Free Pumpkin Lesson Plans for Preschool
Nothing says fall in the preschool classroom quite like pumpkins. With free pumpkin lesson plans for preschoolers ready to go, which are super engaging preschool lesson plans that happen to support every area of development, it’s easy to bring autumn to life. Like all our fall preschool themes, these hands-on pumpkin activities invite little ones to explore, touch, and learn, without needing fancy materials or hours of prep.
Put a pumpkin on the table and it’s like turning on a light. Kids notice. They reach, they ask questions, they’re curious. That’s what makes our free pumpkin lesson plans for preschoolers such a smart choice this time of year. It’s such a great way to tap into what’s already interesting and turn it into something you can actually build your week around. With easy-to-follow printable lesson plans, there’s no need to overthink it.
That’s why a pumpkin preschool theme is always a must every fall. These pumpkin lesson plans are free on my site, but for your convenience, you can grab a whole bundle of weekly themed preschool lesson plans.
Pumpkin Lesson Plans for Preschool
The best pumpkin lesson plans for preschoolers are those that include a range of activities. My Learn At Home Preschool Lesson Plans always include literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills, as well as lots of other play-based learning activities.
Literacy Activities for a Pumpkin Preschool Theme
Pumpkin Colors Booklets – Grab the crayons or markers and invite your preschooler to make their very own colored pumpkin book. Print the pumpkin pages and staple them together to create a simple reading activity that fits perfectly into your pumpkin lesson plans preschool free printable collection.
Encourage your preschooler to “read” the color word at the bottom of each page and find the matching crayon or marker. But it doesn’t stop there. We share even more ways in the post on how to use these printable pumpkin books.
Pumpkin Race to the Letter Game – Print two sets of pumpkin alphabet cards and tape 5–6 of them around the room or on different objects. Keep the matching cards hidden at the starting point. Count to three and flash a letter for your preschooler to find.
They’ll race off to find the match, bring it back, name the letter, and say the sound. Then it’s off again for the next one! This active game is a great fit for pumpkin preschool activities for fall and works especially well in pumpkin lesson plans for 3–4 year olds who love to move while they learn.
Picture Books About Pumpkins
Choosing great picture books brings life to any theme and invites preschoolers to learn through literacy. Take a look at some of our favorite pumpkin books below!
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Hardcover Book
- Bateman, Teresa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Silverman, Erica (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hubbell, Will (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Minor, Wendell (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 08/02/2016 (Publication Date) – Nancy Paulsen Books (Publisher)
Pumpkin STEM Activities for Preschoolers
Pumpkin Seed Counting – Grab a muffin tin, a pair of dice, and some roasted pumpkin seeds for one of the easiest pumpkin counting activities for preschool. Kids roll the dice, count the dots, and place that number of seeds into each cup of the tray. It’s a great hands-on way to support number sense, and it fits right into any fall pumpkin preschool lesson plans without much prep at all.
Pumpkin Math Counting Craft – Fill a bin with water and drop in a few mini pumpkins. Write numbers on the bottom of each one using a permanent marker. Then, chalk matching numbers onto cardboard or the sidewalk. Using a spoon, your preschooler can scoop out the pumpkins and match them to the correct number. This playful setup is a fun option for pumpkin number recognition games and adds a sensory twist to your pumpkin theme curriculum for preschool.
Pumpkin Math Activity Sensory Bin – Grab some mini pumpkins and a permanent marker for this math game. Write a number on the bottom of the pumpkins and put them in a bin of water so they float. Write numbers in sidewalk chalk or on a piece of cardboard. Invite your preschooler to scoop them out with a spoon and match them to the written number.
Pumpkin Science – Slice open a small pumpkin and take time to observe what’s inside. Let your preschooler feel the pulp, count the seeds, and describe the texture and smell. These types of sensory activities with pumpkins are a natural part of pumpkin science experiments for preschoolers and can easily be added to a weekly pumpkin theme for preschoolers. It’s also a great way to introduce descriptive language and observation skills, tying in nicely with any pumpkin themed vocabulary words for preschool.
Activities for Pumpkin Preschool Lesson Plans
These activities are fun and play-based and highly interesting for preschoolers. Add them alongside your pumpkin theme lesson plans.
- 20+ Hands-on Pumpkin Activities for Preschool
- Pumpkin Playdough with Real Pumpkin Puree
- Estimating and Measuring in Pumpkin Math Activities
- A Craft Measurement Pumpkin Activity for Preschoolers
- Pumpkin Drop – an Amazing Autumn Fine Motor Activity
- 20+ Pumpkin Printables for Preschoolers
Social-Emotional Activities for a Pumpkin Preschool Theme
Pumpkin Feelings – Grab some orange paper or mini pumpkins for this fun and clever activity. Watch Feelings and Emotions on YouTube below and review different emotions for your preschooler.
