Five Little *Puking* Pumpkins

This week we learned all about pumpkins.  We learned about the life cycle of a pumpkin.  The kids were fascinated to learn that pumpkins grow out of flowers and that they are actually green before they turn orange.  We explored a pumpkin using our five senses and got to touch the inside "guts" and even taste pumpkin seeds!  At the end of the week we did an awesome science experiment where we made a mixture using two liquids and made our pumpkin "puke."

 We started reading poems in our Poetry Notebooks this week, too.  The short, thematic, choral poems help to build fluency and expression in early readers.  So far, "Take Me Out to the Graveyard" (read to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame") has been the class' favorite.  In the spirit of pumpkins, though, we chose to really focus on the poem "Five Little Pumpkins," and even adapted it into a short reader's theater production.  We broke into three groups and everyone was given a role (either a pumpkin or narrator) with a line.  We practiced reading our lines and speaking with expression like we were real actors.  The class then got to perform for their 6th grade buddies.  They did a FANTASTIC job!