Halloween is just around the corner which means costumes, candy, and PUMPKIN MATH here in Room 27!! This annual favorite is not only a STEM activity, but is also one of the most fun activities of the year :)! Pumpkin Math is a messy business as we were up to our armpits, literally, in pumpkin guts! Right Liv and Ava?! However, we still enjoyed every second of the experience!
Here were a couple of the comments heard in passing:
"We all thought the biggest pumpkin would have the most seeds but we were wrong...and it was so so so fun learning math this way!"
"This is the BEST activity EVER!" ---- "I take that back. This is the MESSIEST activity EVER!"
"I should write about this in my journal!"
We love that this activity encouraged cooperation and encouraged conversations about our learning!
At this point, you may be wondering, "What IS Pumpkin Math?" Well, we get to work in groups to compare our pumpkins' sizes, weights, circumferences, and number of seeds! While doing so, we are even able to touch upon enrichment concepts such as median, mode, and circumference. Additionally, we get the opportunity to problem-solve and collaborate in order to explain our thinking in words.
Feeling jealous that you didn't get to partake in the experience personally? Not to worry! We brought the learning directly to you! Take a peek below to get a glimpse into our "gutsy" morning. Enjoy! Anyone else in the mood for some pumpkin pie now???!!!
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| Ordering pumpkins by size! LARGEST to smallest! |
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| Goofy is the smallest...but good things come in small packages :) |
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| The Donald group predicts the number of lines on their pumpkin. |
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| Ranbir diligently records his prediction! |
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| How many lines did the Goofy pumpkin have? |
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| This group will NOT lose track of their line count. Awesome strategy! |
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| Teamwork is key in Pumpkin Math!! |
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| Measuring the circumference is tricky! |
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| Xi Wen with the assist!! |
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| How many kids does it take to measure the circumference?? |
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| Measuring the circumference by first using non-standard units of measurement...unifix cubes! |
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| What's the circumference of your pumpkin in unifix cubes? |
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| Action shot! |
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| Discussing the best way to measure! |
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| Stretch out that string! |
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| How many inches are on a ruler? |
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| Mickey's circumference looks around 24 inches...wow! |
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| What?! Median and mode in second grade?! #enrichment |
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| Time to cut our pumpkins open! |
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| Come on Skylar...use some elbow grease! |
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| Hudson has almost decapitated his pumpkin! |
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| Taking turns using the pumpkin knife! Great patience boys! |
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| Goofy is the first pumpkin open but it's also the smallest! |
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| Get in there guys! |
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| Pumpkin guts are fun! |
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| The Donald table loved sorting the seeds from the slime :) |
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| Sophia and Ava weren't afraid to get down and dirty! |
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| Look at all these seeds! |
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| And the counting begins... |
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| Come on boys! Touch it!!! Count those seeds :) |
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| Ava is loving her pumpkin "paraffin" treatment! |
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| Grouping seeds by tens to count quicker! |
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| Ahhh! Counting all of these seeds will take forever! |
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| A little pumpkin slime never hurt anyone! Count 'em up! |
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| Love the strategy...group those seeds! |
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| We are really multiplying even though we don't know it yet! #repeated addition |
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| Almost done...phew! |
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| We even have our activity books to collect all of our data! |
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| Even though the Back Table had the biggest pumpkin, it did not contain the most seeds. We discovered there's no relationship between pumpkin size and # of seeds!! |
**Disclaimer: Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to compare our pumpkins' weight.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
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