Invite your preschooler to draw faces on orange paper or mini pumpkins. Model drawing different emotions including sad, angry, frustrated, tired, scared, and bored. Line up the faces after drawing and invite your preschooler to identify how each pumpkin is feeling.
Pass the Pumpkin Game – Play Pass the Pumpkin game with family members and friends with fun and lively music. Stand in a circle and give the first person a mini pumpkin. When the music stops, whoever is holding the pumpkin has to say something nice about the person to their right and the person holding the pumpkin sits in the middle until the game is over and there is only one person left standing.
This game is ideal for teaching young children how to give authentic compliments and share thanks and gratitude for friends and family. Don’t forget to shower your preschooler with compliments and positive messages too!
Fun Activities for Preschool Theme: Pumpkins
Pumpkin Art Activity: Tissue Painted Mini Pumpkins – Using tissue paper, liquid glue, and a mini pumpkin, create a piece of art! Using a paintbrush, paint the liquid glue all over the mini pumpkin and then add pieces or ripped or cut tissue paper. Then, paint more glue on top and let dry for a colorful pumpkin!
Pumpkin Bowling – Grab a few water bottles and some pumpkins for this fun game. Set up the water bottle “pins” and invite your preschooler to roll the pumpkin toward the pins. Strike!
Playdough Pumpkins – Get some orange playdough and make fun pumpkin faces! Or create colorful pumpkins on a long green vine. Be creative!
Pumpkin Craft Supplies and Pumpkin Toys
These fall and pumpkin-themed craft and activity kits help bring excitement to your pumpkin theme. Check them out! Don’t forget Spookley the square pumpkin plush, he’s a class favorite to go with our favorite pumpkin book!
- Complete Set for Hanging Decor: This pumpkin craft kits set includes 24 ornaments, 24…
- Vivid Scratch Reveal Effects: Bring spooky scenes to life with halloween crafts for kids…
- Creative Fun for All Ages: These arts and crafts for kids ages 4-8 and up encourage…
- Quantity: This fall pumpkin painting kit for kids includes 12 pcs small white craft…
- Color: These white foam pumpkins feature classic characteristic pumpkin shapes and are in…
- Size: These artificial pumpkins measure about 2.4″-3.8″ wide and 2″-3″ tall. Each mini…
- 😈【Rich Combination for DIY】This Halloween pumpkin decorating carft kit includes 16…
- 【High Quality Material】Foam pumpkin is made of foam materials,soft and smooth…
- 【Easy to Use】 Expression stickers are self-adhesive,easy to peel off and stick.Kids…
Online Activities for a Pumpkin Preschool Theme
Online Story – Go to YouTube and listen to the book, Pete the Cat 5 Little Pumpkins by Eric Litwin. Invite your preschooler to draw 5 pumpkins and draw the pumpkin faces as you sing and read along to this revamped classic of the 5 Little Pumpkins.
I Love Pumpkins Song – Listen to the song I Love Pumpkins. This song teaches us about the parts of the pumpkin with a catchy tune!
The Pumpkin Life Cycle Song – Learn all about how a pumpkin grows big and round with this life cycle song. See the seeds, sprout, vines, flowers, and finally a pumpkin!
Get Your Free Pumpkin Preschool Lesson Plans Here
These done-for-you lesson plans take all the stress from making the perfect pumpkin preschool theme. Grab your own copy by clicking the image below.
Grab our Weekly Thematic Activity Plans
Engaging, hands-on themes that complement your math and literacy curriculum.
FAQ About Teaching a Pumpkin Theme for Preschoolers
Let me clarify that many of the pumpkin activities in these lesson plans can also double as pumpkin activities for toddlers or pumpkin lesson plans for kindergarten. With these activities, we explore pumpkins from the outside in.
Pumpkins make the best hands-on activities for preschool. Some preschoolers may be slightly more familiar with pumpkins than others.
Introduce pumpkins in circle time or in a small group setting. This is a good time to teach pumpkin vocabulary. Provide real pumpkins for your preschoolers to touch and handle. Make sure you offer a variety in sizes, (and if possible), textures, and colors.
Read lots of picture books about pumpkins. Lastly, include a pumpkin-themed science center with magnifying glasses, items for measuring, and pictures of pumpkins.
If you’re feeling adventurous, cut open a pumpkin with your preschoolers and allow them to explore the seeds inside. Encourage (but don’t force) preschoolers to “get their hands dirty”.
Pumpkins can provide so many fun hands-on learning opportunities in the classroom and even at home. Here are some concepts preschoolers can learn about pumpkins.
~ life cycle of a pumkin
~ if pumpkins sink or float
~ pumpkin seeds
~ five senses
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
