Order by Size. Using 5 or 10 pumpkins, children can set a timer to see how fast they can arrange the pumpkins in order from largest to smallest. Record the times and create a graph from the results. (You can make this easy or difficult by your selection of pumpkins.)
Sort and classify. When you have a good collection of pumpkins, children can sort them into two groups by similarities and see if classmates can figure out the sorting scheme. Are they sorted by big and small? Stems and no stems? Smooth surface and bumpy surfaces? Flat spots and no flat spots? The sorting opportunities are endless.
Find more activities for early childhood classrooms in these archives:
Sue LaBella, Education World's early childhood editor, is a former teacher who loves writing activities and poems for young children. She lives in Connecticut with her family and her bulldog named Daisy.
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Activities by Sue LaBella
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