, and even how to plant their own. 

• Splat the Cat and the Pumpkin Picking Plan – When Splat the Cat goes to a pumpkin patch with Seymour, he is determined to find the biggest pumpkin ever. But when he finally does, Splat discovers the real challenge isn’t finding the pumpkin—it’s how to get the pumpkin home!

Teaching Resources

Learn all about the parts of a pumpkin. How do they work? What do they do? This parts of a pumpkin felt board set is simple enough for preschoolers and detailed enough for use within homeschool or early elementary classrooms.

Provide your preschooler with hours of Halloween fun with the 5 Little Pumpkins Sensory Bin!

The post Pumpkin Cut and Paste Sentence Worksheets appeared first on Affordable Homeschooling.