Read & Make / Pumpkins

My last story time of the fall semester featured pumpkins!  I love wrapping up with pumpkins since our last week of fall story time is usually the same week as Halloween.  It's the perfect way to feature a staple of the fall season without focusing specifically on Halloween in case anyone isn't really into the whole trick or treating thing.

Read:
Mystery Vine by Cathryn Falwell
Life Cycles: Pumpkins by Robin Nelson
(I know this one is small for story time sharing, but I like to include a nonfiction book with lots of photographs once in awhile!)
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas
Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

Rhyme:
Pumpkin, pumpkin round and fat,
Turned into a jack o' lantern (turn around)
Just like that! (clap on that)

Make:
Pumpkin stick puppets!  I just let kids cut out or tear a circle (ish) piece of orange paper for the pumpkin and had them tape it to a craft stick.  If you want, you can have kids color a jack o' lantern face on one side  - then they can use it at home to re-enact the "Pumpkin, pumpkin" rhyme.  Instead of clapping on the last line, flip your pumpkin puppet from the plain side to the jack o' lantern side!
from Boy Mama, Teacher Mama