Super Fun Pumpkin STEM Investigations for Preschoolers with Free Printables

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!