Five Little Pumpkins

Purpose:  This classic children's poem can be both a finger play and a dramatic play. Children will love to learn ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) while they characterize each of the pumpkins.

 

Language Strand	Skills	Theme	Type
listening,  reading, speaking	comprehension,  motivation to read,               story sense	holidays, seasons	dramatics, finger game

 

 

 

Materials/Advance Preparation:

• A mat or rug for the stand up game

Poem

1.      Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate;                               

2.      The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late."

3.      The second one said, "There are witches in the air."

4.      The third one said, "But I don't care."

5.      The fourth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

6.      The fifth one said, "Let's run and run and run."

7.      "Wooooooo" went the wind,

8.      And out went the lights.

9.      And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

 

Fingerplay directions (for all -- leader and children -- to do:

1.      Hold up five fingers and touch each one as the verse progresses.

2.      Touches a wrist (where a watch would be).

3.      Swoosh hand through the air.

4.      Shake head as if saying "No."

5.      Rub hands together mischievously.

6.      Hands run after each other.

7.      Cup hands around mouth.

8.      Chop hands through air (like an umpire making a "safe" sign).

9.      Roll fists around each other.

 

Stand up game directions:

If you have a group that is ready to take turns and don't mind "performing" in front of the others this is great fun!  You will need a mat or rug. It's a good idea to do the finger game for several days before doing this activity.

Have five children stand side by side in the "pumpkin patch (rug)."
Each child is one of the pumpkins and they do the motion for that pumpkin as you get to it in the rhyme.  Point to each pumpkin as it is their turn.  When you get to line 9, one child at a time can roll through the pumpkin patch like a log or doing a somersault.  Keep saying, "rolled out of sight" as each one has a turn.

Notes:  Make a chart of the words and a picture of a pumpkin.

 

Eric Gidseg

 

 

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