Let children experiment with new flavors by making pumpkin seeds. Have them scoop seeds out of a pumpkin. Wash and pat them dry. Give each child a handful of seeds and a piece of foil. Set out bowls filled with sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, pepper and any other spices you have on hand. Let each child spread his seeds on his foil, then choose what toppings to sprinkle on his seeds. Bake the seeds in a 375 degree oven for seven minutes, then have children taste their finished snack.
Give each child two paper plates. Have him color or paint the underside of the plates orange. Children can use black paint or crayons to add Jack-o'-lantern faces. Hold the two plates together with the orange sides facing out. Punch holes along the plate edges, one inch apart. Lay one plate on a table, orange side down. Place some dry beans or beads on the plate, then lay a foot-long thin wooden dowel across the plate. An inch should stick out the top over the top of the plate, while the rest sticks out the bottom as the noisemaker handle. Lay the second plate on top and have children sew the two plates together using yarn. They can hold onto the handle and shake their pumpkin noisemakers.
Since pumpkins come in a variety sizes, they can help you teach preschoolers about measurement. Bring in several pumpkins of various shapes and sizes. First have children arrange the pumpkins by size. Have children line them up according to height. Show children a tape measure and explain how to use it. Have each child take a turn measuring the circumference of one pumpkin. Write the number of inches on the front of each pumpkin, then have children line them up again in order of skinniest to fattest.
Talk about feelings by creating Jack-o'-lanterns with different facial expressions. Bring in several pumpkins, and carve them into happy, sad, angry and scared faces. Show the children all the faces and ask them to label each feeling. Ask them to list things that might cause someone to feel that way. Have your students make a list of things that can help them deal with negative feelings such as sadness or anger.