This month a few pumpkins took a visit to McKendree Daycare, and the children took it from there.

Out at the water table, a pumpkin with its top cut off became a vessel for all kinds of investigation. Children poured water in to see what would happen and watched the seeds come loose and float to the surface. They scooped, stirred and fished seeds out with whatever tools were close at hand: cups, spoons and even rolling pins. It was slippery, stringy, splashy work, and nobody wanted to stop.

Indoors, the exploration slowed down. Two friends leaned over a pumpkin together, spoons in hand, looking closely at the web of strings holding the seeds inside. Others sorted seeds into coffee filters one at a time and held them in their palms to feel how small and slick they were. One young artist sat with a palette of purple, pink, red, blue and yellow and painted right onto the pumpkin’s skin, adding marks and colors in his own way.

Then the seeds had one more change ahead. We roasted them, and the children could see (and taste!) how something wet and slippery becomes golden and crunchy.

In a Reggio-inspired classroom, we think of the pumpkin as an invitation rather than a lesson plan. We offer real materials, room to explore and time to stay with an idea, and we trust the children to lead. Pouring, sorting, painting and tasting are all different ways the children explored the same pumpkins. We loved watching each of them find their own way in.

Happy fall from all of us at McKendree Daycare 🍂