Pumpkin Investigation

For the past couple of weeks the students have been investigating pumpkins and squash. Take a look at our investigation process.

EKW and Background Knowledge
First we discussed experiences, knowledge and what the students wanted to know (wonderings). Then they learned about living things and their needs.

Pumpkin Research
The students learned about the life cycle, growing process, parts and types of pumpkins by listening to different non-fiction stories, watching video clips and looking at text pictures.

Field Trip and Pumpkin Picking
The students got to visit a real pumpkin patch to see where pumpkins grow. We cut open one of the pumpkins from the patch. The students got to help scoop out the pulp and seeds. They also touched and smelled the flesh. We made estimations about how many seeds there were. We put them in groups of ten and counted. There were 436 seeds!

Creating the Models
The students chose a pumpkin or squash that they wanted to sketch. They worked to make sure they added all the details and used the exact colors.

They also worked with Ms. West to make paper machete models. They had so much fun getting "ooey and gooey"! This week the students worked on painting and labeling the models.

Play Based Areas
Each of our play based areas had pumpkin and leaf inspired objects.

Building Area- students created a pumpkin patch

Sensory Area- students did water play with gel leafs

Math Area- students made patterns, measured pumpkins and squash, used a " geo" pumpkin to make shapes and counted seeds

Art Area- students painted pumpkin and squash pictures

Reading Area- students read about pumpkins

Home Living Area- students engaged in pretend play by making pumpkin "dishes"

Writing Area- students drew and wrote about pumpkins

Clay/Play-dough Area- students made "mini" models of pumpkin and squash

Science Area- students used leaves they collected to create leaf creatures

Paper Machete Pumpkin Patch
These are the awesome paper machete pumpkins the students made with Ms. West!  They used different colors like all of the pumpkins we learned about and labeled the parts.  They are all connected on a "vine".

 

Our Display
This is our hallway display.

 The students illustrations of different types of pumpkins and squash.

 The paintings students worked on in the art area.

 Student drawings and writings from the field trip.

 Foldables made by the students about needs and habitats.

Mini models made by the students in the clay area.




What's Next?
Our next investigation will be cooking. We will finish out pumpkins by Thanksgiving break by making pumpkin bread! Yummy!

Recycling Center

Today one of the representatives from the Montgomery County Waste Management facility came out to talk to the whole school about recycling. The students had brought in items that could be recycled as well. One of the students decided we should make our own recycling center so we could keep collecting until the end of the year... So a few students worked on an impromptu recycling project! We made 3 bins to sort aluminum, plastic and paper and then a sign to label our center. Every Friday will be the day students can bring in recyclable items that we will then add to our bins and then send to the waste management facility.

More and Less

This week we worked on comparing numbers to 10.  We used objects, made models, played partner games and used a number line to find amounts that were more and less.  The students really enjoyed our partner games so I thought I'd share them. They came from ideas on Pinterest of course!

Blue and Red Bear Compare Game
This game allowed students to visually see amounts and then determine which group was more and less.  Each partner group got a bag of red and blue counter bears (10 of each color). They also got a work mat and a flipable counter that had a red side and a blue side (made with a blue sticker dot).  Students would take turns flipping the counter and then placing that color bear on the ten frame.  This continued until the ten frame was full.  Then students sorted the colors into the circles and decided which color had more and less.

Number Line Clip Game
We also played a game today where students did not have objects but just the number cards. In order for them to see which number was greater or less we practiced using a number line.  To play the game each partner group received a number line, two clothes pins and a bag of number cards 0-10.  Students took turns pulling out a number and placing the clothes pin on the number line.  Then they would decide whose number was greater and less.

Next week we will begin learning about teen numbers! Once we have learned numbers to 20 we will come back and revisit number comparison again.