Have you seen that meme going around about being grateful to live in a world where there are Octobers? I share that sentiment. October is one of my favorite months, as the days cool off, pumpkins show up on every front porch, and fall soups and chili make their way onto the weekly menu. We’re going to be celebrating this beautiful month by learning about all things PUMPKIN in our kindergarten homeschool this month.
Read
From Seed to Pumpkin – In this classic Level 1 Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out picture book, Wendy Pfeffer’s lively text combines with James Graham Hale’s beautiful watercolors to bring readers into the pumpkin patch to show them how little seeds transform into big pumpkins. The book provides lots of scientific facts about the pumpkin life cycle at a level that is fitting for kids in preschool through grade 3. The back of the book includes additional facts about pumpkins, directions for roasting pumpkin seeds, and an experiment to show kids how plants drink water.
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever – Desmond the field mouse wants to carve the biggest jack-o’-lantern in the neighborhood with his pumpkin. Clayton the house mouse wants to win the Biggest Pumpkin contest with his. But when they discover that their choice pumpkins are actually the same one, Desmond and Clayton decide to work together to grow the biggest pumpkin ever!
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? – This book explores important social themes while mixing in some counting by twos, fives, and tens. Charlie is the smallest person in his class, which makes him sad. One day his teacher brings in three different sized pumpkins into class. The children have to figure out which pumpkin has the most seeds. The kids guess that the largest pumpkin will have the most seeds, but after opening the pumpkins, the students learn that the smallest pumpkin actually had the most, as Charlie happily exclaims, “Small things have a lot going on inside of them.”
Little House in the Big Woods – Little House in the Big Woods, the first book in the Little House series, takes place in 1871 and introduces us to four-year-old Laura, who lives in a log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods of Wisconsin. She shares the cabin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their lovable dog, Jack.
Cook
Pumpkin Spice Blondies – These pumpkin spice blondies are what autumn dreams are made of. Subtly sweet and seasonally spiced, these blondies are the perfect compliment to an afternoon cup of coffee while soaking up the cool, fall breeze.
Creamy Roasted Pumpkin Soup (because I really wanted one that you make from a real pumpkin instead of canned) This creamy, yet healthy pumpkin soup is the best! This roasted pumpkin soup recipe would look lovely on your holiday dinner table, and leftovers would go great with sandwiches the next day.
Pumpkin Pancakes – These pancakes are one of the ultimate fall breakfasts! They are so easy to throw together and they can be ready in no time!
Experiment
Pumpkin Slime – the girls are going to LOVE this because the seeds stay in the slime!
Flying Tea Bag Ghosts – Kids will love learning about convection and air pressure so much that they’ll be running to the pantry for every last tea bag.
Dancing Gummy Worms – this kids’ science experiment uses baking soda and vinegar to make gummy worms dance. Plus, I’m sure the girls won’t mind sampling some of the test subjects!
Visit
The Pumpkin Patch at Patterson Farms – A fall tradition that we make it out to once or twice each season.
Historic Latta Plantation Harvest Day– we actually already checked this off our list last Thursday. They offered a homeschool day and the girls had a blast! However, we are planning on going back again on a less crowded, a a bit cooler in temperature, day.
Craft
Pumpkin Bird Feeder STEM Project – Surely I’m not the only one that has kids that beg to buy a little pumpkin every time we see one? Though we paint them, and carve some, I loved this project idea to turn them into bird feeders!
Illuminated Mason Jar Pumpkin – This simple tissue paper and mason jar craft will thrill Hailey because we get to light a candle inside afterwards. I’m going to buy some flameless tealight candles too so she can keep it in her room.
Adding these themed activities to our core subjects is sure to set us up for a fun October! If you have any pumpkin-themed books, recipes, crafts, or experiments that are worth sharing, please leave them in the comments! I left a little wiggle room to accommodate any fun ideas we come across as we go along!
montessoriishmom says
This sounds so fun! I CAN”T WAIT to read childhood favorites like the Little House books with my little guy some day 🙂
Brynn says
Thank you for the awesome reading list! How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin sounds adorable. I love how you connect the season (and all things pumpkin food and drink) to understanding pumpkins on a larger scale.
laura says
We do a pumpkin unit in my pre-first class, and you’ve introduced me to some great new books and ideas. I’m sure your girls will love it and learn a ton. On a completely superficial note… do you know the name of the Eleanor Rose dress Hailey is wearing? So cute!
