Happy STEM Day! If you are not familiar with STEM, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Children have a natural inclination to explore. So, what better way to explore than with this fun pumpkin investigation.
SUPPLIES
Pumpkins (real and/or fake)
LEGOs (or something else to measure height)
Tape Measurer
Scale
Large Container with Water
Chart (Free Download at the End) and Marker to Track Your Findings
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Make Observations about the Appearance of the Pumpkins
First, ask the question, “What color is each pumpkin?” Next, ask if each pumpkin is big or small. Finally, ask the question, “Is the stem long or short?” Make sure to record your observations on the chart. You can download the chart that we used at the end of this post.
2. Measure the Height of the Pumpkins
For this part of our science experiment, we used stacked LEGOs to measure the height of the different pumpkins. Have your child stack and count them. If you do not have LEGOs, you can use another type of block or a ruler. Record your measurements in the chart.
3. Measure the Circumference of the Pumpkins
In this next step, we used a soft tape measure to measure the circumference of each pumpkin.
4. Weigh the Pumpkins
Time to weigh the pumpkins. We were able to weigh the larger pumpkins by themselves on the scale. For the smaller ones, we weighed them with Ben holding them then subtracted his weight.
5. Will the Pumpkins Sink or Float?
In this final step, you will need to have a large container to fill with water. We used our wheelbarrow, and Ben enjoyed filling it with water. This boy loves water!
Next, have your child make a prediction on whether they think each pumpkin will sink or float. Then into the water they go. Finally, have your child note whether each pumpkin sank or floated. Were their predictions correct?
As an added bonus, the wheelbarrow turned into an impromptu sensory bin after we finished up. As I said before, Ben loves water!
CLICK below to DOWNLOAD the Free PDF of my Pumpkin Investigation Worksheet.
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All activities here are activities I feel are safe for my own children. As your child’s parents/guardians, you will need to decide what you feel is safe for your family. I always encourage contacting your child’s pediatrician for guidance if you are not sure about the safety/age appropriateness of an activity. All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.