Pumpkin Math

The fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love switching to sweaters, jeans, and pumpkin spiced coffee! Another one of my favorite things about fall is that we get to complete "pumpkin math."

This is one of those activities in first grade that students always remember at the end of the year. In my district, we're very fortunate to have families that are always asking for how they can be in the classroom. Volunteering for pumpkin math is a great way. This activity can be done as a whole group if volunteers are limited, but students are able to be more hands on if you can have about 4-5 children per pumpkin.

For pumpkin math, you will need my pumpkin math booklet printed for each of your students. You can purchase it here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pumpkin-Math-2825745 . You will need a scale and tape measure. You will also need the following materials for each group: a small or medium sized pumpkin, knife for cutting the pumpkin open, a spoon for scooping out the seeds and pulp, newspaper to line your tables, and a bowl to hold the pulp.

Students start pumpkin math by thinking about how to "estimate." We then make some estimations and record them on the included recording sheet.

Once the estimations are complete, it's time to start recording. The first is weighing your pumpkin. I usually set up a "weighing station" with my scale at a separate table. This seems to help with the flow of multiple groups. Students record their answer and then return to their table.

They will then use a tape measure to measure how tall the pumpkin is and the circumference around the pumpkin.

Next, each group counts the number of vertical lines on the pumpkin.


Now it's time to get dirty! Have the adult cut off the top of the pumpkin with the knife.

Students can get in with a spoon or their bare hands to start pulling out the seeds and pulp.

Then students will begin the first page of the pumpkin recording, which is counting the number of seeds. HINT: The smaller the pumpkin, generally the more seeds it has. Our pumpkin with the greatest number of seeds last year was 352. Groups of tens were very helpful! After each recording, we compare our actual numbers with our estimations. The seed counting is usually the most surprising!

At the end of the math portion, we allow each group to vote on the type of face they want their pumpkin to have and the volunteer gets to carve the face. We then share out to see which pumpkin weighed the most, which pumpkin was the tallest, most seeds, etc.

This is always a fun project and the feedback from parents is always positive! I hope you enjoy! :)