Investigation: Pumpkins
October
Enduring Understandings:
  1. Living things grow
  2. Living things need certain things to survive
  3. We can record our ideas and observations in a variety of ways

Curriculum Outcomes and Indicators
Science Invitation
LTK.1 Examine observable characteristics of plants, animals, and people in their local environment.
Indicators: a, b, d, e
CRK.4 Comprehend, retell, and respond to basic ideas in stories, poems, songs, and informational texts read to them.
Indicators: d, f, h, i, j
PAK.1 Understand and respect the agreed-upon rules of the classroom, playground, and school, and recognize that rules and expectations are designed to promote a state of safety, self-regulation, peace, balance, and harmony.
Indicators: d, f
Discovery Centers
NK.2 Recognize, at a glance, and name familiar arrangements of 1 to 5 objects, dots, or pictures.
Indicators: a, b
USCK.1 Develop basic habits to establish healthy relationships with self, others, and the environment.
Indicators: a, j, k, l
CPK.3 Create sound compositions exploring the elements of music including: • repeating patterns • beat (e.g., clapping and stepping, and counting) • response to fast/slow paces • high/low sounds • loud/soft sounds • sounds with distinct tone colours/timbres.
Indicators: a, e, g, i, k
How will I stimulate learning and hook students’ interests?
  • Bring in some pumpkins for invitation table
  • Discuss the time of year (Halloween/Thanksgiving) and the fun things we get to do at this time of year
  • Take a trip to a pumpkin garden
/ Classroom Environment
  • Pumpkins large and small
  • Pumpkin books
  • Scientist supplies: magnifying glass, microscope, labcoat
  • Pretend pumpkin garden

Students will know…
  • What a question is
  • What an observation is
  • The life cycle of a pumpkin
/ Students will be able to …
  • Pose a question
  • Record observations
  • Select and use appropriate tools
  • Make connections when “reading”
  • Identify important information
  • Retell a story

Assessment Evidence
  • Conversations
  • Observation
  • Checklists developed based on activities
  • photos

Invitations
Science Invitation
Pumpkins, magnifying glasses, clip board, observation sheets, pencil, pumpkin books, canned pumpkins, pumpkin seeds, scarecrow
Discovery Centers
Writing- pumpkin shaped paper, pumpkin words
Music- pumpkin, Thanksgiving, Halloween songs
Listening- pumpkin books
Reading nook- brown construction paper, pumpkin seeds, watering cans, crows, vines, pumpkins
Open Ended Questions
  1. What does a pumpkin need to survive?
  2. What do you want to know about?
  3. How do you know what to look for?
  4. What do you know about pumpkins?

Activities:
  1. Pretend pumpkin garden
Day 1- cover the ground with brown paper (soil). Students will plant their seeds.
Day 2- discuss what living things need to survive. Students will water their garden
Day 3- seedlings will start to show.
Day 4- crows will appear in the garden. Discuss the role of scarecrows
Day 5- Vines will grow
Day 6- a flower will appear
Day 7- a green pumpkin
Day 8- orange pumpkin. We will carve for Halloween
  1. 1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Pumpkins song
  2. Taste pumpkin (canned?)
  3. Group diagram of the pumpkin life cycle
  4. Make a story about a pumpkin
  5. Take a walk to a pumpkin garden
  6. Explore the basic messages of visuals and texts (photos, books)
  7. Practice observing- have students observe their partner and record. What are they wearing, what colour are their eyes, do they have short hair or long hair