THE PUMPKIN PATROL

I’ll admit it.  When I think pumpkin, my mind always goes directly to Yum Yum’s pumpkin donuts or a large slice of pumpkin pie complete with overgenerous plop of whipped cream.  But after my observations in one of the kindergarten classrooms recently, I find there are other new associations to consider! Inquisitive five-year olds were in top form last week as they discovered all sorts of fascinating facts about the large orange pumpkin which had suddenly appeared in their classroom.

Colorfully decorated pumpkin observation booklets and invisible investigator badges were part of the backdrop for the first experiment.  The students could hardly wait to turn the page to see what sort of inquiry came first!

One of the students efficiently read the title on the top of the first page.  “SINK OR FLOAT.” Each table group gathered around the pumpkin to take turns trying to lift Mr. Pumpkin from his seat atop the plastic bin.  There was an enthusiasm and jockeying for position I haven’t seen since the last time I ventured out for Christmas bargains on Black Friday.  Some of the less boisterous children (who were swept up in the fray) barely cared to touch the stem. Other investigators threw their whole frames eagerly into the lifting activity.  Truth be told, I was concerned our pumpkin would be prematurely transformed to pumpkin purée when one of the boys unexpectedly demonstrated his impressive bicep strength and lifted the pumpkin enthusiastically over his head. 

“What do we call it when we make a guess about what might happen next in a story?”  

Clearly Mrs. Immel had already introduced the word “prediction” and was checking to see if the students remembered the term.   A hand shot up and an alternate answer rang out.  “HYPOTHESIS!” Wow…kindergartner Cole can probably start writing his admissions essays for Harvard this weekend….  

The students were told to make their predictions and to keep them secret for the time being.  They formed careful letters as they added the word “sink” or the word “float” to their observation booklets. 

Leo was celebrating his birthday on the first day of the pumpkin investigation!

It was time for the first experiment.  Gathering in a circle atop carpet squares, the students surrounded Mr. Pumpkin on his perch.  Mrs. Immel took a survey of predictions, finding that 13 class members believed the pumpkin would sink while only 2 optimistic researchers predicted flotation. Aubrey guessed “float” as she had some prior experience at home with a Barbie doll in a bathtub.  Levi predicted flotation as well, rationalizing confidently: “I could hold that pumpkin with just one hand….”  Those Y chromosomes kick in early, no?

There were shocked faces all around the circle when Mrs. Immel lowered the pumpkin into the water.  

Levi mustered a celebratory (seated) victory dance as Mr. Pumpkin bobbed along the surface of the water. 

The small persons predicting there would be sinking had to concede that even heavy ships managed to somehow stay afloat at times.

Measurements (including Mr. Pumpkin's weight) took place on day two of experimentation. The students thought the pumpkin should go to his doctor for this reading but since the teacher couldn't fit everyone inside her Mazda they stopped by my office instead. The pumpkin was lifted from his cardboard traveling box and placed on the scale for his big weigh-in.  Eleven pounds!  

Birthday Boy Hudson celebrated HIS special day on the second day of pumpkin investigation.

Mia made those pounds look like nothing as she hoisted the pumpkin for the class photo above.

The scale in my office might qualify as an antique but I wouldn't trade it for
any contemporary design.  It is accurate almost to the ounce each year, never ceasing
to amaze the certification gentleman who annually affixes our label of calibration!

Levi generously reported his father's current weight to Mrs. Gordon who was snapping photos.... 

No worries Mr. Epps...what happens in the Nurse's Office stays in the Nurse's Office! 

Have I mentioned I love kindergartners? 

Description, design and seed counting would all follow in the days to come.

After all of this research, the students in Mrs. Immel’s classroom are privy to many of the secrets behind a Jack O’Lantern’s smirk.  The next time you spot a fine orange Cucurbita pepo grinning his candlelit smile on an October porch, you can smile too, knowing there are some decidedly wonderful pumpkin-enlightened five-year-olds in Penn View’s corner of the world.