Pumpkin Printing
After Halloween, use your carved jack-o'-lantern for print making. Cut the pumpkin into chunks and let the children use nails to carve designs on the insides of the pumpkin pieces. Then have them press the design sides of their pumpkin pieces first on ink pads and then on pieces of construction paper.
Pumpkin Pies
Cut round shapes out of orange construction paper. Set out small containers of powdered cinnamon and ginger and place a few whole cloves in a paper cup for each child. Have the children brush glue on their pie shapes. Then let them sprinkle the spices over the glue to create fragrant "pumpkin pies".
Pumpkin Patch
Have the children fill paper lunch sacks with small pieces of crumpled newspaper. Secure each bag with a twist tie, leaving about 1 inch of the bag gathered at the top. Then have the children paint the bottom parts of their bags orange and the gathered parts green to create pumpkins with stems. When the pumpkins have dried, string them all together with green yarn "vines" to make a "pumpkin patch".
Pumpkin Discrimination
Make six pairs of pumpkin faces on twelve white index cards. Mix up the cards. Let the children take turns matching the pumpkin faces. If desired, start with only four cards (two pairs) and increase the number of pairs as the children's discrimination abilities increase.
Personalized Pumpkins
If you have room for a garden, let the children grow personalized pumpkins. When the pumpkins are small and green (about the size of grapefruit) help the children scratch their names on the outsides with a nail or a small knife. As the pumpkins grow, scars will form over the scratches and the names will get bigger.
Pumpkin Growth
On four large index cards, draw the growth stages of a pumpkin (a seed, a flowering vine, a green pumpkin, and a ripe pumpkin). Mix up the cards and let the children take turns putting them in order.
Ten Little Pumpkins
Cut ten pumpkin shapes out of orange felt and place them on a flannelboard. Remove the shapes one at a time as you read the following poem.
Ten little pumpkins
All in a line,
One became a jack-o'-lantern,
Then there were nine.
Nine little pumpkins
Peeking through the gate,
An old witch took one,
Then there were eight.
Eight little pumpkins
(There never were eleven),
A green goblin took one,
Then there were seven.
Seven little pumpkins
Full of jolly tricks,
A white ghost took one,
Then there were six.
Six little pumpkins
Glad to be alive,
A black cat took one,
Then there were five.
Five little pumpkins
By the barn door,
A hoot owl took one,
Then there were four.
Four little pumpkins
(As you can plainly see),
One became a pumpkin pie,
Then there were three.
Three little pumpkins
Feeling very blue,
One rolled far away,
Then there were two.
Two little pumpkins
Alone in the sun,
One said, "So long,"
And then there was one.
One little pumpkin
Left all alone,
A little boy chose him,
Then there were none.
Ten little pumpkins
In a patch so green
Made everyone happy
On Halloween.
Jack-O'-Lantern Flashlights
Out of orange construction paper, cut circles to cover the ends of several flashlights. Cut jack-o'-lantern facial features out of each circle. Tape the circles to the ends of the flashlights. Give the children the flashlights and let them dance around a darkened room, shining their jack-o'-lantern faces all around.
Mr. Pumpkin
Sung to : "Frere Jacques"
Mr. Pumpkin, Mr. Pumpkin,
Eyes so round, eyes so round.
Halloween is coming,
Halloween is coming,
To my town, to my town.
Banana-Pumpkin Foamy
Blend 1 cup milk, 1 sliced banana, 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin, and a dash of cinnamon together for a foamy pumpkin drink. Makes 2 servings.
Orange Pumpkin Pudding
Dice 4 pieces of whole-wheat bread and crumble them in a blender. Place the crumbs in a large bowl. Next, blend together 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup orange juice, and 1/4 cup unsweetened frozen apple juice concentrate. Add 2 eggs, 1 sliced banana, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 cup cooked pumpkin and a dash of salt and blend again. Add the mixture to the bread crumbs. Stir together and pour into a baking dish. Bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve slightly warm and top with whipped cream, if desired. Makes 8 servings.