It’s that spooky time of year again, and what better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with some pumpkin-themed STEM activities for kids? Here are some fun ideas to keep your little ones engaged and learning while having a blast.
Pumpkin Volcano
This cool experiment combines the explosive power of a volcano with the fall magic of a pumpkin. Cut a small hole in the top of a pumpkin and remove the seeds and pulp. Mix baking soda and vinegar together and pour into the pumpkin. Enjoy the foaming eruption and watch your kids’ faces light up with excitement.
Pumpkin Catapults
Who doesn’t love flinging pumpkins through the air? Build a simple catapult using craft sticks, rubber bands, and a spoon. Place a mini pumpkin on the spoon and launch it into the air. The kids will love testing different designs and seeing how far they can make their pumpkins fly.
Pumpkin Slime
Slime is always a hit with kids, and this pumpkin version is perfect for the season. Mix together glue, liquid starch, orange food coloring, and pumpkin pie spice for a gooey, scented sensory delight. Play with the slime and stretch it to see how far it can go.
Pumpkin Sink or Float
Explore the concept of buoyancy with this simple experiment. Gather a variety of pumpkins and other fall objects and predict whether they will sink or float in a tub of water. Test each item and observe the results. Discuss with your kids why certain items float and others sink.
Pumpkin Seed Counting
You can incorporate math skills into your pumpkin activities with this counting game. Cut out a pumpkin shape and glue it onto cardstock. Have your kids count out pumpkin seeds and place them on the cardstock. You can practice addition or subtraction by adding or removing seeds.
Pumpkin Bowling
Create your own bowling alley with mini pumpkins and a cardboard ramp. Line up the pumpkins and take turns bowling them down with a miniature ball. Try different techniques to knock down all the pins.
Pumpkin Decomposition
Explore the life cycle of a pumpkin with this fascinating decomposition experiment. Cut several pumpkins in half and bury them in a spot outside. Every few days, dig up one of the pumpkins and observe how it’s changed over time. Discuss the stages of decomposition and what’s happening to the pumpkin.
Pumpkin Art
Get creative with pumpkin art projects. Offer your kids different materials like paint, markers, glitter, and googly eyes and see what they come up with. You can paint faces on the pumpkins or turn them into animals or monsters. Take inspiration from your kids’ imagination and have fun with it.
Pumpkin Patch Fractions
Use pumpkin shapes to teach fractions in a fun way. Cut out different pumpkin shapes and divide them into halves, quarters, or eighths. Let your kids match the pumpkin pieces to the correct fraction label. You can even use real pumpkin pie to reinforce the concept.
Pumpkin Relay Race
End your pumpkin-themed day with a relay race. Divide your group into teams and have them race with mini pumpkins held between their knees. Put a pumpkin at the opposite end of the field and have each team member run with the pumpkin to the other side and back, passing it off to the next team member. The first team to finish wins.
We hope these pumpkin activities have inspired you to have some fall fun with your kids while learning valuable STEM skills. Which one will you try first?
