Pumpkin STEM activities for kids are a playful way to bring science, math, and exploration into your preschool pumpkin theme without turning it into a formal lesson. You don’t need a full setup or fancy supplies. A pumpkin and a curious child are more than enough.
These activities are designed to spark conversation, hands-on discovery, and joyful messes. You can follow your child’s lead, print a simple observation page if it’s helpful, or skip the structure entirely.
Whether you’re scooping seeds, testing if pumpkins float, or just wondering together why stems are so scratchy—this still counts as learning.
Why Pumpkins Work So Well for STEM
Pumpkins are more than just a fall decoration—they’re packed with opportunities for hands-on learning. From their bumpy skin to their slimy insides, pumpkins invite kids to observe, question, and explore using all their senses.
They’re easy to find during autumn, come in all shapes and sizes, and naturally spark curiosity. You can count seeds, test buoyancy, measure weight, build with mini pumpkins, or even watch one decompose over time.
In a preschool pumpkin theme, pumpkins are the perfect blend of seasonal fun and open-ended learning. Whether you’re doing one quick experiment or following your child’s interest all week long, there’s no “right way” to explore. Just start with a question—and see where it leads.
Pumpkin STEM Projects
Ready to explore? Below you’ll find a mix of simple, hands-on activities perfect for your preschool pumpkin theme. Each one is designed to invite curiosity first—no pressure to follow every step or finish a printable (though you’ll find those here if you want them).
You can pick one activity to try today or let your child lead the way through a full week of pumpkin play. Whether you’re scooping seeds, building towers, or asking “Will it float?”—these playful STEM moments help build a strong foundation for future learning.
Let’s get started!
Pumpkin Observation & Investigation
Start with the simplest form of science: looking closely and asking questions. These observation-based activities invite your child to explore pumpkins using their senses—no formal lesson required. Just slow down, get curious, and see what they notice.
Best Pumpkin Investigation STEM Activities for Kids
This hands-on pumpkin investigation activity encourages kids to explore a pumpkin inside and out using their senses. They’ll examine texture, size, and even test whether it floats. A great way to spark natural questions and conversations during your preschool pumpkin theme.
This activity introduces kids to the different parts of a pumpkin using real-life exploration and simple vocabulary. It’s a great way to connect nature and science as children examine the stem, rind, pulp, and seeds. You’ll also find a printable parts-of-a-pumpkin diagram to support your learning if you want it.
This playful experiment invites kids to predict whether a pumpkin will sink or float, then test it out themselves. It’s a simple way to introduce scientific thinking while having fun with water and pumpkins. You can try it with different sizes to spark even more curiosity.
This activity invites kids to observe what happens as a pumpkin breaks down over time. By tracking changes in smell, texture, and appearance, children build observation skills and learn about natural processes like decay and the life cycle. It’s a great way to connect science with the real world during your fall theme.
Pumpkins are perfect for playful, hands-on math. Whether you're comparing sizes, counting seeds, or measuring with string, these activities help build early math skills in a natural, low-pressure way. No worksheets required—just a pumpkin and a little curiosity.
rainydaymum.co.uk
Pumpkin Seed Place Value
This activity uses real pumpkin seeds to explore place value and simple subtraction in a hands-on, visual way. Kids can group seeds into tens and ones, helping them understand math concepts through touch and movement. A great seasonal alternative to pencil-and-paper practice.
This real-life weighing activity turns a homegrown pumpkin into a simple math exploration. Kids make predictions, use a bathroom scale creatively, and calculate the pumpkin’s weight by subtracting. It’s playful, practical, and a great way to build number sense during your preschool pumpkin theme.
Inspired by the book Five Little Pumpkins, this hands-on counting activity lets kids clip numbered pumpkins onto a paper plate gate. It’s a fun way to build number recognition and one-to-one correspondence while connecting literacy and math. Simple to prep and perfect for preschool pumpkin week.
Estimating and Measuring in Pumpkin Math Activities
This activity encourages kids to make estimates and then measure to check their guesses—using real pumpkins as the focus. From guessing the number of lines on a pumpkin to comparing heights and circumferences, it blends playful math with meaningful observation. Great for building early measuring skills in a hands-on way.
This visual math activity uses pumpkin-themed arrays to introduce kids to the concept of multiplication. By arranging small objects into rows and columns, children can explore early math patterns in a hands-on, approachable way. It’s a fun introduction to grouping and skip counting with a fall twist.
