It’s that time of year again – time for pumpkins!  This is a storytime plan from the archives that was in need of a little updating.  I’ve included some new pictures and templates for you.  Happy fall!

OPENING SONG: The More We Get Together

OPENING RHYMES:

• Open, Shut Them
• Two Little Blackbirds (or Pumpkins!)

Two little pumpkins, sitting on a hill (hold up pointer finger on each hand)
One named Jack, and one named Jill.
Roll away Jack (roll one hand and hide behind back)
Roll away Jill (roll other hand and hide behind back)
Roll back Jack (bring hand from behind back)
And roll back Jill (bring other hand from behind back)

SONG: Feelings Jack-O-Lanterns
Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It

Ask children “Which pumpkin is happy?’ or “How does this pumpkin feel?” before singing each verse.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, then you’ll really want to show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

(Continue with additional verses)
If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet….
If you’re silly and you know it, wiggle around….
If you’re sad and you know it, rub your eyes (“boo hoo”)….
If you’re surprised and you know it, say “Oh my!”…..

BOOK 1: It’s Pumpkin Time by Zoe Hall

A brother and sister begin getting ready early for Halloween (their favorite holiday) by planting their pumpkin seeds in the spring.  They dig in the dirt, water the seeds, weed, and wait for the pumpkins to grow.  On Halloween night, mom and dad help them turn their pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern.  The vibrant collage illustrations, combined with the accurate story of how pumpkins are grown, make this book a winning introduction to the autumn season!

FINGERPLAY: Once There Was a Pumpkin

Once there was a pumpkin (Make circle with hands)

And it grew, and it grew, and it grew (With each “grew” make circle bigger)

Now it’s a jack-o-lantern smiling at you! (With a smile, point to children)

FLANNEL SONG: Five Little Pumpkins (mp3)
From Raffi’s album Singable Songs for the Very Young

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, “Oh my, it’s getting late!”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”
The third one said “But we don’t care.”
The fourth one said “Let’s run and run and run!”
The fifth one said “Isn’t Halloween fun?”
Then Woooooo went the wind
And OUT went the lights (clap)
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight. (roll hands)

Five Little Pumpkins Template (pdf)

BOOK 2: Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch by Mary Peterson

A short, rhyming story that is perfect for an autumn storytime with it’s orange and gold illustrations on every page.  In this book, two  mischievous little piggies go on an adventure while mama piggy takes a nap.  Their travels take them under the sheets, over the green beans, behind the sheep, between the cats, through the geese, and ….uh oh….is that a bull’s pen and swarming bees??  A fun read that also introduces a number of directional prepositions.

FINGERPLAY SONG: Pumpkin on the Ground
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (Crouch down)
How’d you get so big and round? (Stretch arms out wide and then make circle)

Once you were a seed so small (Pretend to hold a seed)
Now you are a great big ball! (Make huge circle with arms)

Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground (Crouch down)
How’d you get so big and round? (Stretch arms out wide and then make circle)

Credit: DTLK

CLOSING SONG: Skinnamarink

CRAFT: Paint Mixing Pumpkins

1. Preparation: Pour red and yellow paint into zip-lock bags.
2. Ask a question & make a prediction: Ask children, “What color is a pumpkin?”  and “What color do you think red and yellow mixed together will make?” Let them guess.
3. Observe: Give each child a baggie and let them find out for themselves!
4. Add a Jack-o-lantern face:  Parents can help draw jack-o-lantern faces on the baggies with permanent markers OR have children glue on faces cut out of paper.

ADDITIONAL BOOKS

Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas

Pumply, Dumply Pumpkin by Mary Serfozo

Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

It’s Pumpkin Day Mouse! by Laura Numeroff