Somethin' Pumpkin Halloween READ ALOUD Activity and Makerspace 1st and 2nd Grade
Bring the Halloween fun to your classroom with Somethin' Pumpkin by Scott Allen, paired with engaging STEM activities and Makerspace challenges! This STEM story station combines a read-aloud with hands-on STEM challenges and comprehension activities, making it a perfect fit for 1st and 2nd grade. Your students will explore key story elements, rhyming, and vocabulary while using the engineering design process to solve problems—just like the Halloween characters in the story.
Why You’ll Love This Resource
Engages Students with Halloween-Themed STEM: Students will love the Halloween STEM challenges tied to the Somethin' Pumpkin story, helping them solve problems just like the characters do with pumpkins.
Integrates Literacy and Engineering: This resource combines read aloud comprehension with STEM activities, allowing students to think critically about the story while designing creative solutions through the Makerspace activity.
Builds Critical Thinking and Creativity: Through these hands-on challenges, students will apply the engineering design process to create their own pumpkin solutions, fostering creativity and collaboration.
Perfect for Halloween Makerspace: These STEM challenges are perfect for Halloween makerspace activities, allowing students to experiment with their own pumpkin-based solutions while enhancing their comprehension skills.
What’s Included:
Comprehension Questions: Focus on key reading skills like asking and answering questions, story structure, and story elements such as setting.
Comprehension Bookmarks: A helpful tool to guide students as they read the story, keeping track of important details.
Vocabulary Cards: Play games like Headbanz or Charades, or use the cards to display key vocabulary for students to practice.
Story Elements and Structure: Activities designed to help students understand the story elements (setting) and structure, with multiple options for differentiation.
Rhyming Activity: Focus on reading foundational skills like rhyming to reinforce key literacy skills while enjoying the story.
Engineering Makerspace Activity: A hands-on STEM challenge where students create their own pumpkin-based solutions to the story’s problem using the engineering design process.
Pumpkin Solutions Planning Sheet: Students plan their solution, fostering organized thinking before diving into the makerspace challenge.
Writing Extensions: Includes All About My Pumpkin and Words About My Pumpkin Solutions activities to extend learning through writing and creative expression.
Compare and Contrast Think Sheet: Encourages students to analyze and compare different pumpkin solutions designed by their peers.
How to Use This Resource:
Read Aloud: Start by reading Somethin' Pumpkin (book not included), focusing on comprehension questions, vocabulary, and the story’s structure.
STEM Challenge: Engage students with the Makerspace activity, where they use the engineering design process to create their own pumpkin solutions—just like the characters in the story.
Collaborative or Independent Work: Use the activities in small groups for collaboration, or assign them for independent work to encourage problem-solving.
Halloween Makerspace Fun: These Halloween STEAM activities are perfect for your classroom makerspace, combining creativity, engineering, and literacy for a well-rounded learning experience.
Why Teachers and Parents Might Want This Resource:
Keeps Students Engaged During Halloween: This resource offers an exciting way to incorporate Halloween STEM activities while keeping students focused on critical thinking and literacy skills.
Blends Literacy with STEM: Perfect for classrooms looking to combine read aloud books with STEM challenges, this resource ensures that students develop both reading comprehension and engineering skills.
Low-Prep, High-Impact: With easy-to-follow lesson plans, pre-made activities, and Makerspace tasks, this resource saves you prep time while delivering high engagement.
Builds Creativity and Problem-Solving: Students use their imagination and critical thinking skills to design pumpkin-based solutions, helping them become confident problem-solvers.
This Somethin' Pumpkin STEM Story Station combines literacy, STEM, and Makerspace activities in a fun and engaging way that will excite your 1st and 2nd graders this Halloween season. Keep your students learning with hands-on activities while celebrating Halloween!