Fall Science Experiment: What’s Inside a Pumpkin?
This fall science experiment will get children excited about examining the guts of a pumpkin, which is normally thrown out at carving time. They will see nutrition where they thought there was none, and they’ll make a great leap to comparing pumpkin seeds to Bible verses.
All kids know that pumpkins are used to make jack-o’-lanterns during the Halloween holidays. But some do not know that pumpkins and pumpkin seeds are also good to eat. This simple fall science experiment will enlighten them and also illustrate the Christian concept of “waste not, want not.”
Note: You can present a SNACK at the end, which is the pumpkin seeds roasted. A recipe follows, which you can do with your students or before class. It’s easy!
Material:
– Several pumpkins of different sizes
– Knife
– Large spoon
Introduction:
We use pumpkins mostly during Thanksgiving Month. They are a great example of all that God had given us, and for all the things that grow. But most of us use the pumpkin to carve out a jack-o’-lantern and discard the flesh and seeds of the pumpkin. We will show that the pumpkin is filled with good nutrition”¦and how a pumpkin is a little like a Bible!
Material:
– Several pumpkins of different sizes
– Knife
– Large spoon
– Paper plates
– Paper and Pencils
– Small scale
Instructions:
1. Have children measure the circumference of each pumpkin and write down sizes of each item.
2. Weigh the pumpkin and discuss what might be inside each pumpkin.
3. Record how much the seeds and pumpkin insides weigh. That will tell students how much of the pumpkin is thrown away and wasted.
4. The Teacher will ask the class what can be done with the seeds and insides of the pumpkin.
5. The answer is, pumpkin seeds can be toasted for a delicious, healthy treat and the fleshy part of the pumpkin can be made into pumpkin pies.
6. It is suggested to children that they record what they observed and to tell their parents about their discovery and perhaps encourage their parents to utilize the insides of the pumpkins instead of discarding them.
Conclusion:
Pumpkin seeds have long been valued as a source of the mineral zinc. Recent studies have shown that pumpkin seeds provide us with vitamin E in diverse forms. Researchers believe they might have some anti-oxidant benefits. They also contain triptophan, which helps with sleep, along with protein, magnesium and phosphorus. (Find a graph and more information at the World’s Healthiest Foods web site, whfoods.com.)
This pumpkin is a little like the Bible. Most people don’t know that a pumpkin is nutritious, and lots of people don’t know that the Bible really feeds our souls. They think it is just an old, dusty book. People throw out the guts of the pumpkin often, and likewise, lots of people never read the Bible.
Just like the pumpkin is rich in many nutritious elements, so is the Bible rich in all sorts of spiritual nutrition. There are Psalms and stories and facts and proofs and poetry and prophecies, all of which help us know a little more of what God is like, and that information makes us wise, like the insides of a pumpkin make us healthy.
Let’s roast up these pumpkin seeds – and sprinkle them with salt. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt means spiritual strength that goes out to others. We’ll be a little more healthy, and if we share, it’ll be a little like sharing the Gospel. And we can share the good news that God wants to make us spiritually healthy throughout the Thanksgiving season!
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Snack Recipe: (Double If Needed)
Materials:
– 1 ½ cups of pumpkin seeds
– ½ teaspoon of salt
– 2 teaspoons of melted butter
– Baking pan
– Bowl
– Wooden spoon
Instructions:
– Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
– Toss seeds in a bowl with the melted butter and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown; stir occasionally.
You might also be interested in these other awesome Fall science experiment activities!
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