old newspapers (to cover the working surface and make activity cleanup easy)
Lesson Plan
Do larger pumpkins have more seeds than smaller pumpkins? Is there a relationship between a pumpkin's size and the number of seeds it contains? In this activity, students predict the answer to those questions and test their hypotheses.
Before the Lesson
Gather pumpkins of various sizes. (Suggestion: one pumpkin for every two students.)
Spread craft paper or old newspaper over surfaces where students will be working.
The Lesson
Display for students the variety of pumpkins you have collected. Ask students to describe differences among the pumpkins. Ask students to predict which pumpkin weighs the most.
For upper elementary and above students, you might number each pumpkin and ask students to record an estimate of each pumpkin's weight. Choose one pumpkin to weigh in advance, so students have a point of comparison for their estimations.
Number the pumpkins you have gathered. (The numbers will be important as students fill out the activity work sheet.) Then provide each student or pair of students with a pumpkin. Have each student or pair/team record on the Predicting Pumpkins work sheet their pumpkin's measurements by
weighing it.
measuring its height at its highest point.
measuring its width at its widest point.
Ask students/teams to
share their data.
predict how many seeds they will find inside their pumpkins.
predict whether their pumpkins will have more or fewer seeds than other pumpkins.
Next, cut off a section from the top of each pumpkin. Have students use their hands to dig out the contents of their pumpkins. Then have them count the number of seeds in their pumpkins.
Turn this activity into a lesson in place value. Have students arrange seeds in groups of ten on a small piece (half of an 8-1/2- x 11-inch sheet) of math paper, and circle each group of ten seeds. When they have ten groups of ten seeds on a sheet of paper, students start counting seeds on a new piece of paper, so each piece of paper contains 100 seeds (hundreds place value); each additional group of seeds that is circled on the final piece of paper will represent 10 more (tens place value); and each seed that's left over after all groups of ten seeds are collected will represent one (units place value).
When students are finished counting, have them record the number of seeds in their pumpkins on the correct line (the line that matches the number assigned to their pumpkin) of the Predicting Pumpkins worksheet.
When all students/teams are finished measuring and counting, give each group an opportunity to share the data they collected. Students should record the data for each team's pumpkin on the correct line on the work sheet. When completed, the chart will reflect the following information about each pumpkin:
its weight
its height
its width
the number of seeds in it
When all data is collected and recorded, challenge students to analyze it. Does there seem to be a relationship between the height, width, or weight of a pumpkin and the number of seeds in it? Have students record their observations. Were their predictions correct?
You might turn this into a think-pair-share activity: Have students work on their own to record their observations. Then have each student pair up with his or her partner from the counting activity and share their thoughts/observations. Then have each pair of students join another pair and discuss their observations. Then have each foursome join another foursome. Finally, discuss the results of the experiment as a class.
Extension Activities
Have students create graphs to show the data they collected. They might use the free and easy-to-use Create a Graph tool to make their graphs.
Bake the pumpkin seeds for a tasty snack. Click here for a recipe.
Assessment
Have each student construct a statement summing up his or her observations in response to the question Is there a relationship between the size of a pumpkin and the number of seeds it contains? Upper elementary students might write a more detailed summary to include what they predicted, did, and observed.
MATHEMATICS: Number and Operations GRADES Pre-K - 2 NM-NUM.PK-2.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems NM-NUM.PK-2.3 Compute Fluently and Make Reasonable Estimates GRADES 3 - 5 NM-NUM.3-5.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems NM-NUM.3-5.3 Compute Fluently and Make Reasonable Estimates GRADES 6 - 8 NM-NUM.6-8.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems NM-NUM.6-8.3 Compute Fluently and Make Reasonable Estimates GRADES 9 - 12 NM-NUM.9-12.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems NM-NUM.9-12.3 Compute Fluently and Make Reasonable Estimates
MATHEMATICS: Measurement GRADES Pre-K - 2 NM-MEA.PK-2.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement NM-MEA.PK-2.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements GRADES 3 - 5 NM-MEA.3-5.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements GRADES 6 - 8 NM-MEA.6-8.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements GRADES 9 - 12 NM-MEA.9-12.2 Apply Appropriate Techniques, Tools, and Formulas to Determine Measurements
MATHEMATICS: Data Analysis and Probability GRADES Pre-K - 2 NM-DATA.PK-2.1 Formulate Questions That Can Be Addressed With Data and Collect, Organize, and Display Relevant Data to Answer NM-DATA.PK-2.2 Select and Use Appropriate Statistical Methods to Analyze Data NM-DATA.PK-2.3 Develop and Evaluate Inferences and Predictions That Are Based on Data GRADES 3 - 5 NM-DATA.3-5.1 Formulate Questions That Can Be Addressed With Data and Collect, Organize, and Display Relevant Data to Answer NM-DATA.3-5.2 Select and Use Appropriate Statistical Methods to Analyze Data NM-DATA.3-5.3 Develop and Evaluate Inferences and Predictions That Are Based on Data GRADES 6 - 8 NM-DATA.6-8.1 Formulate Questions That Can Be Addressed With Data and Collect, Organize, and Display Relevant Data to Answer NM-DATA.6-8.2 Select and Use Appropriate Statistical Methods to Analyze Data NM-DATA.6-8.3 Develop and Evaluate Inferences and Predictions That Are Based on Data GRADES 9 - 12 NM-DATA.9-12.1 Formulate Questions That Can Be Addressed With Data and Collect, Organize, and Display Relevant Data to Answer NM-DATA.9-12.2 Select and Use Appropriate Statistical Methods to Analyze Data NM-DATA.9-12.3 Develop and Evaluate Inferences and Predictions That Are Based on Data
MATHEMATICS: Communications GRADES Pre-K - 12 NM-COMM.PK-12.1 Organize and Consolidate Their Mathematical Thinking Through Communication
MATHEMATICS: Connections GRADES Pre-K - 12 NM-CONN.PK-12.3 Recognize and Apply Mathematics in Contexts Outside of Mathematics
MATHEMATICS: Representation GRADES Pre-K - 12 NM-REP.PK-12.1 Create and Use Representations to Organize, Record, and Communicate Mathematical Ideas
