OBJECTIVE

Students will count the number of seeds in a winter squash.

Students will understand seeds can grow into plants.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Why do plants make seeds?

What seeds do people eat?

MATERIALS

• How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin by Margaret McNamara
• 3 Pumpkins or winter squash (choose one variety) of various sizes
• Knife, cutting board (for teacher)
• Colander
• Spoons (1 per group)
• Bowls (1 per group)

PROCEDURE

Introduction:

Introduce students to the winter squash or pumpkins that you brought in. Read How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin by Margaret McNamara to the class and the pumpkins. After reading, tell the students, “together we will try to figure out how many seeds are inside of these squashes or pumpkins”.

Activity

Have students guess and record how many seeds they think are inside each winter squash or pumpkin. 

Then, students are broken into groups and given a halved squash, colander and spoons. Have students take each seed out of the winter squash or pumpkin with either their hands or spoons and put it into the colander. Notice the size, shape and quantity of seeds.

Wash seeds after they have been removed from the pumpkin and place into bowls. 

Return washed seeds to the groups and have them count seeds by 1s, 2s, 5s or 10s.

Wrap Up/Assessment: 

Each group reports back how many seeds were inside their winter squash or pumpkin. Discuss which had the most, which had the least? What was challenging about removing the seeds?  Why do pumpkins have “goop” around the seeds?Why do winter squash make so many seeds?

After the lesson, roast the pumpkin seeds so students can taste them next class!