Pumpkin Jack

October 24-31 We spent the week leading up to Halloween completing a unit from Homeschool Share based on the book Pumpkin Jack.  Along with this unit we read lots of Halloween books, had too many treats, crafted, carved pumpkins, got all dressed up in costumes and went to our church Trunk-or-Treat party for the grand finale.  It was a very busy, but fun week!

Social Studies

Geography:  After reading the book we talked about where Jack might be able to live, ie, what he needs to thrive and grow properly.  Joe concluded that Jack would do well here in SC, but not so well somewhere like the desert. 

Occupation:  Pumpkin Farmer

We talked about where pumpkins grow and what it would be like to be a pumpkin farmer.  I made a little book for Joe about pumpkins using sentence prompts from Homeschool Share and he illustrated it. Generousity:  "There were many, for the plant had been generous.  Tim was generous, too.  He gave away all but one."  We talked about what it means to be generous, just as the pumpkin plant had been generous with Tim, and then, Tim was generous with the children by sharing the pumpkins.  We talked about things we can share and be generous with—toys, food, books, our time.  Joe even came up with an example of how he is generous with his time when he plays with his brothers.

Art:  Painting Pumpkins, Glueline Watercolor Pumpkins, Bumpy Pumpkin, Paper Bag Haunted Houses, Handprint Ghosts and Pumpkins

The kids made lots of crafts throughout this week and a half.  Hanna, Joe and Jack all painted pumpkins. They all decorated haunted houses.  Jack made his from a sticker kit I got at Hobby Lobby.  Hanna and Joe made paper bag haunted houses.

 

I helped Jesse make adorable hand and footprint ghosts, and a cute pumpkin. After we read the book The Bumpy Little Pumpkin, Jack made a paper plate pumpkin and Joe made a bumpy, little pumpkin craft. Hanna completed a project I’d found that I wanted one of the kids to do for me to frame—glueline watercolor pumpkins.  It turned out SO pretty! I made a really neat magnetic haunted house from craft foam for Jack.  It kept him occupied for a long while and he enjoyed playing with it throughout the week. Math:  Boo Mallow Sort and Graph, Haunted Math Houses

Joe and Jack both had fun sorting (Jack) and grahping (Joe) with Boo Mallows.  Of course, they enjoyed eating them too.  I made a haunted math house for Joe for addition and subtraction and he completed a worksheet that went along with it. Science:  Pumpkins

It was only fitting that we based our week of science on pumpkins.  We studied the pumpkin life cycle, observed pumpkins, measured pumpkins, examined the insides of a pumpkin and grew mold like the mold that grew on Pumpkin Jack.  **The picture of our baby food jar for the mold experiment was taken on day one.  Our mold grew around day 6, and is still growing.** Language Arts:

Joe completed a story about haunted houses and rewrote a Spooky poem. Jack had lots of fun while Joe worked on his activities and worksheets.  I printed out a preschool pack to keep him busy.

Jack had trouble with sizing activities the first several times I presented them, but with this set it finally clicked!  He did a super job!  He and I were both very proud. For some reason he enjoyed this costume matching game lots. Lastly, we made lots of treats throughout the week.  Here are the kids’ favorites.  Witch’s Hats: Jack-O-Lantern Pudding Cups Dracula Teeth—these were there most favorite! And, this post wouldn’t be complete without a picture of my Greek Princess, Pirate, Sort of Skeleton and Robot.We had SUCH a good time with our Halloween unit!!  It was so much fun!!  Here are Joe’s finished lapjournal pages.  Jack didn’t have any this time, his activities were either games or crafts. Inspiration, ideas and printables for Pumpkin Jack can be found at:

• Homeschool Share Pumpkin Jack unit
• 2 Teaching Mommies Leaves unit
• What the Teacher Wants Halloween Unit
• First Grader at Last Boo Mallow Graph
• Lesson Plan SOS Hooray for Halloween Unit
• No Time for Flashcards Magnetic Haunted House
• Superheroes and Princesses Dracula Teeth and Paper Bag Haunted Houses
• Halloween Pinterest board