Lesson Plan Title : Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

Age Range: Grade 6 through grade 8 (Middle School)

Overview and Purpose: In this lesson students study a pumpkin's life cycle from seedling to full grown pumpkin. A classroom mural helps students visualize the process.

Objective: The student will be able to

*describe the life cycle of a pumpkin.

*work with a group to create a mural that shows the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Resources:

Long piece of bulletin board paper

Crayons/markers/chalk

Science journals

Internet access for each group of students

Activities:

Talk with students about the life cycle of a pumpkin. Have the students work in small groups to research the information on the internet, list in their science journals the different stages of growth, and draw a small picture showing each stage next to the description. After everyone is finished, assign each group a different stage. Have them create a section of the mural that shows that stage. Encourage students to be creative and include people, animals, and other plants in their picture.

Wrap Up:

You may want to encourage students to make their mural 3D. Have them make pumpkins out of paper bags or Papier-mache and vines out of crepe paper or twine and construction paper.