These pumpkin seed activities are just what you need when you find yourself with an overflow of seeds after scooping out the pumpkins. Add them to your lesson plans for preschool pumpkin activities.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes we have an . . . overabundance of pumpkin seeds.
It’s so fun to carve pumpkins with the kids, and of course I love taking the time to explore the “guts” of the pumpkins along the way.
But this usually means quite a bit of leftover pumpkin seeds. I know many people enjoy roasting pumpkin seeds, but I prefer to use them in a wide range of activities for the kids.
The best thing about the leftover seeds? You can extend the pumpkin fun well into November! Because who said pumpkins should be relegated to just one month a year?
Pumpkin Seed Activities
Below you’ll find a ton of great ideas for your extra pumpkin seeds. These activities are perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners.
But I have to tell you, older children get a big kick out of the pumpkin seed projects too!
Our Favorite Pumpkin Seed Activities for Preschool
We’ve done quite a lot with pumpkin seeds in preschool over the years.
Here are my personal favorites, as I’ve seen how the kids light up with each of these activities.
You can definitely try them with other ages, of course. I just know my preschoolers have heartily approved of them.
First, explore how to dye pumpkin seeds a rainbow of colors. You’ll be able to use these colorful seeds in a variety of ways! Consider starting with a simple pumpkin seed sensory bin.
Use dyed seeds to make fall tree pumpkin seed art with the kids.
The children will have a blast with these pumpkin seed name activities.
Create pumpkin seed turkey art for a Thanksgiving theme.
Pumpkin seeds make great lights on this Christmas tree art. See, you can even bring the pumpkin seed activities into December!
Incorporate pumpkin seeds into this fall painting for kids. Change up the paint colors to create process art for other seasons, as well.
A pumpkin seed counting activity is such a simple idea, but the children learn so much with it. There’s also a free printable pumpkin seed book you can grab through that link.
Pumpkin seed slime is the perfect textured slime to explore in the fall.
More Activities With Pumpkin Seeds
No, I just couldn’t stop there! Here are even more ideas for hands-on activities the kids can do with pumpkin seeds.
Click on the individual links for more in-depth descriptions of each of the pumpkin seed activities.
Let your students experience the lifecycle of a pumpkin by planting pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin seed soup water play provides so many opportunities for learning and creativity.
Use any materials you have on-hand when guiding your students through a pumpkin seed owl craft.
If you’re lucky enough to have access to an oven, get cooking and let the kids explore their sense of taste with one of these three ways to roast pumpkin seeds.
Explore literacy, science, AND sensory play with a pumpkin sensory squish bag.
Get crafty by creating a peek inside a pumpkin using paper plates and pumpkin seeds.
Encourage your students to explore their sense of touch, smell, and taste with pumpkin seed play-dough.
What are some of YOUR favorite pumpkin seed activities to do with the kids? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
Preschool Pumpkin Books
I think the above pumpkin seeds activities are perfect as you’re teaching kids all about pumpkins.
So I wanted to share with you some pumpkin books you might want to pair with the activities.
I love using children’s books as a way to teach and extend preschool themes. Through books, children are able to learn more vocabulary and interesting facts about the topic at-hand.
These books focus in on the life cycle of a pumpkin (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
Here are a few more pumpkin books the children might enjoy. These aren’t quite as focused on the life cycle of the pumpkin, but they’re still great additions to your pumpkin theme.
Done-for-you Pumpkin Resources
All this talk of pumpkin seed activities makes me so excited about teaching a pumpkin theme. If you just don’t have the time for pumpkin lesson planning this fall, let Preschool Teacher 101 help!
Preschool Teacher 101 has a ton of amazing resources that will help you save time and money!
Click below to see this pumpkin lesson plan set, complete with five days’ worth of activity directions and materials, center descriptions, printables, and more.
For more information about these pumpkin-themed dramatic play and math activities, click on the images below.
That’s not all! Preschool Teacher 101 has some great membership options that you can check out today.
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