5 Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one said "Oh My! it's getting late."

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

The third one said, "But we don't care."

The forth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun."

Whoooo went the wind,

Out went the lights,

And those five little pumpkins went rolling out of sight.

-Copyright 1990 Susan Pflug

FELTBOARD: 5 Little Pumpkins

Once there were 5 orange pumpkins growing in a pumpkin patch.There was a GIANT pumpkin, a LARGE pumpkin, a MEDIUM pumpkin, a SMALL pumpkin and a TINY pumpkin. (Put them on the flannelboard one by one.) 

A man came by and looked at the five pumpkins.  He picked up the giant pumpkin. "This will be a fine pumpkin to put in my store window."  he said.  (Remove the GIANT pumpkin.) 

Soon a woman came by and looked at the four pumpkins still growing in the pumpkin patch. She picked up the large pumpkin.  "This will be a fine pumpkin to set on my doorstep" she said.  (Remove large) 

Next a teacher came by and looked at the three pumpkins still growing in the pumpkin patch.  She chose the medium pumpkin.  "This will be a fine pumpkin  for my classroom!" she said.  (Remove medium) 

Then a baker came by and looked at the two pumpkins still growing in the pumpkin patch.  He found the small pumpkin.  "This will be just fine for a pumpkin pie!" he said. (Remove small). 

Finally a little boy dressed in a ghost costume stopped by the pumpkin patch.  He saw the tiny pumpkin that was left.  "This is just right to take to my Halloween party!" he said. So he took the pumpkin, painted a face on it and said "This is my best Jack-o-lantern ever!"

Pumpkin, Pumpkin

Pumpkin, Pumpkin sitting on a wall;  (have a child sit down) 
Pumpkin, Pumpkin tip and fall; (have child tip over) 
Pumpkin, Pumpkin rolling down the street; (child rolls on floor) 
Pumpkin, Pumpkin trick or treat.

STORYTIME: Spooky Storytime

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman - Follows the format of the Russian Folktale "The Turnip."

Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks - A little spider wants to show a family that he would be the best pet ever. But the family really ain't hearing it!

Boo, Bunny by Kathryn O. Galbraith - Really wonderful illustrations and artful use of text. Lots of sound effects that can be used, a fun read aloud.

Boo to You by Lois Ehlert- I just love her style. A funny book featuring 2 mice who don't want a black cat around. The collage art in this book features all autumn colors, sometimes using pictures of different gourds and pumpkins. Have the kids look a the images and see if they can identify some of the vegetables and objects she uses in the collage. Possible follow up craft could be make a collage using leaves and other outdoor materials. Bring some of the gourds featured int he book and let the kids handle them.

Jack-O-Lantern (tune: I'm a little teapot)

I'm a jack-o-lantern (arms form large circle)
Big and Fat
I have two eyes, a nose, and a hat (point to eyes, nose, put hands on head)
Children come at Halloween (make beckoning motion)
From miles and miles
Put in a candle and (mimic the action)
Watch me smile (fingers to corners of mouth, smile)

-from Storytime for Two-Year-Olds byJudy Nichols, 3rd edition, p. 25