The Science of...Pumpkins

Children are fascinated with pumpkins, and there is a lot you can do other than make jack-o-lanterns! Here are some fun facts and resources about pumpkins:

• Pumpkins are in the squash and gourd family


• Pumpkins are actually the fruit of the plant (the state fruit of New Hampshire)


• Pumpkins originated in North America and are one of the most popular crops in the United States


• Pumpkins are usually orange or yellow, but some are green, white, and even red


• Pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, are edible and very nutritious


• Pumpkins are now grown on every continent except Antarctica
  
• Pumpkins come in many different sizes and have fun and interesting names:

Small: Baby Bear, Small Sugar, Spooktacular
Medium: Harvest Moon, Funny Face
Large: Big Tom, Big Autumn
Jumbo: Big Max, Mammoth Gold

• Pumpkins usually weigh between 9-18 pounds, but can weigh much more, and every year, hundreds of growers compete to grow the heaviest pumpkin
  

Resources about pumpkins:

• http://www.pumpkin-patch.com/



• http://www.teachingheart.net/apumpkinunit.html
  
  
• Pumpkins
  by Ken Robbins, Square Fish, 2007
  
• How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?
  by Margaret McNamara, Schwartz & Wade, 2007
  
• Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden
  by George Levenson, Tricycle Press, 2004