Preschool Pumpkin Theme
Preschoolers will love this Preschool Pumpkin Theme. Hands on activities will help preschoolers to learn all about pumpkins, both inside and out. Use this preschool theme before Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Preschool Pumpkin Circle Time
How do Pumpkins Grow? – Talk with the preschoolers about what pumpkins need to grow.
Pumpkin Feel Box – Put some pumpkin seeds in a Preschool Feel Box. Have preschoolers take turns reaching in the box and trying to guess what it is they are feeling.
Different Types of Pumpkins – There are many varieties of pumpkins. If possible, find examples of several different kinds of pumpkins and let the preschoolers look at them. Pass the pumpkins around during circle time and have each preschooler describe what things are the same and what things are different about each of the pumpkins. If you can not find examples of different types of pumpkins you can use photographs.
How Do We Eat Pumpkins? – Ask preschoolers to share their favorite foods that are made with pumpkins. Talk about some pumpkin dishes that they may not have tried before.
Preschool Pumpkin Arts and Crafts
Preschool Pumpkin Painting
Preschoolers love to participate in Halloween themed activities but carving pumpkins is often too difficult for them to master and it can be dangerous giving a preschooler even a dull knife to use. Painting pumpkins is a wonderful alternative to the traditional pumpkin carving and it allows preschoolers to use their imagination in a safe pumpkin decorating activity.
Preschool Paper Bag Pumpkin
Preschoolers will love making this paper bag pumpkin as a special Halloween craft activity. This Halloween art project makes a wonderful holiday decoration for preschoolers desks at school or at home as a centerpiece for a festive meal.
Marble Painting
Have preschoolers use this art technique to make a unique pumpkin picture. Have preschoolers marble paint on orange paper and then cut the paper into a pumpkin shape.
Fingerprint Pumpkin Patch – Have preschoolers dip one finger in orange paint and use it to make fingerprints all over a piece of construction paper. When the paint dries, have preschoolers draw green vines connecting the fingerprint pumpkins to make a pumpkin patch.
Pumpkin Diagram – After the preschoolers participate in What’s Inside a Pumpkin (see below), give them each a simple pumpkin template. Have preschoolers use markers to color what the inside of the pumpkin looked like. Give the preschoolers pieces of yellow and orange yarn to glue to their picture. Save some of the real pumpkin seeds and let preschoolers glue them to their pumpkin picture.
Preschool Pumpkin Math and Science
What’s Inside a Pumpkin? – Cut the top off a large pumpkin. Let each preschooler stick their hand inside the pumpkin and describe what they feel. Scoop everything out from the inside of the pumpkin and spread it out on a large cookie sheet. Let the preschoolers play with the inside of the pumpkin for a fun sensory activities. When they are done playing have the preschoolers try and pick out the pumpkin seeds. Save the pumpkin seeds to bake or use in a fun counting activity.
Pumpkin Seed Counting – Wash a handful of pumpkin seeds and let them dry. Count out ten paper cups and in large print write the numbers 1-10 on the outside of the cups. Put the paper cups and the bowl of pumpkin seeds in your math center. Have preschoolers practice counting out the correct number of pumpkin seeds for each cup.
Bake Pumpkin Seeds and eat them for snack time.
Preschool Botany – Life Cycle of a Pumpkin
Ever wonder how pumpkins grow? Teach your preschooler about the life cycle of a pumpkin with this fun preschool botany project.
Pumpkin Cookies – Make pumpkin cookies with the preschoolers. Let each preschooler take a turn measuring or pouring an ingredient into the mixture.
Pumpkin Pie Playdough – Make homemade play dough and add pumpkin pie spice.
Preschool Pumpkin Music and Movement
Five Little Pumpkins – Print out 5 medium sized pumpkin templates. Color and cut out the pumpkins and glue them to a popsicle stick. Use them as you chant the rhyme in Five Little Pumpkins.
Preschool Pumpkin Pretend Play
Mr. Pumpkin Head Activity
Create your very own Halloween version of the classic Mr. Potato Head toy with the Mr. Pumpkin Head activity. Preschoolers will get a kick out of mixing and matching shapes to create unlimited pumpkin faces. The Mr. Pumpkin Head activity makes a spooktacular party game too!
