Learn about and have some fun with pumpkins -Worksheet for learners

You know what a pumpkin looks like, because you know the story of Cinderella that had to go to the ball and the fairy godmother turned the pumpkin into a beautiful carriage.  Or maybe your mom tells you to eat your pumpkin because it gives you red cheeks and curly hair.  

Halloween time you will see many pumpkins around.

Not all kids like pumpkins, but like all other vegetables they are healthy. Lets learn more about this type of food.

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• Try and make your own summary on what you have learned from the video

There are many type of pumpkins and although most pumpkins are yellow, you will also find ones that are white, green or red. On the outside it has a thick skin and has flesh/pulp and seeds on the inside.

The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning ‘large melon’.

If you look at a pumpkin from a scientific side, it is actually a fruit since it contains seeds. but if we use it and cook it, we see it as a vegetable. Read more here about the differences between fruit and vegetables.

Pumpkins usually look like a ball and they weigh about 6 kg, but there are people that grow giant pumpkins for competitions.

Giant pumpkins can be grown for competitions, with some weighing over 1000 pounds! (450 kilograms). In 2010, the world record was 1810 pounds! That’s huge!!

• Do your own research and find videos or pictures and some reading material on these giant pumpkins

You can bake, steam or cook the pumpkin and most people like it sweetened with sugar. The pumpkin seeds can be dried or roasted and eaten which is also healthy. Pumpkin can also be cooked and made into soup.

Pumpkin pie is a sweet desert that comes from North America and this is very traditional during times like thanksgiving and Christmas. How do you like your pumpkin?

If you celebrate Halloween, you will know that a carved pumpkin is called a 'Jack o' lantern'. You can put a candle on the inside to light up the face.

The tradition is believed to have come from Ireland, where they used to carve faces into turnips, beet and other root vegetables as part of the Gaelic festival of Samhain.

• For fun you can carve your own pumpkins, but make sure you have help from an adult and are very careful with the knife or blade. If you do not want to carve a pumpkin, you can decorate it - have a look at the video for examples

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