Explorers Pumpkin Roll

Students in the Explorers Room lined up on the hill, positioned in their strongest A shape, ready to let go of their pumpkins. They attentively looked at Stefania and Sara Aguilar at the bottom of the hill waiting for the signal. On the count of three, they let go and watched as the pumpkins bumped and bounced their way to the bottom. What were they learning?

The pumpkin roll, a simple STEM activity, peaks children’s interest in force and motion. Before rolling their pumpkins, students learned how to handle and push their pumpkin to make it roll down the hill. They observed the force of their push and the way the hill helped the pumpkins gain speed tumbling toward the bottom. Children were excited to see the results of force and motion pointing out how some pumpkins cracked open to show the seeds inside. With a few investigative questions from teachers, Pre-Primary students formulated explanations based on what they experienced, turning a fun fall activity into a rich scientific exploration.