Too Many Pumpkins
By: Linda White
In Linda White’s Too Many Pumpkins, Rebecca Estelle wants nothing to do with pumpkins after eating far too many of them as a child. When a pumpkin accidentally falls off a truck and smashes in her yard, she buries the pieces and tries to forget about them. But the following autumn, her yard is overflowing with pumpkins! Faced with an unwanted harvest, Rebecca Estelle finds creative ways to put the pumpkins to good use, turning a frustrating problem into an opportunity to share with her neighbors. Her unexpected adventure sets the stage for a heartwarming story about problem-solving, generosity, and making the best of an unexpected situation.
Students will read Linda White’s Too Many Pumpkins and identify problems that arise when Rebecca Estelle finds herself with an overwhelming pumpkin harvest. Using the engineering design process, students will explore how circuits, coding, and robotics can help solve problems in a busy pumpkin patch. Students will build light-up jack-o’-lanterns using simple circuits, program micro to create interactive signs, and use Ozobots to design and navigate pathways through the pumpkin patch. They will test and improve their designs while exploring how technology can make everyday tasks easier.
Core Content: ELA, Computer Science, Engineering, and Microelectronics
Grade Levels: Grade level 3
Time Required: 6-7 days
ME Career Connection: Students explore careers such as electrical engineers, computer programmers, robotics engineers, and design engineers, learning how these professionals use circuits, coding, and robotics to develop technologies that solve real-world problems.
Author: Keri Ballard