No Ghosts In Our Classroom {The Pumpkin Patch Parable}

The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
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, pocket chart activity, and Play-Doh mat based on Liz Curtis Higgs' book The Pumpkin Patch Parable
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
Before reading, as a class we reflect on prior learning about pumpkins based on earlier lessons. 
{My pumpkin activities post can be found here

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

Non-Halloween themed book companion activities for the Pumpkin Patch Parable

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:

Non-Halloween themed book companion activities for the Pumpkin Patch Parable

Here are some more activities we do with the book:
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
The Pumpkin Patch Parable book study activities literacy unit with Common Core aligned companion activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
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.



Non-Halloween themed book companion activities for the Pumpkin Patch Parable

Non-Halloween themed book companion activities for the Pumpkin Patch Parable

Non-Halloween themed book companion activities for the Pumpkin Patch Parable

Non-Halloween themed book companion activities for the Pumpkin Patch Parable
The center page is colored yellow, so that when the book is closed the pumpkin is glowing.

Non-Halloween themed book companion activities for the Pumpkin Patch Parable
 Students can fold the booklet in the reverse direction so that the pulp is gone, and the pumpkin is glowing:
Non-Halloween themed book companion activities for the Pumpkin Patch Parable

3 comments

  1. I love this, Anita!
    What a cool activity to relate to a book we already own! Thanks :)

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  2. Thanks for visiting my blog!!! I came over to check yours out!! I'm your newest follower!
    A Teeny Tiny Teacher

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  3. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your shine for Jesus! So precious, Anita!!
    The Moffatt Girls

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