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Pumpkins, more than just for Halloween!
Right before the snow fell, students in Susan Boone's class picked their bounty of pumpkins from the school garden. Starting from seedlings this fall, the students spent the last few months watering and caring for their gourds, including covering them on cold, frosty nights.
Days before Halloween, the class harvested eleven pumpkins as they began to turn yellow and orange. Even though the students admittedly were most excited about painting jack-o-lanterns, they had some work to do first - to measure and weigh their pumpkins for the class project. As part of the Essential Elements Alternative Standards curriculum, students learned about circumference and the correct tools and units of measure to determine size. They also weighed their pumpkins using pounds and ounces, with the requirement to convert these two measurements. Students extended their learning as they reflected on the fall harvest experience through creative writing and art.
The final culmination was painting the pumpkins and carving a jack-o-lantern, including removing the seeds, ready to plant in the spring. We are so grateful for teachers, like Ms. Boone and her staff for providing fun, meaningful opportunities for student learning!
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