I love GLYPHS. I really was only familiar with them as an architectural vocabulary word from Mayan history, or an icon for today’s symbolic road signs. I just learned a few years ago that teachers were using them to create adorable characters and unique art work!  I think it’s a wonderful way to learn about your class, use as a math extension and create graphs, and really incorporate the science technique of compiling and analyzing data. It works wonderfully well with literature as a great comparison- contrast tool and makes for distinctive art projects! What a super cross curricular tool! 

I designed a Pumpkin Glyph for you to use for October. Click on the link for a short and tall pumpkin, the glyph directions, 3 pages of Tally Time adding fun, and 5 graphs!  I do all of these activities in a short amount of time. My students learn so much and have a great time doing it!

Besides math, include reading by choosing any two pumpkin stories; read them to your class; then compare and contrast them.  (Check out my side bar blog "Books Of The Month" and click on the October Bibliography for lots of great pumpkin books! )
How were they the same, different? I always like to use a Venn diagram and introduce that math concept to my kids too. A fun way to do a Venn diagram is with two hoola hoops!  Lay them on the floor and then write out student answers on sentence strips, snip them into pieces and lay them in the appropriate sections. After your discussion, graph which story they liked best. (I've included that in one of the graphing options.)   After story time have your students transition to their seats to make an adorable pumpkin glyph!  What a fun way to whole-group assess listening and following directions as well as be able to toss in a fun art project that reinforces all sorts of report card standards!  Then you can decorate your hallway or classroom with the finished product!

Pumpkin Glyph: You can cut out a supply of black rectangles, squares and black/purple triangles or you can have your students draw them for the pumpkin face. Do the same for the yellow, green, and purple nose circles, and the green, brown, and white stems. (Because circles are harder to cut, I use colored stickers for the nose that people buy for their garage sales.)

Prep:

• Pre-cut pumpkins or run them off on orange construction paper and have the children cut them out.
• Pre-cut the construction paper circles, triangles, rectangles and squares. (I opt to pre-cut the shapes, and have them cut their pumpkin.  It takes less time for them to glue rather than draw; + most of my Y5’s can’t draw shapes at this point in time. Triangles are virtually impossible and their squares and rectangles look the same.)
  
• Graph the results for great math extensions and discussions.
• When the glyphs are done, post them in the hall along with the glyph directions and your graphing results.
• Prior to making their glyph, to help your students decide if they are tall or short have them line up according to height; tallest to shortest, then let them decide which group they want to be in. I tell them that I am considered a “short” person since I’m only 5.2” and I stress that we are all different and special and that it is great being short or tall. If you’re worried a parent will get a complex over this, just let your students  pick out whatever pumpkin size they want.
• The same thing with the “feelings” smiles part of the glyph. I like to know how my students are feeling so I can address those issues,  but you might not want to post that graph in the hallway. One way you can handle this is to simply let the children decide how their PUMPKIN feels.
• I write my students names in tiny print on the bottom of their pumpkin so that people can see who made them. I’ve learned from past experience that having them write their name on the back of their artwork is the best, because they write so big.
• I have samples of each kind of mouth posted on the board.
  
• I like to do tally’s because it’s a fun way to count as well as a math concept we do all year.
• Since graphing is one of my report card standards, I do it every day in a variety of ways. Glyphs gives me another chance to graph with my students and they LOVE giving their opinion and having their turn to write their name on the graph and color in a box.
• It's also another great opportunity to compare, contrast and count.
  
• I designed this type of graph so that parents can see how their child voted and children can easily see a color-type bar graph.
• You can have children write in their own names; or to speed things up I often use a sticker name label or their photo.
• I simply type my students names in the Windows Word Mailing Labels list and print off a bunch of labels each month for when I want things to look sharp on folders, files, artwork or do quick graphs.
• As soon as school pictures come back I make a bunch of copies on the copier on the photo setting and cut each child’s pix into an oval shape. I have a room mom helper do this for me and she puts them in little envelopes that I put in a picture file folder. They are perfect for all sorts of “keepsake” art projects and these kinds of graphs.   I often use them in my little reading booklets as a surprise ending. I find that parents are more apt to read and keep them if their child's picture is in the booklet.  My students also love being the "star" character in the books as well.
  
• For the square box they can color it in, put an X in it or put a sticker in it.  I’ve included a blank template of each #-columned graph if you need more spaces. 
• After the month is over, keep the pumpkins and make these tally’s and graph papers into a class book. Laminate it and lay it out for conference time. Do an example of your own for the cover and title it: Our Pumpkin Glyphs: A Cross Curricular Activity of Reading, Math, Science and Art! They’ll enjoy seeing how their child voted as well as look at their child's personal pumpkin glyph. At the end of the year you can send them home.
  

I'm thinking of making an entire book of helpful glyphs; one or two for each month, with the same format as the pumpkin one. I'd like  your feedback. Is this something you'd like to have for your classroom? Any suggestions of topics/themes?

             A reader just asked if I had a spider glyph, no, but I'd be glad to whip one together so here it is. Click on the link. Spider   Glyph. 

                   If you're looking for more graphing activities for your students I have a 140 page Graph Book with 55 graphs + full color answer keys so that you don't have to make them all for only $1.99. Click on the link to check it out.

I hope you have fun making these pumpkin glyphs with your little "punkin(s)"!