Pumpkin Properties

It’s so easy to have fun with science. In order to become proficient in this content area, students need lots of practice making observations. One skill we like to firm up at the beginning of the year is using senses to observe differences in physical properties. Because this topic contains some difficult vocabulary we discuss it often. We like to use many things readily available during this time like apples, rocks, leaves and pumpkins.

Pumpkins are especially enjoyable because you can use all five senses to explore the physical properties. We created this table (which is set up to print on legal-sized paper) for students to record their observations as they explore their own miniature pumpkins. (Check your local farmer’s market for a class set of these and ask about a teacher discount!)

We also get one big pumpkin and cut into it to help students come up with additional adjectives to describe a pumpkin’s smell, feel, and sound. When we get to the taste column students can taste different things like pumpkin seeds, pumpkin muffins or pumpkin pie

What do you do to help students understand physical properties?