Second graders measured, weighed, sorted and examined pumpkins during teacher Jamie McMahon's annual pumpkin centers project.
Students were divided into groups to work hands on with a pumpkin and overseen by parent volunteers. The students measured the pumpkins with tape measures, weighed their pumpkins on scales and then, the parent volunteers cut off the tops so the kids could see what was inside. They smelled the inside, touched the content and wrote down a description of what they found. Then came the hard work, they scraped the pumpkins out and separated the seeds. Grouping them into piles of fives, the students counted the seeds. One pumpkin provided so many opportunities for students to learn.
After the pumpkin centers were complete, the students and the parent volunteers enjoyed cider and donuts. Teacher aide Debi Puchalski also collected a number of the seeds and roasted them for the students to try.
Pumpkin Centers 2025
