More than just lanterns! Making “gourd” use of pumpkins!

by Clare Thompson

The variations in shape, colour, surface texture, patternation and weight of pumpkins and gourds makes them a perfect resource for Autumnal natural play experiences… We all know that pumpkins can be carved into wonderful spooky/magical lanterns for Halloween, but let’s find out some more ways that we can use pumpkins in play!

Pumpkins can vary from small and light to large and heavy. Heavy pumpkins can present healthy challenges for children to negotiate lifting, transporting, positioning and arranging. Wheelbarrows and trolleys can be provided alongside an array of different gourds and pumpkins outdoors. Children can roll large pumpkins down hills and watch the effects of gravity and momentum…

They can be used in multi sensory play experiences, exploring their outer textures and also opened up to use their seeds and pulp in a texture kitchen…

We can explore the different surface textures of pumpkins, gourds and dried fruit through mark making…

and use them as part of our small world imaginative playscapes! By adding small holes on the surface of a pumpkin, it can then be used as a base for decorating with stems and leaves…

By carving different sized holes in a large pumpkin we can turn it into a post box for counting and comparing the sizes of conkers, acorns or stones!

Thank you for reading! We hope these ideas might bring some inspiration for ways to reuse you halloween pumpkins and gourds! We have a range of books and resources in our shop including our texture kitchen recipe book and The Gingerbread Man- A Transient Tale… perfect accompaniments to Autumn/Winter play! Available here