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Jack the Builder
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?
by Margaret McNamara
Mr. Tiffin brings three pumpkins to class. His students estimate and then find out the number of seeds in each pumpkin, counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s.
Resources for How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?:
Full Book Review (English)
Full Book Review (Spanish)
Brief Book Review (English)
Brief Book Review (Spanish)
Who will have the most seeds in their pumpkin?
Math Connections:
Following Directions Order
Size Estimating
Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s Comparisons
Activities to Do Together:
- Practice counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s. Try getting to 100 each time!
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Count objects around your house by 2s, 5s, and 10s!
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Talk about estimation with your child.
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While reading, follow the directions Mr. Tiffin gives his class: estimate the number of seeds in each pumpkin before turning the page, think about how you can count the number of seeds, and count the seeds in the book by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s.
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For younger children, open a pumpkin and count the seeds together.
Extension Questions:
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What are some other ways you can count the pumpkin seeds?
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Compare counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s. Which way is easiest? Which why is hardest? Why?
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What are some other characteristics you could use to line up the students?
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How many students are there? Can you count them by 2s, 5s, and 10s?
Vocabulary for Building Math Concepts:
5, 35, 63, 170, 316, 340, 350, all, biggest, circle, count(ing), eight, even, fifteen, five, fives, forty, four, groups, guesses, groups, hundred, lines, lining, many, more, most, numbers, odd, one, one million, over, pairs, rows, six, size, smallest, tallest, tens, thirty, three, time, twelve, twenty, twenty-five, twenty-two, twos, whole