Pre-K's Pumpkin Jack!

This week, our class began a very special fall project inspired by the book "Pumpkin Jack" by Will Hubbell. After reading the story together, we carved our very own pumpkin and placed “Pumpkin Jack” in a clear container in our Science Center.

Over the next several months, our students will observe the natural changes Pumpkin Jack goes through. Just like in the story, we will keep him in our classroom until spring, when we’ll plant the sprouts in our garden! This project is packed with hands-on learning and directly supports Arkansas Better Beginnings early childhood learning goals:

-Scientific Thinking: making observations, asking questions, predicting outcomes, and recording changes

-Language & Literacy: connecting literature to real-life experiences and using new vocabulary

-Math Concepts: sequencing events, measuring growth, and comparing changes over time

-Social-Emotional Development: working together, showing responsibility, and developing patience as we wait for long-term results

-Creative Expression: carving the pumpkin and connecting art to science and storytelling

-Nature & Environment: building respect for nature and understanding life cycles

-Our students are SO excited to check on Pumpkin Jack every day—learning, wondering, -and imagining what will happen next.

Keep an eye out for Pumpkin Jack updates! We love that projects like this bring literature to life and encourage curiosity, exploration, and discovery!