Pumpkin Exploration

Resources and Tools for Elementary Math Specialists and Teachers

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In this lesson students combine mathematical procedures and scientific observation to learn more about pumpkins. In the activity students in cooperative groups search, suggest, question, predict, measure and estimate the number of seeds in a set of pumpkins. Notes for the facilitator teacher are included.

Average

(2 Comments)

Contributed by: SCIMAST, Publisher

Math TopicAlgebraic Thinking, Measurement, Mathematical Practices, Mathematical Processes, Other Math Topic, Data and Statistics

Grade Level2, 3, 4, 5

Resource TypeActivity, Lesson Plans

Additional Information
- AudienceEducator
- LanguageEnglish (USA)
- Education Topic
- Interdisciplinary Connection
- Professional DevelopmentNo
- ContributorSCIMAST, Publisher
- Publication Date2011
- Rights(c) 1994 Southwest Educational Development Laboratory
  http://www.sedl.org/about/termsofuse.html
- AccessFree access
Standards
- Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
  Select a standards document:
- Standards for Mathematical Practice[K-12]
- Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.[K-12]
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively.[K-12]
- Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.[K-12]
- Model with mathematics.[K-12]
- Attend to precision.[K-12]
- Measurement and Data[K - 5]
- Measure and estimate lengths in standard units.[2]
- 1. Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes.[2]
- 3. Estimate lengths using units of inches, feet, centimeters, and meters.[2]
- 4. Measure to determine how much longer one object is than another, expressing the length difference in terms of a standard length unit.[2]
- Solve problems involving measurement and estimation of intervals of time, liquid volumes, and masses of objects.[3]
- 2. Measure and estimate liquid volumes and masses of objects using standard units of grams (g), kilograms (kg), and liters (l). Add, subtract, multiply, or divide to solve one-step word problems involving masses or volumes that are given in the same units, e.g., by using drawings (such as a beaker with a measurement scale) to represent the problem.[3]
User Comments
- Average
  5
  
  So much Fun for Fall!
  By bethb on 07/16/2012 - 11:27
- This is a great Fall activity. In many of our schools we cannot celebrate holidays, but we can discuss seasons, and since Fall brings pumpkins we can do this activity. I have done this with 4th and 5th graders, there is so much data that can be gathered from pumpkins: size, weight, number of seeds. Your students will have so much fun!
- Average
  5
  
  many possibilities
  By Uncle Bob on 08/30/2012 - 13:26
- This lesson is a nice illustration of the scientific approach. The possibilities include descriptive characteristics as well as numerical one. I prefer groups of three (not 4 or 5) when it is at all possible.

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Pumpkin Exploration

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics