Halloween may be over but our love for pumpkins is still going strong and November is the perfect time to embrace the last full month of fall. From crafts to games, these pumpkin-themed activities are perfect for families or teachers looking to add a seasonal way to learn and play.
1. Pumpkin investigation
Grab a pumpkin and have your child conduct their very own investigation. Use this pumpkin Investigation Guideline to help them make predictions and record observations about their pumpkin, such as its weight, how many seeds it contains, and more. This activity encourages children to explore the different methods of measuring and investigating and can be done year-round with their favorite fruit or vegetable.
2. Painted pumpkin faces
Encourage your child to explore different emotions by looking at facial expressions. Ask your child to look into a mirror and practice various emotions using their faces. Then, let them secretly decide which facial expression to paint on a pumpkin. Once it’s dry, guess which emotion they’ve chosen.
3. Dress up pumpkin
As the weather cools, it’s time to bundle up—even the pumpkins! Let your little ones give a pumpkin a cozy makeover by drawing a face, giving it a name, and adding a fun personality. Then, dress it up for the chilly season with your favorite scarves, hats, and other winter accessories.
4. Pumpkin snowman
Who says you need snow to build a snowman? Gather markers, yarn, buttons, and other craft supplies, and let your kids tap into their creativity. Start by decorating two pumpkins—one for the head and one for the torso. Then, glue and stack the three pumpkins together from largest on the bottom to smallest on top to bring your snowman or lady to life! This activity is perfect for any climate throughout the fall and winter.
5. Picasso pumpkin
This cubist-inspired art activity provides a safer and less messy way for younger children to decorate pumpkins. First, pre-cut images of facial features from a magazine. Then, have your child choose different images to form a unique face. Apply glue to the back of the pictures and stick them to the pumpkin. Once it’s dry, your child will have a masterpiece ready to be shown at a museum.
6. Paper pumpkin
Create an eye-catching 3-D pumpkin using everyday household materials. This easy project is a great way to brighten up your home and add a festive touch to the holiday table.
7. Create your own pumpkin person
With Thanksgiving around the corner, try this hands-on activity that the whole family can enjoy! Gather a few creative supplies and design your very own pumpkin person. Start by cutting out a pumpkin head, then add details like hair, clothes, and accessories. Next, use this All About My Pumpkin Person worksheet to help give your pumpkin person a unique personality. Once everyone is done, have each person introduce their new pumpkin friend to the family.
8. Pumpkin treats
Pumpkins are an autumn staple, whether you’re cooking, decorating, or enjoying it for the season. What better way to celebrate this fall favorite than by making a delicious treat? This no-bake recipe is a fun and easy way for your children to share something special with their classmates and family.
9. Pumpkin game: candy toss
Do your kids still have Halloween candy? Turn those leftover sweets into a fun game! Start by printing this worksheet and following the directions to fold, cut, and tape it into the candy tossing game. Give each child an equal amount of candy, and then have each player take turns tossing candy into the pumpkin’s mouth. The player who gets the most candy into the pumpkin wins it all!
10. Play with your food
Don’t toss out your pumpkins just yet! Instead, create a fall mosaic with pumpkin seeds. Have your child arrange 50 dry seeds on a piece of paper in the shape of a pumpkin. They can also practice their math skills by counting how many seeds it takes to create the orange part of the pumpkin, the brown part for the stem, and the green for the leaf. Let your kids paint the seeds for each color and allow them to dry. Finally, glue them to a sheet of paper to complete their festive work of art!
Craving more autumn-themed fun? Browse the entire selection of fall-themed worksheets, games, and hands-on projects for PreK-8th grades in the Education.com Learning Library.
