Pumpkin Exploration

Pumpkin Exploration

        Pumpkins where brought in as part of a fall exploration. Teachers first introduced the pumpkins as a whole. Children explored the pumpkins by rolling them, touching them, sitting on them and attempting to gnaw on them.

We then introduced them as art, by letting them color the outsides of the pumpkins with markers. We then moved from the outside of a pumpkin to the inside, allowing the children to see the contents within the pumpkin. Teachers then encouraged the children to feel, see, touch and smell the inside as we pulled the seeds out and placed them on the floor. Many children began to put the pumpkins seeds back into the pumpkin. Some of the children enjoyed the sensory experience while others were hesitant and just observed what was going on.

After the exploration of the inside, the children painted the inside of the pumpkin seeing the change of the color. Teachers then baked pieces of pumpkin allowing them to explore it through taste.  This exploration engaged the various senses, by allowing them to see, touch, feel, smell and taste the pumpkin

 

           New Mexico Early Learning Guidelines Meet:

 

Beginning to Know About Ourselves and Others

 Component 2: Self-awareness

Component 4: Relationship with Peers

 

Beginning to Communicate

Component 5: Listening and Understanding

Component 6: Speaking and Communicating

 

Beginning to Build Concepts

Component 8: Exploration and Discovery

Component 9: Concept Development and Memory

 

Beginning to Move and Do

Component 11: Large Motor

Component 12: Fine Motor

 

Approaches to Learning

Component 14: Curiosity, Initiative, Creativity, Persistence and Problem Solving