Create Your Own Pumpkin Person!

What You Need:

• Construction paper (varying colors including orange)
• Scissors
• Glue
• Coloring materials
• Assortment of creative materials (e.g., gems, feathers, glitter, beads, etc.)
• The All About My Pumpkin Person worksheet or blank paper
   

What You Do:

1. Get out construction paper, coloring materials, scissors, glue, and an assortment of creative materials. 
2. Explain to your child that today they will be creating their very own pumpkin person.
3. Ask your child to brainstorm what a pumpkin person might look like. Check out developmentally appropriate spooky Halloween websites or other resources for inspiration (e.g., "The Nightmare Before Christmas")
4. Help your child create a pumpkin head by drawing a pumpkin (any size you want) on orange construction paper and have your child cut the pumpkin head out. Next, encourage your child to get creative as they think about what physical traits their pumpkin person will have. Ask prompting questions like:
   • What shape is your pumpkin person?
   • What type of hair does your pumpkin person have (if any)?
   • What is your pumpkin person wearing?
   • What types of accessories does your pumpkin person have (e.g., hats, scarves, sunglasses, earrings, boots, etc.)?
5. Give your child time to create their pumpkin person.
6. After your child is finished creating their pumpkin person, give them a copy of the All About My Pumpkin Person worksheet or a blank piece of paper. 
7. Explain to your child that they are going to use their imagination to make their pumpkin person come to life! Now that they’ve designed the physical traits of their pumpkin person, they are going to think about their pumpkin person’s personality, interests, and where they live. 
8. Support your child in writing about their pumpkin person by asking them questions like:
   • Where does your pumpkin person live?
   • What do they like best about their house?
   • What does their house look like? Can you draw a picture of your pumpkin person’s house?
   • What is your pumpkin person’s favorite thing to do?
   • Who is your pumpkin person’s best friend? What do they look like?
   • What is your pumpkin person’s favorite day of the year? Why?
9. Guide your child to finish their creative writing and support them as needed.
10. When your child is finished with their pumpkin person, gather friends and family together and ask your child to introduce their new friend!