Jack-o'-Lantern Feelings
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.
Our goal: 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
Paper • Crayons or markers • A mirror • A real pumpkin and washable markers
and this is just the baseline.
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Learning Guide
A simple guide to lead you through the kickoff, the core challenge, and everything in between.
Mai’s Tips
- No Knives Needed: Faces are drawn, not carved. On a real pumpkin, use markers or stickers.
- Mirror Magic: Making the faces in a mirror first helps your child notice what eyebrows, eyes and mouths do.
- Every Feeling Is Welcome: A grumpy or scared pumpkin is as good as a happy one. It's a gentle way to talk about real feelings.
1Feelings Face-Off 4 min
Play Guess My Face: take turns making a feeling face in the mirror (happy, sad, surprised, grumpy) while the other person guesses. One point for every right guess! Noticing faces is a simple way to start talking about feelings, in people and in the characters in stories. If they ask 'How did you know I was grumpy?': Your eyebrows went down and your mouth went flat. Faces tell a lot!
Know Before You Teach
- Good to know: Noticing faces is a simple way to start talking about feelings, in people and in the characters in stories.
- If they ask: How did you know I was grumpy? Your eyebrows went down and your mouth went flat. Faces tell a lot!
- If they're stuck: Make the face together and look at the eyebrows.
- Easier: Use just happy and sad.
- Harder: Add tricky feelings, like proud, nervous or bored.
Done when: Your child has guessed the feeling on at least 3 faces.
2Draw the Pumpkin Faces 6 min
Have your child draw four pumpkin outlines (or use a printed page). Guide them to draw a different feeling on each, using what they noticed in the mirror. Eyebrows and mouths change a lot from one feeling to another; small changes make a big difference. If they ask 'Can a pumpkin be scared?': Sure! What would a scared pumpkin's eyes look like? Then swap papers and try to guess each other's pumpkin feelings.
Know Before You Teach
- Good to know: Eyebrows and mouths change a lot from one feeling to another. Small changes make a big difference.
- If they ask: Can a pumpkin be scared? Sure! What would a scared pumpkin's eyes look like?
- Easier: Draw 2 pumpkins instead of 4.
- Harder: Draw a pumpkin with a mixed feeling, like happy and nervous at once.
Done when: Each pumpkin shows a feeling someone else can guess.
3Describing Words 5 min
Explain that a describing word is a word that tells what someone or something is like. It helps a reader picture exactly what we mean. Have your child choose one pumpkin and find 2-3 describing words for it. Ask them:
- 'What words could you use to describe this pumpkin?'
- 'Is 'orange' a describing word?' (Answer: Yes! Colors, sizes and feelings all count.)
Done when each pumpkin has at least one describing word.
Know Before You Teach
- Good to know: Describing words (adjectives) tell us what kind. They help a reader picture exactly what we mean.
- If they ask: Is "orange" a describing word? Yes! Colors, sizes and feelings all count.
- Key words: Describing word: a word that tells what someone or something is like
- If they're stuck: Ask: "What size? What color?"
- Easier: One word per pumpkin, said out loud.
- Harder: Skip "nice," "big" and "good," and find stronger words.
Done when: Each pumpkin has at least one describing word.
4Why Does It Feel That Way? 3 min
Have your child pick a favorite pumpkin and finish the sentence: 'My pumpkin feels ___ because ___.' 'Because' connects a feeling to a reason, an early step toward writing explanations and stories.
- 'What do you think makes your pumpkin feel that way?'
- 'Can you tell me the reason it has that feeling?'
Done when your child has said or written one full 'because' sentence.
Know Before You Teach
- Good to know: "Because" connects a feeling to a reason, an early step toward writing explanations and stories.
- If they're stuck: Ask: "What happened to your pumpkin today?"
- Easier: Say it out loud; you write it.
- Harder: Write a "because" sentence for all 4 pumpkins.
Done when: Your child has said or written one full "because" sentence.
5Pumpkin Patch Show 2 min
Have your child present their favorite pumpkin in its own voice: 'Hi, I'm a grumpy, wrinkly pumpkin, and I'm grumpy because...'
- 'What would your pumpkin say if it could talk?'
- 'Can you introduce your pumpkin and tell its story?'
Done when your child has introduced one pumpkin out loud.
Know Before You Teach
- Easier: Just introduce the pumpkin's name and feeling.
- Harder: Have two pumpkins talk to each other about how they feel.
Done when: Your child has introduced one pumpkin out loud.
Beyond The Spark
Fuel their curiosity beyond the Spark with bonus extras.
Did You Know?
The first jack-o'-lanterns weren't pumpkins. In Ireland, people carved faces into turnips and potatoes. Irish families who moved to America brought the tradition with them, and pumpkins took over.
Challenge
Decorate a real pumpkin (markers, no carving) with the feeling of your choice, and give it a name.
Quick Recap Quiz 4 min
Customize this quiz, add questions, or follow your child's lead! Each question has a 'Parent Tip' to help them find the answer without giving it away.
1. What part of the face shows a lot about a feeling?
- Eyebrows and mouth
- Ears
Make a happy face, then a grumpy one: "What changed the most?"
2. Which one is a describing word?
- Pumpkin
- Grumpy
Ask: "Which word tells us what kind of pumpkin it is?"
3. Finish it: "My pumpkin is happy ___ it got a hat."
- because
- or
Ask: "Which word helps us give a reason?"
4. What were the first jack-o'-lanterns made from?
- Pumpkins
- Turnips and potatoes
Ask: "Remember our Did You Know about Ireland? What did people carve there?"
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