Keep pumpkin seeds! Some of you might have roasted them for eating, others…compost?! What else can we do with those gooey/slimy seeds that you’re left with when you make a jack-o’-lantern?
In this article, I’ll show you 3 fun activities you can do with family using leftover pumpkin seeds during the Halloween season!
3 fun activities with pumpkin seeds
#1. Plant pumpkin seeds
Either indoors or outdoors, plant pumpkin seeds with your children. It’ll be a science experiment! When they’re kept inside, they may sprout but it all depends on where you live and the temperature/lighting of a location.
If you don’t mind a longer term experiment, ask children to pick a spot in your garden. Then ask them to dig and bury the seeds. They can even put layers of blankets over. After the winter, the seeds will sprout when the weather gets warmer.
Tip: When your children plant the seeds, you can also ask them to make a sign, so you don’t forget. That way, children will regularly go and take a look. It’ll be a good reminder for you as well!
#2. Make a shaker
First, wash and dry the pumpkin seeds. Then find a couple of plastic Easter eggs in your closet/storage. Next, ask your children to take some and put them in the eggs. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
What you can do here is also an experiment. You can ask your kids to fill less/more in each eggs. Once they finish, they can shake and compare the sounds.
The best part is that it’s NOT loud like beans in a plastic bottle!
#3. Create fish art
To begin, lets’ figure out how to color the seeds.
First, wash the seeds and remove all the gooey stuff. Then dry them on paper towel/cotton cloth, and leave them for a week or two. (Well, I left mine for a year without any reason…)
Next, add food coloring into some water, then place the seeds in it. If you want two or more colors, you need different containers.
As you can see in the middle picture, the seeds float, but they’ll eventually sink. Simply leave them for 2-3 days until they have all sunk (middle picture).
Finally, drain the water and put them on paper towel/newspaper until they get completely dry (right picture).
How to create fish art with pumpkin seeds
What you need
- colored pumpkin seeds
- card stock (cut into shape of fish)
- liquid glue
- a brush
- bean & lentils (whatever you have)
Now, click on the video for the tutorial!
Being a nature preschool teacher was one of the most valuable jobs I had. The children and teachers learned together in nature where things are limited. Well, that forced us to use our imagination. And that changed choosing materials for crafts.
The reason I chose the shape of fish is, the salmon run begins after Halloween. So it’s a continuous activity that we could talk about. And planting the seeds will lead into spring. Then we could talk about life cycles…and so on. It’s all intentional.
The pumpkin seeds do look like fish scales, so it was a perfect activity for Halloween. For older kids & adults, I made another style of fish.
Please send me a picture when you create one! I would LOVE to see different fish!!❤️