Rachel says
These are such fun posts to read! It’s interesting to see what you’re planning to do for the month, and then hearing about how it went in your end-of-month roundup. Thanks for sharing!
Erica says
October is one of my favorites too! I read the Little House books as a child and watched the TV show. My friend’s daughter was around 8 when she saw her daughter had put the show on TV (they used to still run it on cable, maybe Hallmark or TV Land?), anyway, she went to make dinner and turned it on for herself in her kitchen. She was only half listening to it, but at some point realized what was happening on the TV. She found her daughter just bawling…this 8 year old who only ever really watched things like Disney and Nickelodeon was not prepared for the harshness of life in the 1800s!
I made your Pumpkin Spice Blondies last weekend! But added 1/2 cup pumpkin, 1/4 cup flour, and baked for 8 extra minutes. They turned out really fudge-like which may have been from the canned pumpkin and were totally delicious!
Brittany Dixon says
I used to LOVE watching the show! I haven’t seen it in years but now want to go on a search to find it 🙂
PS- Love the additions you made on the blondies- fudgey is the best!
Jo says
How do you go about home schooling schedules while on vacation?
Brittany Dixon says
I planned to take the week off, but mine and David’s moms split the week and my mom ended up wanting to plan lessons to teach Hailey on clocks and times and David’s mom taught her to sew and did a project with her (making a dress and a purse). Plus lots of reading of course. Kindergarten is pretty low key 🙂
Ana says
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” is a quote from Anne of Green Gables. I love the crisp cool air. Its also my little guys’ birthday and one of my favorite low-key holidays
Brittany Dixon says
We just read the shortened version of Anne of Green Gables and look forward to reading the full one! Hailey loved it 🙂 Happy birthday to your son!!
Gcroft says
Fab, fab and fab! My neighbours are vegetarian and I once made them a Thai-style butternut squash/pumpkin curry and they absolutely loved it. Might be a nice addition to your veggie meal plan and in keeping with the pumpkin theme x
Brittany Dixon says
Anything Thai style is right up my alley! That sound delicious and I’ll have to see if I can create something similar!
Brenda says
Little House books are the best! I recommend reading the whole series to Hailey. My son is 5, and he has listened to us read all of them (plus the Rose years!). He spent his fifth birthday at Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, MO last year. Little House books teach so much history and bring up topics I wouldn’t have otherwise thought to talk to my son about.
I incorporated sight work practice when reading these books by reading a little, then pointing to a sight word and having him read what it was. This helped him to use all cuing systems- meaning, syntax, and visual to figure out the word. (I would only do this for 5 sentences max during our reading time since it was mostly about comprehension)
Brenda says
Also, add Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubell to your list of picture books! The ‘My First Little House’ book ‘County Fair’ is also a good one about pumpkins.
Hope you don’t mind all the recommendations; I’m a former teacher who informally homeschooled kindergarten for my oldest (who is 5) so he could get into first grade. Your posts make me miss our long days together reading and doing projects! My youngest doesn’t nap anymore though, so those good times wouldn’t happen even if he were at home! (That’s what I keep telling myself…)
Brittany Dixon says
Oh my goodness I don’t mind at all; in fact, I welcome it! I’ve found some of the best books and ideas from others’ recommendations. Thank you!
Mandi S says
Love reading all of your home school ideas. I have a 5 year old that is in a pre-k class but I like having idea of extra things we can do at home. I will be ordering a couple of your book ideas today!
Grandma Honey says
I love it when you give book suggestions. I have bought many for my grandchildren that I have learned about from your blog and we are never disappointed!
Brittany Dixon says
I’m so glad to hear that!! I love quality children books <3