Teach Children the Alphabet with Pumpkins
Even though Halloween has ended and the jack-o-lanterns have been “retired”, pumpkins are still everywhere! Fall is a time to investigate these fabulous fruits. There are so many different varieties and sizes to teach children about, but with a little bit of imagination and creativity, pumpkins can be used to teach all sorts of academic concepts!
I wanted to share with you one of my favorite ways to teach children the Alphabet. Right now I am focusing on use “Pumpkin Jack”, but this activity can be used throughout the year, regardless of the holiday. During the Christmas season, Pumpkin Jack and be changed to “Charlie Christmas Tree” or in February – “Henry the Heart”. You get the idea! Now, let’s get started with this simple, play-based activity.
Pumpkin Jack Activity Directions
Materials Needed:
* One empty envelope
* 24 4×6 cards (or pieces of papers cut up into 24 four by six sized paper)
* One Marker (any color)
* One piece of tape
* One large pumpkin.
Directions:
(Watch video below for demonstration)
Step 1: Write the uppercase and lowercase letters on 4×6 cards (see video below for example)
Step 2: With your child, draw a pumpkin face on one side of the pumpkin using a marker.
Step 3: Tape one envelope to the back of the pumpkin (the opposite side that the face is on).
Step 4: Ask your child to sit in front of the pumpkin, facing the pumpkin face.
Step 5: Come up with a name for the pumpkin together.
Step 6: The adult should pick one of the alphabet cards and place either the uppercase side or the lowercase side in the envelope (see video below for example).
Step 7: Repeat the following poem with your child:
Pumpkin Poem:
Child: “Pumpkin (name of pumpkin), Pumpkin (name of pumpkin) what letter did you have for a snack?”
Adult: “My name is Pumpkin (name of pumpkin) and I had”
Child: “letter ___ for a snack!”
Step 8: Repeat steps 6 and 7 for all of the alphabet (both uppercase and lowercase).
Don’t have a pumpkin? Use this Pumpkin Balloon Ball Jack O’ Lantern Instead!
