Science: Science as Inquiry

As a result of activities in Grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of:

• abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
• understanding about scientific inquiry.

Science: Life Science

As a result of activities in Grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of:

• characteristics of organisms.
• life cycles of organisms.
  
• organisms and environments.

Science: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

As a result of activities in Grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of types of resources.

Source: National Science Education Standards

Guide students through the scientific method as they investigate the plant life cycle and observe the stages of growth and development. If milk cartons are not available, recycle alternate containers as pots. As students plant pumpkin seeds, they appreciate the great effort involved in caring for crops. Encourage students to transplant the pumpkin plant to the ground for further investigation. This is a great holiday or springtime project to share with the family.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Supplies Used: Acrylic Paint, Cardstock, Craft Knife, Milk Carton, Glue, Pumpkin Seeds, Scissors, Soil

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Wash and dry an empty 8 oz. milk or cream carton.
2. Use a craft knife or scissors to cut the carton 3" from the bottom (Figure A).
3. Paint the outside of the milk carton, except for the bottom, using cream-colored acrylic paint.
4. Use scissors or a paper cutter to cut a strip of green construction paper 1" x 12" or long enough to wrap around the carton. Adhere the strip around the bottom of the carton (Figure B).
5. Die-cut four each light orange and green SM Pumpkin #2. Die-cut two each dark orange Pumpkins. Leave the light orange Pumpkins whole.
6. Cut along the perforated lines of the dark orange Pumpkins and adhere every other strip onto the first light orange Pumpkin. Use the remaining dark orange strips for the second Pumpkin. Do this a second time for the third and fourth Pumpkins (Figure C).
7. Following the perforated lines, use scissors to cut out the four stems. Adhere these to the Pumpkins (see Main Photo).
8. Adhere the four decorated Pumpkins to the four sides of the milk carton.
9. Fill with soil, plant several Pumpkin seeds, water and wait!