Pumpkin Unit: How many seeds in a pumpkin?
Pumpkin Unit: How many seeds in a pumpkin?
Grade Levels
Kindergarten
Course, Subject
Mathematics
Rationale
Pumpkins are seen everywhere every fall! Students may see them when they go to the grocery store or to a local farm. This unit should be taught when pumpkins are in season. The purpose of this unit is for students to identify the life cycle of a pumpkin and understand that each pumpkin is unique and different. Students will get to experience going to buy a pumpkin on their own and bring the pumpkin to school with them. This will create ownership and help students understand the uniqueness of each pumpkin. Learning about pumpkins might spark the interest in planting pumpkins and furthuring their understanding on how a pumpkin grows.
Students may use prior knowledge to teach others what they know about pumpkins and apply what they have learned to futhur investigations about pumpkins. Students might be able to teach others about measuring, counting and weighing pumpkins and use this knowledge for future investigations.
Pumpkins are a great way for students to learn! Students will learn about pumpkins and math at the same time. Students will learn how to use a tens frame, measure using unifix cubes and weigh a pumpkin with a scale. All these skills can be used in the future.
Vocabulary
pumpkins, seeds, unfix cubes
Objectives
- Students will use tens frame to count pumpkin seeds.
- Students will use unifix cubes to see how tall pumpkin is.
- Students will identify similarities and differences between pumpkin sizes.
Lesson Essential Question(s)
How can data be organized and represented to provide insight into the relationship between quantities?
How can mathematics support effective communication?
How can patterns be used to describe relationships in mathematical situations?
How can probability and data analysis be used to make predictions?
How does the type of data influence the choice of display?
How is mathematics used to quantify, compare, represent, and model numbers?
In what ways are the mathematical attributes of objects or processes measured, calculated and/or interpreted?
What does it mean to estimate or analyze numerical quantities?
What makes a tool and/or strategy appropriate for a given task?
Why does “what” we measure influence “how” we measure?
How many seeds are in your pumpkin? How many cubes tall is your pumpkin?
Duration
1 day, 30-40 minutes
Materials
- How many seeds in a pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara
- Student pumpkin journal, chart paper, markers
- unifix cubes, white boards and markers
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Instructional Procedures
- “Today we are going to do two things with our pumpkins. First, we are going to count our pumpkin seeds using tens frame. Second, we are going to use unifix cubes to see how tall our pumpkins are. Before we get started, I am going to read a book. This book is called How many seeds in a pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara.” Teacher reads book while students listen. Teacher will call on students to make predictions throughout book and share their favorite part at the end of the book.
- “Go back to your desks and get out your pumpkin journal. We are on page 3 that has the tens frame on it. You should all be familiar with the tens frame. Take out your pumpkin seeds and starting placing your seeds in the tens frame. If you need more tens frames, I have more up on my desk.” Students will place each seed in a box in the tens frame and count the seeds that were in their pumpkin. “Make sure you record the amount of seeds at the bottom of the page.” Teacher will walk around to see if students need assistance and make sure everyone is on task.
- Teacher will make a graph recording the amount of seeds each student has. Teacher may choose which type of graph to make according to what the students will recognize.
- “Who has the most seeds? Who has the least amount of seeds?”
- Students will get out white boards and markers to solve problems. Teacher will ask questions to compare the amount of seeds. Example: Jack has 12 seeds and Sam has 15 seeds. How many seeds did they have altogether? Teacher will do this several times and let students figure the problem out on white board.
- “Next, we are going to use unifix cubes to see how tall our pumpkins are. Get some unifix cubes and connect them together. Make sure you get the amount of unifix cubes that you predicted in the beginning. If you are right or wrong, you can get more cubes or take some back.” Students will retrieve unifix cubes located in front of classroom and go back to seat to see if their prediction was right. Students will record correct results in math journal on page 2.
- At circle, students will tell teacher the correct number of unifix cubes tall their pumpkin is and the teacher will record answers on chart. Teacher will point out the largest and smallest number of cubes. Teacher will ask problem solving questions. Jack used 14 unifix cubes and Sam used 12 unfix cubes. How many unifix cubes were used? Who used the most unifix cubes? Students may use white boards and markers to figure out.
Formative Assessment
Students will be asked to use tens frame to record seeds and unfix cubes to see how tall their pumpkin is.
Related Materials & Resources
My Pumpkin Journal
Name:
Picture of my pumpkin
Predictions
|
The outside of the pumpkin is….
|
How many lines are on your pumpkin? |
|
How many cubes tall is your pumpkin?
|
Will the pumpkin sink or float? |
Results
|
The outside of the pumpkin is….
|
How many lines are on your pumpkin? |
|
How many cubes tall is your pumpkin?
|
Will the pumpkin sink or float? |
Counting seeds using tens
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How many seeds?
How much does my pumpkin weigh?
|
Prediction:
|
|
Results:
|
My pumpkin is big or small?
Author
Sarah Dodd
Date Published
June 02, 2015
