STEAM activities combine four academic areas which include science, technology, engineering and math, plus the arts. Working on STEAM activities helps create critical thinkers and increases science literacy and math skills.
Now is the time to STEAM ahead with pumpkins! A nice source of pumpkin activities can be found on a site called Homeschool Preschool, but don’t let the title of the site make you think it’s only for home school and preschool-aged kids! I saw plenty of neat activities for kids of all ages. Take a look at just a sampling of things on this site.
- Scented Halloween Crystals – Create Halloween shapes with pipe cleaners and dip them into a solution of hot water and borax. After a day, the crystals will begin to form on the pipe cleaners.
- Pumpkin Decomposition – What happens to all those jack-o-lanterns after Halloween? Don’t throw your jack-o-lantern away! Use it to show your kids the process of decomposition. Just place it somewhere outside where you and the kids will be able to observe it weekly to see the changes happening to Old Jack. You can have your children draw how it looks each week or take weekly pictures or both. If you have placed that pumpkin in a patch of soil, just let it stay there throughout the winter. In the spring, there will be a fun surprise!
- Multi-Textured Pumpkin Patch Collage – Gather your supplies by seeing what you could use that you already have like fabric scraps, buttons, ribbons, sequins etc. Then go outside and look for acorns, autumn leaves, sticks, pinecones and whatever else strikes your fancy. To make the pumpkin patch collage, use a sturdy piece of cardboard for the base. Cut pumpkin shapes from fabric or paint the pumpkins with orange paint. Use things you’ve collected to make the pumpkin faces. You could use green yarn or ribbon to make the vines. Such a fun activity!
- Pumpkin Boats – This activity uses mini pumpkins, and your kids will love it! First put the pumpkin in a tub of water to see if it will float. Then cut the top off and once again test to see if it will float. Lastly, make your pumpkin boat by scooping out the pulp, adding a toothpick flag and launching your boat in the water.
- Baking Soda Painted Pumpkin – This is a little messy, but oh so fun! You will need washable orange and yellow paint, baking soda, vinegar, brushes and white paper cut into pumpkin shapes. There is a lot of science observation in this activity.
For all the directions and more fun pumpkin STEAM activities, click here.
– Becky Lynn is a writer for EllisDownHome.com. She and her husband Bob enjoy spending time with their 8 grandchildren and traveling. Becky loves cranking up the music and heading to the kitchen to try out new recipes or cook for an upcoming party. She is passionate about continuing to be a life-long learner!
