The Story of a Garden
Greetings Faculty and Staff,
The book of the month for the month of October is an informative, rhythmic
text with pictures that conveys the growth cycle of a pumpkin. The pumpkin circle
may turn any reader into a pumpkin lover. In the book students learn a lot about
the cycle of planting, growing, harvesting, and planting again.
The author, George Levenson, loves pumpkins. The avid gardener has his
own pumpkin patch. The National Science Teachers Association and the Children's
Book Council selected the publication as an Outstanding Science Trade Book for
Children in 2000. Levenson currently lives in Santa Cruz, California.
The pictures make the book come alive by conveying a wealth of information
for all ages. The photographer, Shmuel Thaler, matches the rhythmic text of the
book with authentic colorful photos. Thaler has collaborated on numbers of projects
with various authors. Get ready, set, and go with the roller coaster ride of pumpkin
circle as the students enjoy the growth cycle of a pumpkin.
Cordially,
Book of the Month Fairy
Curriculum Connections
Pumpkin Poem (K-2)
Pumpkin Pumpkin
Pumpkin Pumpkin
Big and round
I’m glad you grow on the ground
I’m glad you don’t grow in a tree
Then you might fall down on me
1. Show several pictures of real pumpkins.
2. Lead the class in a discussion: What time of year do we typically see the most
pumpkins? Why might we see them mostly in the fall? Where do we see
pumpkins? What do we know about pumpkins? List responses on chart paper.
3. Interactive write (K-1) with the children what they notice about a pumpkin. What
outside traits do they see (exp. color, texture, size)?
4. Introduce the cover, title, and author of the book Pumpkin, Pumpkin. Show the
cover.
5. Discussion questions: Have you ever seen a pumpkin so large that you can sit on
it? Where might the boy be? What do you think this story may be about? Read
aloud the story for enjoyment!! Then, have each child plant a seed or the class
plant a pumpkin seed and watch it grow!! Watch it grow and keep a journal of
the changes.
Plant a Pumpkin Seed Watch it Grow!!
Whether it is Spring or Fall, it is easy and fascinating to plant pumpkin seeds
indoors and watch them sprout into seedlings. It takes 8-10 days for a pumpkin seed
to become a young plant. For most of that time, the seed is growing down and
producing roots. On about the 7th day, two fat, fuzzy, oval baby leaves break
through the soil. Within a few more days, a third leaf, with wrinkles and jagged
edges, appears in the center of the young plant. Here's what you will need to make a
root view chamber.
MATERIALS: (1) Potting soil (2) Pumpkin seeds, (3) Half gallon milk carton, (4)
acetate (overhead transparency) or clear plastic, (5) Waterproof glue, (6) Wooden
block or book.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut off top of milk carton; rinse the carton with soap and water.
2. Cut a "window" flap on one side of the milk carton, leaving flap attached at the
bottom. The flap should be about half an inch in from the edges of the container.
Leave the flap attached at the bottom so the roots can be covered when not observed.
3. Cut acetate or plastic for a "window". Place inside carton and glue.
4. Loosely pack moist potting soil to one inch below the top of the "window". Plant
one seed, flat side against the top center of the "window" about 1" deep.
5 .Place a 1" block or book under the back bottom edge of the milk carton so the
"window" tips toward the ground. This encourages the roots to grow close to the
window for easy viewing.
6. Keep "window" flap closed except when viewing roots. Check soil each day,
making sure it is moist but not soaking. When the seed sprouts and grows above the
soil, keep container (but not roots) exposed to daylight.
7. Use a journal to record changes. Make a time-lapse drawing using a different
colored pencil each day.
A cute poem for fun. Have fun with the motions!!
From Seed to Pie
Tune: 'The Farmer in the Dell'
(by Diane Donovan as found in The Mailbox –Preschool,
The Education Center October/November 2003)
The seed is in the ground.
The seed is in the ground.
Hi-ho, the pumpkin patch!
The seed is in the ground.
Additional verses….
The seed grows a sprout.
The sprout grows a vine.
The vine grows a bloom.
The bloom grows a pumpkin.
We make a pumpkin pie!
Make a Pumpkin Book Story
Cut out a pumpkin pattern in orange construction paper. Give each student two pieces.
Give each student 4-5 pieces of paper cut into the shape of the pumpkin. The students can
then write a creative or spooky story. Let them have fun!!!
Make a Circular Story
Students can make a circular story using magazines, construction paper, and glue. The
students can make a story by cutting out words or letters from the magazines and then put
them in a circular motion. The students can then read the story by turning the paper
around.
Some Great interactive websites for teachers and students (especially the second one).
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/cpseasons_autumn.htm
http://www.teachingheart.net/apumpkinunit.html