Annual Pumpkin Math: Rather than coloring sheets or holiday themed busy work on Halloween, we turn math into a pumpkin measurement and graphing unit! Each student brings a medium sized pumpkin. We begin by making a list of where each student got their pumpkin, then we turn that list into a bar graph of different colors, complete with a color key. Activity 2 is to measure the pumpkin's diameter, circumference, height, and stem length and turn the data into a pictograph complete with a key. Activity 3: Weigh the pumpkin on a scale (I like to use pounds and kilograms since my scale does both). Then, cut a lid and take it off, weigh it again. Next, take the seeds and pulp out and the lid off and weigh it again. Finally, put the lid back on the empty pumpkin and weigh it again. Craft a line graph with this data: x axis labeled whole, with lid off, empty & no lid, empty with lid. y axis labeled pounds and/or kilograms (I like to use both to make a double line graph to show the comparison.) The fourth and last activity is to plot points for your own picture of a pumpkin. Choose a starting point and record its ordered pair. Then plot each point listing the ordered pairs, connect the points, and color. This will also work as a fall activity if Halloween is not your thing.
