EDUC 2220- Educational Technology

Infant-Pre-K Curriculum Plan: Technology-Based Lesson/Activity

Your Name ___Elizabeth Williams ______ Activity Title ___The Pumpkin Experience___________

Number of children participating at one time _____14-20___ Ages ___3-5 yrs. old_______

Activities written for previous classes cannot be re-used and must be the original work of the student.
Ohio Early Domain: Cognitive and General Knowledge
Learning &
Sub-Domain: Mathematics
Development
Standards: Strand: Algebra

List at least 1 Topic: Group and Categorize

standard that
Standard Statement: Sort and classify objects by one or more attributes (e.g., size,
is addressed
by this activity. number).
Write out each
component
completely
and exactly,
as published in
ELDS.

Lesson
Using our student tablets and the app SeeSaw we will be exploring and documenting all
Summary:
about pumpkins. Day one we look at similarities and differences of sizes, color, and weight;
and even look at the differences of inside and outside the pumpkin. While on day two we
look at the height, sizes, seeds, and tower building. Day three we will be ending with the My
Favorite Pumpkin Activity and a KWL chart.

Estimated This lesson will last about two days and we will follow up with completion on the third day. We
Duration: have scheduled lesson time from 10:00am until 11:00 am. During this time children must
complete five lessons and their documentation to show competition. On the Third day we will
be completing our STEM Pumpkin Investigation with the My Favorite Pumpkin Activity and our
KWL chart.

During the hour lesson time children can freely flow through activities, they pick which area
they would like to start in and collect the data needed. Once they have send through their
data through the app they can move onto the next activity of their choosing.
Preparation What preparation is needed?
of materials About 20-30 pumpkins varying in size and color
and
environment Day One:
KWL Chart pre-made
Weighing Scale set up at science table
Buckets filled with water for sink/float set up at back table
Science Bin filled with 3 pumpkins cut open in fourths for dissecting
Art Table with a bucket of baking soda/ food color mixed, also need a tray to set them on.
 Day Two:
Chart of Half a pumpkin Ms. Liz drew
Cubes set out on circle carpet for measuring heights
Science bin with lid closed has seeds laid out on it with magnifying glasses
Art trays, aprons, bowls and magic pumpkins set out on kidney table so children can grab
them. On teacher side have containers of vinegar set up with droppers for dispersing.
Pumpkin play dough and tiny pumpkins set up on art table.

Day Three:
KWL Chart

What materials will be used? Student tablets, scale, water, large clear bucket, baking soda,
food coloring, cubes for measurement, magnifying glasses, art trays, bowls, aprons, vinegar,
baking soda, pumpkin playdough, and tiny pumpkins for towers.

How will the learning environment be set up? Each activity will be set up in a designated
area, children can pick the order in which they investigate these areas.

Instructional Procedures:

Day 1:
We will open with Circle time and that includes the book and our KWL chart.
Book: How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? By Wendell Minor
We will be using a KWL chart, mainly to track what children know about Pumpkins.
We will refer to question one of the chart What do you know about pumpkins?, read How Big Could You
Pumpkin Grow? By Wendell Minor. Then refer to the chart for question two What would you like to know
about pumpkins?, and then finally we will answer the last question on the chart at the end of the lesson
What have you learned about pumpkins?. The chart will be laminated, and we can use expo markers to
chart down facts by bullet points.

Children will then pick a song to sing and we will end circle. Before circle dismissal the teacher will briefly run
over the days activities. To be dismissed teacher will call by two kids at a time and have them collect their
tablet and begin at their first activity. Children can go to each center at their own preference but must
complete the assignment before moving to another activity.

Activity 1: Pumpkin Similarities & Differences- Find the pumpkins sitting on the back table, you will be taking
two pictures. 1. Take a picture of two pumpkins that look alike. 2. Take a picture of two different colored
pumpkins. Upload both images for competition.
Children are to be looking at different pumpkins and taking two pictures as outlined.
Teacher can be double checking work as it is uploaded or while she is floating around the room.
Adding key commentary like is this similar or different?

Activity 2: Pumpkins on the Scales- Go to the table with our scale. You will find one scale, and 6 pumpkins.
Take time putting different pumpkins on the scales. We use scales to compare weights of objects, by putting
a pumpkin in each of the scale buckets we can see which pumpkin is heavier. Take one picture of your
favorite set, point to the pumpkin farthest from the table, that means it is lighter and will be up in the air not
touching the table.
While walking around the class the teacher can be pointing out contrasting commentary, wow look
at how heavy that one is *points to pumpkin*, it touches the table the other one must be so light.

Activity 3: Pumpkin Sink/Float- We will be testing which pumpkins sink or float. We will be putting pumpkins in
water, if it goes to the bottom of the water it sinks, if it still is on top of the water it floats. Take a picture of one
of the pumpkins you tested, does it sink or float?
Children compare pumpkins as they are put in water. While the vocabulary sink/float is tough to
remember they can compare is it under the water or on top of the water.
Teacher can direct and help children find if any pumpkin sinks.
Activity 4: Pumpkin Dissection- In the Science table are 3 pumpkins I have cut open, but I need your help!
Can you go help me pull out some of its gooey guts? I want you to find 5 pumpkin seeds and put them in our
seed jar!
Children investigate their inside of a pumpkin with fine motor while also experiencing other sensory
nerves. They practice counting to five or more and placing them into the mason jar.
Teacher does not really need to be adding much but if she hears a child counting more then five she
could offer acknowledgment or praise.

