Squash / Pumpkins

 

It’s pumpkin time – as well as time for other winter squashes. But pumpkins are older than Halloween, and they are more international than you might think. Don’t squash your interest in them; instead, dig out interesting facts about pumpkins in these activities.

 

CONNECT:

• Watch your fill of pumpkin videos at https://www.simplykinder.com/pumpkin-videos/
• Get the facts about pumpkins at https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/food/pumpkins.html and dig deeper at https://kids.kiddle.co/Pumpkin
• Learn about the history of pumpkins and Halloween at https://www.halloweenexpress.com/the-history-behind-pumpkins-and-halloween/

 

 

CREATE:

• You can try more than 40 kid-friendly pumpkin activities at https://handsonaswegrow.com/40-pumpkin-activities-for-kids/
• Sing about pumpkins at https://www.morganmanagesmommyhood.com/9-pumpkin-songs-perfect-for-fall/.  Then make up your own pumpkin song.
• Pumpkins are more than decoration; you can cook them too. Just follow the recipes at https://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/pumpkin-recipes.html

 

CARE:

• Carving pumpkins is good for kids; here are five reasons why: https://sunshinehouse.com/blog/carving-decorating-pumpkins-5-benefits-for-your-child/
• AND you need to carve safely so here are some tips: https://www.thekitchn.com/3-ways-to-make-pumpkin-carving-with-kids-more-fun-261998
• You can grow your own pumpkin too; see the directions at https://www.thompson-morgan.com/growing-pumpkins-with-kids

 

CAREERS:

Pumpkins can be a gateway to several careers: from growing and selling them to decorating with them and cooking with them. See the possibilities at https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/jobs-if-you-love-halloween-0916

Orange you glad?

Orange is both a color and a fruit (in the English language), which makes for a fun mix of learning. Orange (..aren’t) you glad you can explore this colorful word?

CONNECT:

·         Did you know that oranges came from Southeast Asia? Travel the world with this history of oranges: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-orange-fruit.html. You might use a map to track the journey of oranges over time. (The “serious” history, including the citruc industry, is found at http://websites.lib.ucr.edu/agnic/webber/Vol1/Chapter1.htm).

·         Find out the background of the Osage orange at http://www.gpnc.org/osage.htm

·         Enjoy fun facts about pumpkins at http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/food/pumpkins.html

CREATE:

·         Why settle for just plan orange juice when you can add so many different ingredients? http://www.all-about-juicing.com/orange-juice-recipes-for-kids.html  Try thinking up an original juice recipe yourself.

·         What can you do with an orange besides eat it? Try these orange fruit crafts: http://www.ehow.com/info_8295426_orange-fruit-crafts-preschoolers.html

·         Have an orange day at http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1331.html and http://www.123child.com/lessonplans/colors/orange.php and

http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/color.html#orange and

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/theme_station02/oct02_orange.shtml and

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/colors/orange.shtml

·         Did you know that over thirty cities in the United States have the word “orange?” Check out the US ZIP Code database (http://www.getzipcode.us/en/), and search for cities using the term “orange.” Both a list and a map will be generated. Some of the cities don’t seem to be likely places to raise oranges. Try looking up cities by other colors; you might make a comparison chart of how many cities have each color name (note: poor purple…).

CARE:

·         Gardening is a healthy habit; it helps children learn about how to care for nature, and it can lead to healthy eating. Try growing carrots with your children, following the advice at http://www2.fiskars.com/Kids-Activities-School/Projects/Kids-in-the-Garden/Recipes/Growing-Carrots-with-Kids#.U5tA5ij7Hbg

·         Wildflowers are imporant to preserve in nature; you can Identify them  by color at http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/colorlisting.asp

·         Learn about safety orange at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_orange

·         Does someone need a little brightness in their day? Check out the psychology of the color orange at http://www.tuned-in.com/ColorSpeaks/Orange.aspx

CAREERS:

Orange has many meaning, as you have found out. So orange-related careers could go in lots of directions too: the citrus industry (see the connection above), forestry,  manufacturing, visual arts, cuisine, safety and transportation – or a job in a city named Orange! Sample some of these:

http://www.thelandlovers.org/

http://www.theartcareerproject.com/art-as-a-career/#.U5tF9Cj7Hbg

http://myfootpath.com/careers/culinary-careers/

Hurray for Halloween!

Whether you believe in ghosts or goblins, you probably have experienced Halloween. What’s it all about, and why do we celebrate it? Hopefully, the answers won’t spook you!

CONNECT:

• Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins: http://www.pumpkin-patch.com/
• The History Channel  has several videos about Halloween around the world: http://www.history.com/topics/halloween-around-the-world
• Did you know that candy corn is over a 100 years old – and that it wasn’t always associated with Halloween? Find out about its history at http://www.hauntedbay.com/history/candycorn.shtml
• Los Dias de los Muertos, or the Mexican Days of the Dead Festival, shares some of its origins with Halloween. Find out about this event and other festivals of the dead at http://edsitement.neh.gov/not-just-halloween-festivals-dead-around-world
• R. L. Stine is a scream for lots of middle school readers. Here’s his online nightmare room [enter at your own risk]: http://www.thenightmareroom.com/

CREATE:

• What does ice cream have to do with Halloween? This website by Ben & Jerry’s has fun Halloween activities and crafts: http://www.benjerry.com/halloween/
• Are you batty about bats? You can make some fun bat crafts at http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/bat_crafts.html
• Learn the history of pumpkin carving, and how to carve your own at http://www.pumpkin-carving.com/.  (Make sure you do this as a family so everyone is safe.)
• Be creative with do-it-yourself costuming; get some good ideas at http://www.robinsfyi.com/holidays/halloween/costumes.htm
• Try cooking up some yummy Halloween snacks by checking out http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/halloween-recipes-kids-treats-party-food/ and http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-entertaining/holidays/halloween/kids-party-menu.aspx

CARE:

• Halloween can be scary and even unsafe. Get some safety tips at http://www.halloweenmagazine.com/play2.html
• Want to make a child happy? Help them plan a Halloween party. Here are some fun ideas: http://www.marthastewart.com/274488/halloween-games/@center/1006806/halloween-parties
• Do you have a college-age relative or friend? They would probably like a Halloween care package; check out http://www.parade.com/211055/nancyberk/halloween-in-a-box-sending-seasonal-college-care-packages/ for ways to help the collegiate be in high spirits.
• Show you care by making a homemade Halloween card: for the hospitalized, day care centers, or the elderly: http://www.making-handmade-cards.com/card-making/category/card-ideas-by-occasion/halloween-card-making-idea/
• Here are some good ideas for Halloween service projects: http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/10/ideas-for-halloween-service-projects/

CAREER:

Think of all the people associated with Halloween: pumpkin (and sugar cane and chocolate and… ) farmers and growers, transportation workers, nutritionists, artists, costumers, manufacturers, packagers, sales people, writers, party planners, film makers, entertainers, clergy.  You might trace a Halloween product from its raw materials to your doorstep.

• Here are a few Halloween-inspired careers: http://myfootpath.com/mypathfinder/job-seekers-find-a-halloween-inspired-career/
• Here’s a fun take on careers: 10 scary jobs: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/10/31/the-10-spookiest-jobs/ 
• You can find out 10 ways that Halloween is like a career at http://careersoutthere.com/10-ways-halloween-is-like-your-career/