The ability to use the senses to make exploratory observations is a curricular competency of the science curriculum for kindergarten.  The little scientists of Division 12  practiced this competency by using their five senses to describe the properties of our class pumpkin.

We described what our pumpkin looked like: orange, round, small, short, skin, stem, ribs.  We shook the pumpkin and heard it rattle.  We took off the lid and looked inside: pulp, seeds, stringy goo.  We smelled the pumpkin:  phew!  We touched the pulp and separated the seeds.   Finally, we cooked the seeds and tasted them: delicious!

We were surprised by the number of seeds that were in our small pumpkin.  We found out that if a pumpkin is dark orange and has a lot of ribs, it has been growing longer and will have more seeds.

We also learned about the life cycle of a pumpkin (seed, seedling, plant, vine, flower, green pumpkin, orange pumpkin), and what pumpkins need in order to grow (soil, sun, water, oxygen).

Ask me to tell you what I know about pumpkins.