Pumpkin spice and pumpkin books are nice! I love fall in the classroom. I especially love incorporating fall themed activities and pumpkin books whenever possible. There are so many fantastic pumpkin books and paired activities to do with your students this time of year. From reading strategies lessons to STEM activities, there are countless options and ways to bring in the fall fun with pumpkin books. Read more to explore my favorite pumpkin read alouds and easy paired activities.
The first pumpkin book that I love to read this time of year is called How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? This is a sweet pumpkin book that brings students' imaginations to like as they explore larger than life pumpkins across different American landscapes. I love to pair this pumpkin book with a STEM activity in my classroom. I provide my students with a set number of pumpkin candies and toothpicks. I allow them to work with partners for a designated amount of time and see who can build the tallest pumpkin tower. How big can the pumpkin towers grow? Try it in your classroom and find out!
Another favorite pumpkin book in my classroom is called How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? I love this pumpkin book! It is an adorable story about the shortest boy in the class and a very special pumpkin seed counting activity that helps him to realize that he is perfect just the way he is. I enjoy pairing this pumpkin book with a hands-on pumpkin seed word problem activity. You can explore the pumpkin math activity that I use by clicking HERE.
Christopher Pumpkin has to be one of my favorite pumpkin books! I love this little pumpkin's personality and determination to make a spooky castle full of, “all things fun.” I like to use this delightful pumpkin book to spread a little Halloween cheer as well as review character traits with my students. You can explore the character trait tools that I use by clicking HERE.
Finally, the last pumpkin book on my list of favorite pumpkin read alouds is a book called Stumpkin. This is an adorable story about a pumpkin that looks a bit different than the other pumpkins on the shelf and wonders if anyone will ever pick him to be their jack-o-lantern for Halloween. I like to use this read aloud to review chronological order writing with my students. First we review what happened first, then, next, later, and finally in the story. Then students break down the steps they would take to carve a jack-o-lantern and write them in a pumpkin flip book. You can explore the How to Carve a Pumpkin flip book that I use by clicking HERE.
I hope you enjoyed hearing my top favorite pumpkin books and paired activities. Which pumpkin books do you love to share with your students?
