First, we began by ordering our tables' pumpkins by size from LARGEST to smallest. The Donald table had the largest pumpkin, and Mickey had the smallest. See how we worked together as a team to arrange our pumpkins by size?!
Second, we predicted then counted the number of lines on the outside of each of our pumpkins. Most of our predictions were very close to the actual number of lines!
Next, we weighed our pumpkins to determine if the size and weight had any correlation. Our findings suggested that the larger the pumpkin, the more it weighed! Even though our predictions were not too accurate, we learned that predictions are just guesses! As good mathematicians and scientists, we must check our work with actual measurements anyway!
After weighing each pumpkin and recording our data, we generated ideas about how to find the circumference of each pumpkin. Our problem was that our rulers cannot bend! How could we possibly measure them around the middle?! Well, after a group brainstorm, we decided to use string to measure the circumference. We worked cooperatively to cut the string to the exact size, then measured the length of the string using both non-standard measurement (unifix cubes) and standard measurement (inches). Additionally, we had to figure out how to measure the length of our strings in inches if the string was longer than a 12 inch ruler. Some of us solved this problem by using a yard stick, other tables lined up a few rulers in a straight line, and yet other tables used fingers to mark the ending points of each ruler. Check us out working diligently!!
Once we had the circumference recorded on our activity sheets, we moved on to the messiest part of the lesson! It might have been a messy time, but it was a good time indeed!! We carefully took turns using special pumpkin knives to cut the tops off our pumpkins.
Then, each group devised their own plans on how to best count the number of seeds in their pumpkin! Again, our predictions were definitely lower than the actual seed count, but we were able to discover this information by performing inquiry-based science! So much FUN!! Most groups decided that the most efficient way to count all those seeds was to count by groups of ten. That led to an introductory discussion about multiplication! See how math is all interconnected?! We even got to write on the tables to keep track of our counting!
At the end of the lesson, we found that the smallest pumpkin had the second highest amount of seeds (510)! The largest pumpkin had less with only 483 seeds. We realized that the size of the pumpkin DOES NOT determine the number of seeds! Finally, the book How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? told us that the more lines a pumpkin has on the outside, the more seeds it contains on the inside! AND, the longer the pumpkin grows on the vine, the more lines/seeds it will have and the darker it will be in color! Who knew?! We just had to record this finding on our activity sheets!! WOW!!
Class 2-H hopes you enjoyed our Pumpkin Math lesson as much as we did! We are signing off for now, as we have so much more to discover and explore! Stay tuned for our November blog :)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