Pumpkin-themed engineering activities are a fun way to blend creativity with problem-solving. Whether your child is building towers, launching candy, or designing their own contraptions, these challenges invite hands-on thinking and playful experimentation. There's no right answer—just opportunities to test ideas, make adjustments, and explore how things work.
preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com
Pumpkin Catapults
This simple science experiment lets kids build a catapult and launch pom poms to explore force, motion, and cause and effect. It’s a playful way to introduce STEM concepts like distance and trajectory through hands-on, trial-and-error exploration. Kids will love testing, adjusting, and seeing how far their objects can fly.
This pumpkin stacking challenge invites kids to build the tallest tower they can using candy pumpkins and toothpicks. It’s a fun way to explore balance, structure, and problem-solving with a seasonal twist. Great for encouraging creativity and persistence through play.
Inspired by Spookley the Square Pumpkin, this activity invites kids to design a structure that keeps a square pumpkin from tipping over. Using simple building materials like craft sticks or blocks, children explore balance, stability, and creative problem-solving. It’s a fun way to tie storytelling into hands-on engineering play.
This activity uses Spookley the Square Pumpkin to introduce kids to basic 3D shapes by building their own cube-shaped pumpkins. As children create with craft sticks, playdough, or marshmallows, they explore geometry, structure, and spatial reasoning in a hands-on, playful way. A perfect blend of math, storytelling, and creative construction.
This simple experiment uses ramps and rolling pumpkins to explore motion, speed, and gravity. Kids can test different surfaces, slopes, and pumpkin sizes to see what makes their pumpkin roll faster or farther. It’s a fun, hands-on way to introduce basic physics concepts through playful trial and error.
In this fun twist on the classic sink-or-float experiment, kids turn mini pumpkins into boats and test how well they float. They can build sails, adjust weight, and experiment with different designs to see what works best. It’s a great way to explore buoyancy, balance, and basic physics through playful problem-solving.
Pumpkin sensory activities are all about inviting kids to explore with their hands, noses, and imaginations. From scooping out gooey insides to creating with seeds or scented materials, these experiences support language development, fine motor skills, and emotional regulation. Best of all, they turn fall fun into meaningful, low-pressure learning.
www.steampoweredfamily.com
Scented Halloween Crystals
This activity guides kids through growing scented crystals using simple household materials and Halloween-themed scents like pumpkin spice. As the crystals form, children get a hands-on look at chemical reactions and crystal structures, while engaging their senses through smell and touch. It’s a fun mix of science and seasonal creativity.
This sensory activity invites kids to explore soft, squishy pumpkin-scented play-dough using cookie cutters, natural materials, and loose parts. It’s perfect for calming play while supporting fine motor skills, creativity, and language development. A simple setup that offers rich sensory input with a seasonal twist.
This activity turns a real pumpkin into a hands-on fine motor station by inviting kids to push in golf tees, wrap rubber bands, or hammer with toy tools. It strengthens finger muscles and hand-eye coordination while encouraging open-ended exploration. A simple yet effective way to combine sensory play and skill-building.
Pumpkin art and STEAM activities combine creativity with hands-on learning. As kids paint, build, or design with pumpkin-themed materials, they’re also exploring patterns, textures, and cause and effect. These projects are a great way to blend science, math, and art in ways that feel playful and open-ended.
www.steampoweredfamily.com
Halloween Pumpkins With Squishy Circuits
This hands-on activity uses squishy circuits to light up pumpkin faces while introducing kids to basic electrical concepts. Children can build simple circuits using conductive dough, LEDs, and batteries—no soldering required. It’s a creative and safe way to explore STEM through play and seasonal fun.
This clever activity turns a pumpkin into a geoboard by adding pushpins and rubber bands, inviting kids to explore shapes, lines, and patterns creatively. It builds fine motor skills while introducing early geometry through hands-on play. Kids can experiment freely or follow shape prompts for added structure.
This creative science-meets-art activity lets kids paint pumpkins with baking soda and then activate their designs using vinegar for a fizzy, bubbling reaction. It combines sensory play, simple chemistry, and colorful creativity all in one. A fun way to mix fall art with hands-on science exploration.
Pumpkin STEM activities are meant to be hands-on—but with little learners, a few simple precautions can make the experience smoother and more enjoyable.
Always supervise closely when using materials like vinegar, baking soda, toothpicks, or anything sharp. If you’re cutting open pumpkins, consider doing it ahead of time so kids can jump straight into exploring.
Not every child will love the texture or smell of pumpkin guts, and that’s okay. Offer tools like spoons or gloves for scooping, or try using foam pumpkins or play dough as low-mess alternatives. The goal is to meet your child where they are—and let curiosity lead the way.
Pumpkin STEM doesn’t have to be complicated—just pick one or two activities that spark your child’s curiosity and start exploring. Whether you’re testing if pumpkins float or building with candy pumpkins, the learning happens through play.
Tried something from this list? Let us know your favorite in the comments below—we’d love to hear how it went!
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Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
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