Include all things pumpkin in your lesson plans this Fall. These pumpkin preschool activities are a great way for young children in a preschool classroom or at home to have so much fun learning and exploring.
Pumpkin Themed Math Activities
Buy plastic little pumpkins at the grocery store to work on counting, number recognition, and fine motor skills. Write a number on each pumpkin. Count straws, pom poms, erasers, or craft sticks into each pumpkin.
Download the Pumpkin Dice Game
If you are interested in a Dice Game using 2 dice (numbers 2-12), download the Printable Pumpkin Dice Game with 2 Dice
Pumpkin Themed Literacy Activities
Different Ways to Use the Pumpkin Matching Game Board
Letters (Great for letter identification and literacy skills)
- Write a letter in each circle.
- Write matching letters on circle stickers (used for garage sales, found at a dollar store).
- Challenge your child to cover each letter with the matching sticker.
OR
- Write a letter in each circle.
- Put matching letter magnets in a container
- Pick out a letter magnet and use a dot marker or sticker to cover the matching letter.
Colors
- Color in each circle with a different color.
- Put a matching pom pom or button on each circle to match the colors.
Counting
- Use only numbers 1, 2, and 3.
- Draw 1, 2, or 3 dots in each circle of the pumpkin.
- Write the corresponding numerals on circle stickers.
- Challenge your child to cover each circle with the matching number.
Download the FREE printable Pumpkin Matching Game Board
Pumpkin Science Activities
Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Printables
Learn about the pumpkin life cycle with these different printables. For preschool aged children, the entire lapbook may be too overwhelming. Use just a few of the printables like the parts of a pumpkin diagram, the foldable life cycle pumpkin book, or the spinning life cycle wheel. These free printables are a great addition to a science center.
Sink or Float Experiment
Will a large pumpkin sink or float? A small pumpkin?
Do pumpkin seeds sink or float? What about a pumpkin stem?
Pumpkin Rhymes and Songs
5 Little Pumpkins Felt Board Activity and Rhyme
More Pumpkin Songs for Your Preschooler
Sensory Play
A fun way to encourage sensory play with pumpkins is to put out real pumpkins and allow children to explore the pumpkin guts. Picking the pumpkin seeds out and feeling it squish in your fingers is not something all preschoolers will enjoy, but the ones who do will need to be give the time to do it.
Sensory Bins
Picture from Motherhood Moments
Use beans or rice as the filler. Add pom poms, mini pumpkin erasers, and plastic pumpkins to fill and dump.
Pumpkin Art
Process art with pumpkins can include the chance to paint small pumpkins, stamp with pumpkins, or even rolling painted pumpkins down a ramp of paper.
Pumpkin Crafts
easy pumpkin craft – favorite pumpkin craft
Paper plate pumpkins is a fun craft. Make them with construction paper like they did at The Best Ideas for Kids. Ripping the paper is great for fine motor skills, finger strength, pincer grasp, and wrist rotation.
Photo from Kid Friendly Things to Do
Making paper bag pumpkins is my favorite pumpkin craft because I remember making them as a child. Stuff your bag with crumpled newspaper (crumpling paper is also great for strengthening little hands and fingers), tie it with a pipe cleaner or yarn, and paint your pumpkin.
Other Pumpkin Ideas:
Carve Pumpkins – Even preschoolers can use these pumpkin carvers
Take a field trip to a local pumpkin patch
Pumpkin Pie Play Dough Recipe from Artful Homemaking
Pumpkin Name Puzzles from Still Playing School
From printable activities and crafts to fine motor skills and art, we hope you love our pumpkin preschool activities as much as we do. Such easy ways to incorporate fun activities and educational activities with a pumpkin theme!