Jack-o'-Lantern Feelings

Language Arts
20 Min
activity

Is your pumpkin happy, grumpy or surprised? Your child designs jack-o'-lantern faces that show different feelings, finds describing words for each one, and explains why each pumpkin feels that way. No carving needed.

The lesson goal is children will name feelings and recognize them in faces, use describing words to add detail, and explain an idea in a full sentence using "because."

What You Need

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Paper
Crayons or markers
A mirror
A real pumpkin and washable markers

Learning Guide

Step-by-step guidance. No preparation required.

  1. 1

    Feelings Face-Off4 Min

    • Make a feeling face in the mirror for your child to guess.
    • Have your child make a feeling face for you to guess.
    • Move on when Your child has guessed the feeling on at least 3 faces.
  2. 2

    Draw the Pumpkin Faces6 Min

    • Draw four pumpkin outlines and have your child draw faces with different feelings on them.
    • Swap papers and guess the feelings of each other's pumpkins.
    • Move on when Each pumpkin shows a feeling someone else can guess.
  3. 3

    Describing Words5 Min

    • Introduce 'describing words' and have your child find 2-3 for each pumpkin.
    • Move on when Each pumpkin has at least one describing word.
  4. 4

    Why Does It Feel That Way?3 Min

    • Have your child pick a pumpkin and explain 'My pumpkin feels ___ because ___.'
    • Move on when Your child has said or written one full "because" sentence.
  5. 5

    Pumpkin Patch Show2 Min

    • Have your child present their favorite pumpkin, using its own voice.
    • Move on when Your child has introduced one pumpkin out loud.

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