Pumpkin Measurement

We have read a plethora of pumpkins books this week AND took a field trip to the pumpkin patch.   I decided we needed to do some pumpkin math too.  I got my ideas from Little Giraffes and Under the Big Top.

Circumference:  

First we discussed what circumference is and how we could find out the circumference of our pumpkin.  Next I had each student estimate how much yarn it would take to fit around the widest part of the pumpkin.  Then each student cut a piece of yarn the length of their "guesstimate".  After they cut their yarn, we tested each piece of yarn around the pumpkin and we placed the yarn on our chart to show if the guess was "too short", "too long", or "just right".  One person guessed just right!

Height: 

To measure the height, I asked the students to estimate how many cubes it would take to match the height of the pumpkin.  Then I wrote down each estimate on the chart.  Next each student tested their estimate using their cubes.  We had three people guess just right!