LESSON PLAN

Date:     10/27/22 Day: Thursday

Subject / Course: Content (Science)

Topic: Pumpkins
Lesson Title: Pumpkin Characteristics, Day 1
Lesson
Level: 2      35 minutes
Duration:

Lesson Objectives/Standards:
● 4.1.2.F Science as Inquiry per grade level indicators. (Use simple equipment (tools and
other technologies) to gather data and understand that this allows scientists to collect more
information than relying only on their senses to gather information.)
● SWBAT use various tool to measure and weight pumpkins
● SWBAT use data collected to make predictions

Instructional Materials:
Slides
● Student science notebook
● Pumpkins of various size
● five gallon bucket
● wooden board for ramp
● rulers
● string/yarn to help measure

Introduction:
● We’ve learned all about pumpkins and how they grow, but remember pumpkins come in
lots of different shapes and sizes. Over the next few days we are going to weigh, measure,
and compare some pumpkins and then do an experiment seeing how they race down ramps.
 LESSON PLAN

Development:

● Daily task: observe pumpkin seeds and give students a few minutes to note any
changes.
● Teacher will read “Runaway Pumpkin.” (Alternate video of read-aloud:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuOlNjnu2Gc)
● Ask: What do you think are things that affect how a pumpkin rolls? Have students share
ideas. Prompts (shape/round, weight, what side its on, etc)
● We have various pumpkins. Using various mini pumpkins students will make predictions
and observations
● Students will measure & weigh pumpkins, recording data in their science notebook.
● Teacher will construct a ramp and roll pumpkins down the ramp. Students based on
observations will predict which pumpkin is
o Fastest down the ramp
o Rolls the straightest
o Feel (bumpy, smooth, dented, etc)
o How tall/how wide
o How heavy
o Think further: can students make additional observation they use to predict

Closure
● Tomorrow we’ll try to race our pumpkins. I want you to think tonight about some other
things that might affect how our pumpkins roll or don’t roll!

Assessment:
Review page in science journal +/-

Accommodations / Differentiation:
● Assist students with measuring in small group as needed
 LESSON PLAN

Report of Students’ Performance in Terms of States Objectives:

Personal Reflection:

References
● Colella, J. (2020). Let’s Explore Pumpkins! Lerner Publishing Group.
● Levenson, G. (2002). Pumpkin Circle. Tricycle Press.
● Life Cycle of a Pumpkin. (n.d.). Montessori Mom. Retrieved from
https://www.montessorimom.com/life-cycle-pumpkin/
● Minor, W. (2013). How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? Penguin.
● Pfeffer, W. (2004). From Seed to Pumpkin. Harper Collins.
● Pumpkin Growth Stages -- Know What to Expect and When. (2017, November 17).
Garden.eco. Retrieved from garden.eco/pumpkin-growing-stages
● Wonders, J. (2018). The Roll-Away Pumpkin. Gmuer Verlag.