Fall STEM Activity: Pumpkin Discovery Table
It’s pumpkin season, so let’s take those pumpkins to the science center. Create a simple fall STEM activity with a pumpkin discovery table. Measure and weigh pumpkins to work on early science and math skills. I earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through the affiliate links in this post.
Fall STEM Activity: Pumpkin Discovery Table
Nature discovery tables are some of my favorite ways to explore science or STEM concepts like weight and measurement. One of the hallmarks of fall and October is pumpkins. Kids love pumpkins so why not create a pumpkin discovery table and let them explore.
I set out 5 mini pumpkins, a pie pumpkin, and a fabric pumpkin for our discovery table. I included a few science tools as well. (Many of them were given to us by Learning Resources.)
Here are the science tools we used:
- Learning Resources Buggy Balance Set
- scale (ours is from the Learning Resources Mix and Measure Set)
- magnifying glass
- ruler
Lily and Elon immediately gravitated to the set up. They took turns using the magnifying glass and weighing the pumpkins.
They used a ruler to measure the length and height of the pumpkins. I showed them where to start the ruler and how to find the number on the ruler.
Next, I taught them how to use the balance. We talked about how we know which item is heavier – it’s the one that’s lower.
They had fun comparing the weights of different pumpkins. Lily noticed that the weights of some of two of the pumpkins were really close.
Elon was most intrigued with making the balance rock back and forth like a teeter totter.
I challenged Lily to line up the pumpkins by weight from the greatest to the least.
I asked her which pumpkin was the heaviest? She said the pie pumpkin. It began our pumpkin line.
I asked her which one was the heaviest of the mini pumpkins. She chose a pumpkin. I asked her to choose the pumpkin she thinks is the next heaviest. She weighed the pumpkins on the balance to see which one was heavier.
The winner stayed on the scale and was compared to the rest of the pumpkins. Her original guess remained the winner each time.
We continued the process of comparing the pumpkins to determine which was the next heaviest and so on until we were left with the fabric pumpkin.
More Pumpkin Activities for Preschoolers
- Pumpkin Pre-Writing Activity with Chalk Markers
- Pumpkin Oobleck Made with Real Pumpkin
- Baking Soda and Vinegar Painted Pumpkins
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