Pumpkin Science Activities

There are so many pumpkin science activities to do with kids during the autumn months! Pumpkins are so fun, festive, and versatile! Check out these ten pumpkin experiments along with free printable activities!

These experiments require just a few household ingredients. You will definitely need pumpkins for each experiment! Read below to see a summary of each pumpkin experiment. Make sure to grab the free printable at the bottom of this post which will list all the materials, directions, and observation worksheets for students!

10 Pumpkin Experiments

Growing Pumpkin

1. Draw a jack-o-lantern face on the balloon.
2. Place a funnel on the balloon.
3. Pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the balloon.
4. Pour ½ cup of vinegar into the bottle.
5. Carefully place the balloon over the bottle’s lip without spilling the baking soda.
6. Lift the balloon to let the baking soda drop into the bottle.
7. Watch as the balloon grows!

Dissolving Pumpkins

1. Fill glasses with the same amount of liquid of water, cooking oil, and vinegar.
2. Place a candy pumpkin in each glass.
3. Make a prediction of which candy pumpkin will dissolve the fastest and slowest.

Sink or Float

1. Fill a bowl with water.
2. Predict if a pumpkin will sink or float.
3. Place the pumpkin in the water and draw what you observe.

Pumpkin Jack

1. Carve a pumpkin to look like a jack-o-lantern.
2. Place the pumpkin on display inside of a glass container.
3. Draw your observations daily.

Exploring Pumpkins

1. Use your 5 senses to explore a pumpkin.
2.  Write down your observations.

Exploding Pumpkins

1. Place a pumpkin on a table outside.
2. Put on your safety glasses.
3. Place rubber bands around the pumpkin.
4. Keep putting on rubber bands until the pumpkin breaks in two!

Pumpkin Slime

1. Cut off the top of a pumpkin.
2. Scoop out most of the seeds and guts.
3. Pour ½ cup water and ½ cup clear glue in a bowl and mix them together.
4. Pour ¼ cup of liquid starch into the pumpkin.
5. Add the glue/water mixture into the pumpkin and stir together.
6. Mix the slime with your hands.
7. Have fun playing with the slime!

Pumpkin Volcano

1. Cut off the top of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Cut out a face.
2. Pour about ½ cup of baking soda into the pumpkin.
3. Add in a squirt of dish soap on top of the baking soda.
4. Pour the vinegar into the pumpkin and observe the fizzy reaction!

Measuring Pumpkins

1. Wrap the measuring tape around the pumpkins.
2. Record the circumference below.

Pumpkin Plants

1. Cut open a pumpkin and carve it.
2. Rinse a pumpkin seed from pulp and dry it.
3. Place dirt inside of the pumpkin.
4. Add the seed and cover it with dirt.
5. Water the seed and draw your observations for a couple weeks.

If you’d like to download the printable activities, just click below!

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