Experimenting w/ PUMPKINS! A Science Unit Exploring the Pumpkin

PUMPKINS!! It's that time of year again when those big orange gourds reappear across front porches on every street in America! Students love pumpkins, so why not use them to teach the Scientific Method!

This week-long investigation of pumpkins allows students to learn a little math and a little science, while engaging in meaningful experiments to discover links between many properties of the pumpkin.

Each day, students will find and explore:

*A hypothesis for each of the activities.

*Predict many aspects of their pumpkin

*Diameter and circumference of the the pumpkin

*Weight of the pumpkin

*Whether or not the pumpkin will float (density).

*And finally, the number of seeds inside.

Students will collect their own data throughout the week, and also compile all student data at the end to see if they can discover links between properties of the pumpkin (example- whether or not the weight has a correlation to the number of seeds inside).

My 4th graders always have a blast with this project, and I am always happy to have them engaged AND learning!! :)

This project includes:

-An activity page with the Scientific Method for each task.

-Data tables for students to fill in their own pumpkin's information.

-A class data table to compile information at the end of the week.

-An analyzing data page where students are asked to look at the compiled information and draw conclusions.

-Directions for students to go online and discover more about Pumpkins (http://www.mrmault.com/p/pumpkins.html)

-A Pumpkin word search!

Thank for looking and have fun.

-Dan M.

If you like the pumpkin clip art I used, be sure to check out Pigknit on TpT. She is brilliant and has a ton to offer!!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Pigknit-Clip-Art