No Ghosts In Our Classroom {The Pumpkin Patch Parable}

THE PUMPKIN PATCH PARABLE

Where I teach, we don't do a unit on the Halloween theme.

Instead, at this time of year I do a book study with companion activities, reading comprehension printables, and hands-on active learning activities based on Liz Curtis Higgs' book The Pumpkin Patch Parable. 

THE PUMPKIN PATCH PARABLE BOOK ACTIVITES AND TEACHING IDEAS

Before reading, as a class we reflect on prior learning about pumpkins based on earlier lessons. 

(The pumpkin activities post can be found here) 

Then we review how a pumpkin grows, using pictures to sequence the stages of change.

I ask my students how they are like pumpkins, via our 'Chit Chat' chart.

Needless to say, I get a lot of puzzled looks.

Are we orange? Are we round? Do we grow on a vine?

After reading the story, they learn that like pumpkins, we are all unique. Jesus made us all different, but He loves us the same. The pumpkins are full of yucky pulp that the farmer cleans out, much like we are filled with sin that Jesus washes away when He forgives us. The farmer puts a light in the pumpkin to make it shine brightly. Jesus replaces our sin with His light so that we may shine for Him. 

  

Our "Chit Chat" chart gets filled in with their responses:

Here are some more activities we do with The Pumpkin Patch Parable:

This Pumpkin Patch Parable book activities unit includes literacy components that will help your Kindergarten and First Grade students learn their reading skills as they engage in meaningful activities they will LOVE!

My book studies contain companion activities that help to connect engaging read alouds with important reading literacy skills.

All of the activities included in this Pumpkin Patch Parable unit are aligned with Common Core, TEKS, and VA SOL learning standards, and checklists for these standards are included in the unit.

This book study unit can be used for whole class instruction, during small group reading time, as individual student work, or as part of a book club. This offers lots of differentiation for learning!

These companion activities will save you tons of time, are low prep, and are great to leave for a sub!

This pumpkin Play-Doh mat allows students to engage on more hands-on learning as they connect to the story.

PUMPKIN PATCH PARABLE CRAFT

This fun craft has students making pumpkin, and is a great follow-up to reading The Pumpkin Patch Parable! There is a chart to explain how we are like pumpkins :) This craft makes a wonderful fall bulletin board display.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

I found a great booklet to go along with this lesson at Danielle's Place.

This page is to be printed out on legal-sized paper.

{I cut out the pumpkin faces ahead of time because it is too difficult for my students}

On the first page, students glue "yucky pulp"--gold colored yarn & tan paper cut into oval shapes.

The center page is colored yellow, so that when the book is closed the pumpkin is glowing.

 Students can fold the booklet in the reverse direction so that the pulp is gone, and the pumpkin is glowing:

MORE BLOG POSTS ABOUT FALL BOOKS