Pre-K Learners Explore the Science and Fun of Pumpkins at Swain

Pre-K students at the Swain Campus have been fully immersed in all things pumpkin this fall! From exploring the pumpkin life cycle to hands-on crafts and a festive field trip, their learning has been both educational and exciting.

In the classroom, students created pumpkin art by cutting and gluing pieces of orange paper to fill in pumpkin shapes. They also discovered how pollination helps flowers and plants grow—an important step before pumpkins can form.

Math and science came alive in the kitchen as the young learners became bakers for the day, mixing ingredients to make pumpkin cupcakes and pumpkin pie. They counted out cupcake liners, practiced placing numbers on objects, and later conducted a tasty experiment—sampling both treats and graphing their class favorites. The results? Pumpkin cupcakes were the clear winner!

All this pumpkin learning built excitement for a much-anticipated field trip to Unangst Tree Farm. There, students enjoyed a tractor ride, picked their own pumpkins, explored a corn pit, and met farm animals including chickens, pigs, and sheep. The tractor driver shared fascinating facts about how pumpkins grow, while students searched for the perfect one to take home.

During a special presentation, the children learned about a variety of pumpkins—from the traditional Jack O’Lantern and Cinderella pumpkins to unique varieties like the Porcelain Doll, Baby Boo, and “wart” pumpkins. They also saw Indian corn and finger corn used to feed the farm animals.

The adventure continued with a hands-on animal experience as students fed sheep and practiced identifying the sounds different farm animals make. The day concluded with laughter and teamwork in a storybook-themed corn maze filled with twists, turns, and surprises around every corner.

Back in the classroom, the learning tied together perfectly as students explored the letter “P”—for pumpkin, pollination, and pie!