PreK's A Hoot! : Happy Halloween!

We finished out the month of October with our Pumpkin Unit!

First we learned all about the pumpkin life cycle from seed to pumpkin.

Next we learned all about the pumpkin's outside: shape, color, and size.

We even learned that pumpkins can float!

Finally we learned all about the pumpkin's insides: flesh, pulp, and seeds. The "guts" were extra yucky!

After learning all about our pumpkin we turned him into a nice Jack-O-Lantern to decorate our classroom!

While learning all about pumpkins we completed two STEM engineering challenges.

The first challenge was The 5 Little Pumpkins Gate Project. The students were given wooden blocks, Popsicle sticks, and 5 candy pumpkins and were asked to build the tallest gate to support their 5 candy pumpkins. Each table was allowed to trade a few of their building materials for tape or rubber bands to help hold their gates together. This was a great lesson in working together and trying out different ideas to work to a common goal.

Our second STEM activity was getting our HexBugs to carry our candy pumpkins across the table. Each group was given one HexBug, one candy pumpkin, and the choice of one rubber band or string to hold the pumpkin on the bug's back.

Halloween morning we enjoyed the 8th Graders' Mad Scientist presentation!

They showed us two experiments and explained all of the scientific properties behind the "magic."

Halloween afternoon we had a wonderful Pumpkin Hunt at the Benedict House! We enjoyed a yummy pumpkin snack, two crafts, playing bingo, and hunting for pumpkins outside. Thanks to all of our parents who helped make our event happen!

Our final two pumpkin snacks of the month were Dirt Cup Pumpkin Patches and Pumpkin Pie Bites. Yum! These Hoots loved cooking our special treats and we look forward to starting our snack activities back up after the holiday season.