Pumpkins Inside Out

[15 Minutes]

Carve your Halloween pumpkin and enjoy it inside out!

You'll need:

• smock or old shirt • pumpkin • knife (ADULT USE ONLY)

What to do:

1. Cut off the top of the pumpkin.
2. Invite your child to "dig in" and scoop out the membrane and seeds. Put these in a large bowl. Talk about how "pumpkin goop" feels.
3. Help your child separate some seeds from the membrane. Count the seeds together. Save a few seeds to plant if you have a garden. Try some roasted seeds for snacks and dry others for art projects.
4. Scrape out the meat and put it in another bowl. Save this to make pumpkin bread, cake, or pudding.
5. Carve the outer shell into a jack-o-lantern.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• What is your favorite part of the pumpkin?
• What can we make with the dried pumpkin seeds?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop small muscle skills, observational skills, and pre-math skills.