Show several real pumpkins. What time of year do we typically see the most pumpkins? Why might we see them mostly in the fall? Where do we see pumpkins? What do we know about pumpkins? Interactive write with the children what they notice about a real pumpkin. What outside traits do they see (exp. color, texture, size) ? Cut one of the pumpkins and have students also note inside traits such as seeds, pulp, smell, etc. Write all observations on a pumpkin shaped sheet. (Printable Pumpkin Observation Sheet)
Introduce the cover, title, and author of Patty's Pumpkin Patch. Have you ever been to a pumpkin patch? Who might Patty be? Open the book and tell students that they will need to focus on the large pictures. We will be discussing the bottom ABC pictures at another time. As you have students look carefully at each page, ask questions, such as the following….
Read aloud for enjoyment and to see how story ends.
Introduce the fun companion poem, 'Pumpkin, Pumpkin'. Read the poem chart aloud, letting students add the corresponding Velcro pictures for each line. Reread with the students, showing them motions they can do to accompany each line.
for the 'Pumpkin Pumpkin' Poem Chart
Reread the companion poem, 'Pumpkin, Pumpkin', enjoying the related motions. Reread again, pointing to each word on the chart. Find the rhymes and orally
brainstorm additional rhymes for /ound/ and /ee/.
Introduce the title, author, and illustrator of the story Pumpkin Pumpkin. Show the cover. Have you ever seen a pumpkin so large that you could sit on it? Where might the boy be? What do you think this story may be about? Read aloud the story for enjoyment. Then, have each child plant a pumpkin seed! As it grows over the next couple weeks, watch it grow and keep a journal of the changes!
Reread Patty's Pumpkin Patch. Then, let children search for the hidden animals on each page. For any unfamiliar animals that the students come across, model for them how to look the words up in a dictionary and/or encyclopedia to learn more (exp. junco, nuthatch, pheasant, vixen, xylem, etc.).
According to the needs of your class, you may want to do the following with ABC Pumpkins.
Have students listen for rhymes on each double page spread as you read Patty's Pumpkin Patch. What can we make to eat from a pumpkin? (pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pudding, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin dip, roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin cookies, etc.) Read 'Pumpkin Pie' concept booklet and make pumpkin pie.
Reread Pumpkin Pumpkin. Sing 'From Seed to Pie' as shown below. Pass out pictures that correspond to each verse in the song. As you sing the song, have kids come up holding their picture according to the order in the song.
From Seed to Pie
The seed is in the ground.
Reread the companion poem, 'Pumpkin, Pumpkin'. Reread again, pointing to each word on the chart. Have the students use wikki stix or a fly swatter to mask certain letters, and sight words such as 'and, you, on, the, in, a, then, me.'
Reread the companion poem, 'Pumpkin, Pumpkin'. Reread again a few times, allowing volunteers to point to each word on the chart. Have children 'be the sentences' and put the four sentences in order to form the poem. For each sentence, let one child hold the sentence and one child hold the corresponding picture
Reread Pumpkin Pumpkin. Create a class pumpkin patch mural . Have students make handprint pumpkins, paint vines, leaves, blooms, etc. Once dry, have students help label the dirt, pumpkins, vines, flowers, stems, sun, colors of the pumpkins, etc.
Reread Patty's Pumpkin Patch. Then, show students a large pumpkin cut out, with seed clipart containing pictures of items beginning with different sounds. Children have to take out 'seeds' with a certain sound as you chant ….'Pumpkin pumpkin big and round, filled with pulp and seeds with the (insert sound) sound.'
Reread the companion poem, 'Pumpkin, Pumpkin'. Have children 'be the words' for one sentence at a time. For each sentence, assign one child per word and one for the corresponding picture for the sentence. Then, give each student their own take home booklet. Students glue one sentence on each page, under the matching typed text. They then illustrate each sentence.
Reread Patty's Pumpkin Patch for enjoyment.
Reread Pumpkin Pumpkin. Use the corresponding Pumpkin Pumpkin pocket chart from McCrackens. Place pictures in chart to sequence the story. Reread to check. Add phrases. Retell the story, pointing to and reading the phrases from the chart as you come to them. Then, let students individually sequence the growth/life cycle of a pumpkin. (Pumpkin Life Cycle Clip Art to print form from A to Z Teacher Stuff)
Related Read Aloud Stories/Poems:
Focus Story: Patty's Pumpkin Patch by Teri Sloat
The Stubborn Pumpkin by Laura Geringer
Possible Cross Curricular Connections:
Five Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins
4. Pumpkin words – Children find the seed cutouts with the letters they need to form the word that matches the picture on each pumpkin
CVC Word Pumpkins
5. Sight Word Practice – Students color a seed in the pumpkin for each word they can read aloud to an adult.
Sight Word Seeds
6. Pumpkin Word Family Houses - Place a picture on each of four pumpkins. Children match seed shapes with either the pictures (which are on one side) or with words (on the other side) to each corresponding word family pumpkin house.
Related Internet Resources:
Pumpkins Aplenty, Pumpkins Galore - ideas from the Virtual Vine