Counting & Number Fun With Pumpkins

1-2-3 Come Do Some Pumpkin Activities With Me

Make learning how to count and identify numbers, super-fun with pumpkins; which are not only perfect for October, but can still be used throughout November too.

I find that if I have an interesting theme for things that I’m trying to teach my students, they get excited and are happily engaged and on task.

With that in mind, I designed a variety of pumpkin number activities, which will help your students practice counting, number recognition, sequencing, subitizing, sorting, patterning, and one-to-one correspondence.

The packet includes:

* Eleven sets of different pumpkin cards. There's a sample of each set in the photograph.

You can use them for all sorts of activities, including a variety of games like "Memory Match", "I Have; Who Has?", "Kaboom", "Speed" and "Flip It".

I've included a 4-page tip list, filled with interesting and fun ideas of how to use the cards, including directions for a variety of games.

There are also covers for some of the sets, so that your kiddos can make (just the right size) "Itty Bitty" booklets.

Because of the nice selection of cards, students will also njoy sorting them into "Pumpkin Piles".

For example, children put all the pumpkin cards that represent the number one in a pile; all those that show the number 2 in another pumpkin pile and so on.

To strengthen upper body muscles, have children lie on their tummies and sequence the numbers in long lines. A group of my Y5s enjoyed making a "pumpkin snake" all the way out the door!

I also made a specific set of pumpkin cards to be puzzles. These make a wonderful math center.

There are 5, strip puzzles on a one-page pattern, which makes them "just the right size" for little learners.

Simply snip on the line to cut the number from the matching group of pumpkins. Each line is different, so there's only one way for students to complete the puzzle, which will give them the correct answer.

Another fun way to practice with the cards, is to make Jack. This cute pumpkin pattern is printed on card stock, then laminated.

Cut out the jack-o-lantern's "mouth" and place over the opening of an empty Kleenex box. (There are lots of fall-patterns available. A Boutique box also works).

Pass the pumpkin cards out to your students, then call for the number one pumpkin.

The child holding that card comes up, shows the number to their classmates; everyone says "One", then she "feeds" Jack by dropping the card into his "mouth".

Another fun, whole group game is done with pumpkin seeds. I use a package of real pumpkin seeds, which you can buy in most food stores. You can also save the seeds when you carve your pumpkin.

Make a class set of pumpkin "mats" that you can use each year, or run off the worksheet.

My kiddos sit at tables, so I spill a cup of seeds on a paper plate. They each count 10 seeds and put them in their Dixie cup.

When everyone is set, choose a pumpkin number card; show it to your class; they count out that many seeds and place them on their pumpkin mat.

You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. My kiddos LOVE this activity.

Added bonus: pinching & placing pumpkin seeds, is a great fine motor skill that will help strengthen finger muscles.

I've also including one-to-one correspondence mats that you can use for an independent math center.

If you don't have access to pumpkin seeds, simply print, laminate and trim the page of realistic-looking seeds that I've included in the packet.

There are also a nice variety of interesting worksheets as well as "print and go" game sheets, like "I Spy" or "Pumpkins on a Roll" which is played with dice.

Use them for individual and whole group activities, assessing, and math centers; homework, early finishers and help for those who are struggling.

Nice for a substitute, and fun for a harvest celebration or Halloween party day.

Do you know the song "Ten Little Indians?" This popular rhyme is a super-fun way to help students learn to count forwards as well as backwards.

I substituted pumpkins for Indians, and included a poster poem "10 Little Pumpkins in a Pumpkin Patch" in the packet.

Stick Velcro or magnet dots to the back of the 10 pumpkin cards, and use them as manipulatives, to attach to a flannel board or white board.

I make an extra set of the "puzzle" cards, and instead of cutting them apart, I use the whole strip in my pocket chart.

The song poster and set of 10 pumpkin cards from the packet, are today's featured FREEBIE. Click the link to download your copy today.

While the concentration in this packet is on numbers 0-10, there are several activities which also include numbers 11-20, so that you can diversify your lessons and add a challenge.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. Time for a nature walk and much-needed break.