Activity 5: Help Make a Pumpkin for Science- We will be ending this pumpkin days with a magic show. Can
you help me make a ball in this science bin? In here we have baking soda and orange food color. Make a
ball and place it on the tray for me. Wash your hands right after this activity.
Children practice fine motor skills rolling the baking soda into a ball and placing it onto the art tray.
Teacher ensures no one is eating this material, and are washing hands!

Day Two:
We will open with Circle time and that includes the book, look at the parts of a pumpkin, and spend time
measuring Ms. Lizs pumpkin on her desk.
Book: How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? By Margaret McNamara
After reading the book we will be looking at our chart on the board of a pumpkin cut in half. We spend time
looking at a real pumpkin and the pictures in our books to label leaves, stem, seeds, pulp, skin, and fibrous
strands.
We will also grab the big pumpkin from my desk, and the measuring cubes. To review how to measure I will
follow through with each step connecting each square and counting. Making sure it is the right height I will
say my pumpkin is 10 cubes high. This will be great review for an activity of the day.
Activity 1: Pumpkins Big and Small- Use the pumpkins on the kidney table. I want you to take a picture of a
big pumpkin and a small pumpkin. Check out my example.
Children are given a teacher example and asked to create their own using any pumpkin sitting on
the kidney table.
Activity 2: Comparing Pumpkin Heights- We will be using our cubes to compare heights of pumpkins. Pick one
pumpkin, attach cubes so it stands up beside your pumpkin like my picture does. Compare your cubes with a
friend, take a picture of your pumpkins together.
Children will be working individually to measure their own pumpkin but then working on team skills by
talking to a friend and taking pictures of the pumpkins.
Teacher watches out for social ques and makes sure they agree on sizing and or pictures.
Activity 3: Seed Investigation- On the table there is pumpkin seeds and magnifying glasses, investigate the
seeds. Then take a picture of your magnifying glass.
Children work on using their eyes and sense of touch to investigate seeds.
Teacher can add commentary or key vocabulary to help children investigate.
Activity 4: Melting Pumpkins- Science Project Things you need:
Apron on
Art Tray at your desk
Bowl
One Magic Pumpkin
Ask Ms. Liz to bring you your magic jar of vinegar
Instructions: Place small drops of vinegar onto your pumpkin. Take a picture of the result. Walk your art tray
very carefully to the back sink, place it on the counter for the helper to clean.
Children work through the science experience on their own but get more one on one time to find
and explore the reaction
Teacher insures materials are used properly and kept out of the face region
Activity 5: Pumpkin Towers- Can you create a pumpkin tower? At the math table there is tiny pumpkins and
some play dough. Show me a picture of your pumpkin tower!
Children experiment and explore with fine motor and stacking
Teacher watch and encourages persistence

Day Three:
We will open with Circle time and that includes the book and conclusion to our KWL chart.
Book: The Very Best Pumpkin by Mark Moulton
After reading our story we will do our final activity.
Last Activity: My favorite Pumpkin- Look around the room, pick the best pumpkin you can find. I want you to
take this pumpkin back to your seat and observe it by filling out the worksheet. Look at the pumpkin on my
desk! Here is my worksheet I used for my pumpkin.
Children will work on using their stylus for their tablets or their fingers to describe a pumpkin they love.
If two kids would like to use the same pumpkin they can work together. they will follow along with the
teacher on the board she will introduce each step and help children focus on decisions.
Steps:
Please put your name on your worksheet
What size is your pumpkin?
Describe it in the words big or small round or rough etc. Then draw a picture.
Measure it with Cubes
Count Lines on the pumpkin
Will it Sink/Float? If unsure offer the possibility of using childs pumpkin as demo.
Lastly: Add a face!
Finally, we will come back to circle and wrap up all we have learned by filling out the L of our KWL chart.
What have you learned about pumpkins?.

Extension
On the tablet there is an assignment labeled extension with the following instructions:

Check out this site for more facts about pumpkins... https://www.itsybitsyfun.com/pumpkin-facts-for-kids.html
Did we come up with different ideas?
Also gave is a pdf for quick comparisons

Differentiated Instructional Support: Describe how instruction can be differentiated (changed or altered) to
meet the needs of gifted or accelerated students:
Activity: Bubble Pumpkin Experiment- The objective is to make bubbles inside of the pumpkin. Given the
materials water soap and straws how can you make the pumpkin bubble?
Things needed: Pre-gutted small pumpkins, a drinking straw for each child, water, and dish soap.

Discuss additional activities you could do to meet the needs of students who might be struggling with the
material:
 If children were struggling instead of doing individual learning, we could always bring it back to circle
and discuss it as a group. Most the time more heads put together helps an understanding.

Vocabulary:
Big, Small, Similar, Different, Heavy, Light, Pumpkin Seed, Ball, Measure, Compare, Investigate, Leaves, Stem,
Fibrous Strands, Seeds, Skins, Pulp.

For teachers Previously set up SeeSaw application with the kids already logged into the classroom
lesson. Each child has a school provided tablet which is organized by number, their
tablet number is also taped to the top right-hand corner of their desk. The teacher
will introduce each day with a book about comparing pumpkins. She will then dismiss
them by two to pick up their tablet and pick their first activity. During circle time of
day one we will be looking at big and

For students Student will need their smart tablets and styluses to complete this lesson. These tablets
could be surface computers or even iPad.