Pumpkins as Learning Tools

Fall has brought a flurry of pumpkin-inspired curiosity to our classrooms, and the children dove right into exploring these symbols of the season through art, sensory play, and hands-on problem solving.

Painting & Sensory Play

We began by painting white pumpkins with water-based paints, using brushes to cover the exterior in vibrant colors. Once a child felt their pumpkin was “just right,” they washed and dried it so another friend could enjoy a fresh canvas. Water play is always a favorite, and washing the pumpkins not only added to the fun but also offered a natural opportunity to practice practical life skills.

Throughout the process, we modeled descriptive language to help children identify parts of the pumpkin:
“I notice you’re holding the stem as you carry it to be washed,” and
“Your paintbrush is going down the rib of the pumpkin — those lines are called ribs.”

These simple observations introduced new vocabulary and supported emerging language development.

Representational Art

Next, we turned our attention to the inside of a pumpkin. Using orange puffy paint for the pulp, strands of orange yarn for the fibrous threads, and real pumpkin seeds, the children created art that mirrored a pumpkin’s anatomy. This activity gave us space to talk about what we find inside a pumpkin and to reinforce words like pulp, strand, and seed. While the materials invited a specific concept, each artwork was wonderfully unique.

Gross Motor Exploration

We also brought pumpkins into our gross motor play. With tiny hammers in hand, the children worked to tap golf tees into pumpkins. Pre-made holes along the ribs provided a helpful starting point, but each child still had to figure out how to hold the hammer, position the tees, and steady the pumpkin.

This activity offered rich opportunities for hand strength, hand-eye coordination, and problem solving. Many children quickly found their rhythm, tapping in tee after tee, while others embraced the challenge and experienced meaningful cognitive growth through persistence and experimentation.