¡Entrañas de calabaza! Explorando el interior de una calabaza

In this class, we will explore the parts of a pumpkin by cutting it open (by an adult before class begins, please!), and digging inside with hands and tools.

We will identify the parts of a pumpkin, including: leaf, stem, vine, skin, flesh, pulp, and seeds. I will provide photos to make sure we can identify all parts as the stem might be destroyed while cutting and you might not have any vines or leaves unless you cut your pumpkin from the vine.

The class will begin with a short slide show showing each part of the pumpkin with students identifying the pumpkin parts they can find on their own pumpkins. Then we will dig into the pumpkin guts and separate the pulp from the seeds. Next, we will count how many seeds we each find in half of our pumpkin by sorting them into piles of 10 and counting by 10s to see how many we have, and estimating how may there are in the whole pumpkin. We will compare how many seeds were counted in each pumpkin, and discuss reasons the number may vary.

Students do not need any prior knowledge or experience.  Parents should have extra tools available for children who dislike the sensory experience of touching raw pumpkin pieces.