Science

Pumpkin Measuring Lab

Here's one to try together!

Guess first, then measure! Ollie wants to know how wide, ridged and heavy your pumpkin really is.

20 min5 min prepAges 4 and uplow mess

Reviewed by our team.

Safety first

Heavy pumpkin could be dropped or strain a child holding it while standing on a scale
Risk of slipping or losing balance when standing on a scale while holding a pumpkin
Pumpkin may roll off the table
Crayons and string are minor small-item or string hazards for very young children

What you need

Grown-up prep: Gather a pumpkin, string, ruler, bathroom scale, paper and crayons. Keep the pumpkin on a steady spot so it cannot roll.

Set the pumpkin on the table and look at it closely.
Guess how wide, how bumpy and how heavy it is.
Ask: How many ridges do you think there are? How heavy will it be?
Wrap the string around the widest part of the pumpkin.
Pinch the string where it meets, then make a mark.
Lay the string next to the ruler and read the length.
Count the ridges running down the sides.
Weigh yourself with the pumpkin, then without it. Ask for help if you need it
Ask: Which number do you think will be bigger?
Subtract the two numbers to find the pumpkin's weight.
Compare each guess with the real answer on your lab sheet.
Ask: Which guess was closest? What would you guess differently next time?
Show your lab sheet to someone, or find another pumpkin to measure!

Pumpkin race: guess which of two pumpkins is heavier, then check with the scale.
Mystery string: one person secretly measures one pumpkin with the string, and everyone else works out which pumpkin it fits.
Patch survey: measure three pumpkins and line them up from lightest to heaviest.

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