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Fall Science with Pumpkins and Gourds, Pre-K, Preschool

By Karen Cox | Affiliate Disclosure | Filed Under: Halloween Theme, Science Center Ideas

Here are some Fall Science Activities with Pumpkins and Gourds for Pre-K and Preschool. Looking for the Gourds Science Center? It’s just below the Pumkins.

Fall Science: Pumpkins & Gourds, Preschool

Exploring Pumpkins

We had several pumpkins of different sizes and colors for the children to observe, touch, and make observational drawings. After several weeks, these were cut in half for the children to observe the inside. Tweezers were placed in the science center with the pumpkins for children to pick out the seeds.

pumpkin science center
pumpkin science center
Gourds Science Center Display

Gourds Science Center

This gourd science center display can be used in the Fall, especially around Thanksgiving.

Gourds Science Center Display

Gourd Science Center

I bought a variety of gourds in the produce section of a store and set up this display in our science center. I added two baskets that children could use for sorting the gourds by texture: bumpy or smooth. Some children might simply explore and observe the gourds by feeling the different textures. I also added a poster with the display that said “Some gourds are bumpy. Some gourds are smooth.” (This adds environmental print to our center, and many children ask what the sign says.) I found the gourd photos used in the poster through an internet search.

Gourd Painting Extension Activity

You can also use the gourds for an observational drawing and painting activity. Children used black pens to draw the outlines and details of the gourds by observation, and then painted their gourd drawings with tempera paint. I mixed paint in a variety of hues in advance so the children could match the colors of the paints to the colors of the gourds. Thin paintbrushes work best.

Painting Gourds

Post originally published October 2007.

More Resources

Find more Pumpkin activities here!

You might also like this Pumpkin Life Cycle set, available in my shop.

Pumpkin Life Cycle
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Tagged With: Fall Activities for Pre-K

About Karen Cox

Karen is the founder of PreKinders.com. She also works as a full-time Pre-K teacher in Georgia. Read more...

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Glad you're here! You'll find hands-on learning activities, themes, and printables for Pre-K, Preschool, and Kindergarten kids. I'm Karen Cox, a Pre-K teacher in Georgia. I have taught 4-5 year olds for 20+ years! Read More…

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