Exploring pumpkins is so much fun. Of course, I may want the kids to explore the insides of the pumpkins just so that I can have the seeds to roast for a snack…. But whatever my motivation, my kids always love playing with their food. Wait, did I say that out loud??? lol! These super fun pumpkin STEM investigations for preschoolers complete with free printables is a great way for the kids to explore their pumpkins this fall. And afterward, you could get them involved with roasting the seeds or trying the seeds for a snack for even more exploration!
Materials Needed for the Pumpkin STEM Investigations
Small decorative pumpkins | Sharp Knife | Bowl or Pan | Water | Spoon or Scoop
In the printable, which you can download at the end of this post, there are two different STEM printables. One is great for investigating the outside of the pumpkin and one involves investigating the inside of the pumpkin as well. So you can choose which one works best for your situation or do like we did and use both printables!
We started out by investigating the outside of our pumpkins.
Is big or small?
This could have different answers depending on your pumpkins. We used some tiny pumpkins and also a pie pumpkin, so even though the pie pumpkin is technically small, it was VERY big in comparison to the other pumpkins.
Is it smooth or bumpy?
Again this could have varying answers since all pumpkins have ‘bumps’.
Grab a small scale and weigh the pumpkins.
We even used our balance scale and compared the pumpkins. Shiloh’s pumpkin weighed more than Jaida’s pumpkin.
We also discussed ways to measure the outside of the pumpkin. My kids needed a reminder that a straight ruler wouldn’t work on the curved pumpkins.
Then we explored whether the pumpkins would float. Would a bigger pumpkin float too? (Later when we were exploring the insides of the pumpkins, my daughter wanted to know if a cut pumpkin would still float.
And then we drew pictures of the pumpkins. 
This was the first STEM experiment that my kindergartener has really gotten involved in and I think the different was that she had a set of things on the printable to explore since she has special needs and wouldn’t usually think of those things on her own.
And after she finished the page for the outside, she wanted to continue to explore the inside.
She was excited to draw the seeds inside of her pumpkin. I was excited to see her level of detail!
Grab the Pumpkin STEM investigation printables and have some fall fun with your kids!
Click Here to Get the Pumpkin STEM Printables
Looking for more amazing resources?
Check out these low-prep printables and activities!
Kristen says
I love this idea! I can’t wait to try this out and go buy some pumpkins today. I just noticed there’s no link to grab these from on the post?
Yolanda says
Hi I can’t see link for free pumpkin stem printables can you send it to me
Thanks
Kim Staten says
It seems we had a glitch where most people were seeing the download link, but some were not. It should be corrected now. Please let me know if you have any further issues. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Kim Staten says
You will need to click the picture that says “Get Your Printable Here” above, enter your e-mail and it will be sent directly to you.
Jessica says
The “Get Your Free Printables Here” link is not showing up for me. I’ve tried refreshing, and even went to your website & searched for the link. Not sure what else to do
Kim Staten says
It seems we had a glitch where most people were seeing the download link, but some were not. It should be corrected now. Please let me know if you have any further issues. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Juie Gyssler says
Is it no longer free? The link “Get Your Printable Here” is not showing up
Kim Staten says
It seems we had a glitch where most people were seeing the download link, but some were not. It should be corrected now. Please let me know if you have any further issues. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Sandie says
I’m having the same problem! It DOESN’T say “Get your printables here!”
Kim Staten says
It seems we had a glitch where most people were seeing the download link, but some were not. It should be corrected now. Please let me know if you have any further issues. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Jana says
I did this with my life skills class in small group rotations. They had so much fun and were so excited to investigate the pumpkin. I work in a very low socioeconomic school, and I’m fairly certain that was the first time some of them were able to do anything like this!!