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Fall is here! The air is crisp, cozy sweaters are out, and pumpkin patches are waiting to be explored. One of my favorite stories for this season is The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs. It’s a simple yet powerful way to share the Gospel with kids. Just as a farmer scoops out the yucky insides of a pumpkin and places a glowing light inside, God cleans us out and fills us with His light.

This story makes a beautiful starting point for a fall-themed unit study that ties together Bible, reading, writing, science, math, art, and even a family outing. Let’s dive into some exciting activities to get you started on your Pumpkin Patch Parable journey!

Bible Connection: Discovering God's Light

• Read Aloud: Start by reading The Pumpkin Patch Parable together. Discuss what it means for God to “clean us out” and give us His light.

• Memory Verse: Teach the verse from Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

• Object Lesson: Carve a pumpkin together. Scoop out the insides (representing sin), wash it clean (symbolizing forgiveness), carve a smile (joy), and place a candle or light inside (God’s Spirit in us). You can find a carving kit here.

  
  

Reading & Writing: Unleashing Creativity

• Retell the Story: Encourage your child to retell the story in their own words, focusing on the beginning, middle, and end.

• Journal Prompt: Ask, “If I were a pumpkin, how would God shine His light through me?”

• Mini Book Creation: Have your child write their own simple parable using everyday objects like apples, sunflowers, or acorns.

• Reading Log: Read additional picture books about pumpkins (see the list below).

• Verse Mapping: Choose a key verse (Matthew 5:16 or John 8:12). Break it down—define words, look up cross-references, and write a short reflection.

• Parable Comparison: Compare The Pumpkin Patch Parable with one of Jesus’ parables, like the Parable of the Sower. What similarities and differences do you notice?

• Creative Parable Writing: Challenge students to write their own parable using an ordinary fall object (like an apple, scarecrow, leaf, or acorn). They should include a setting, an ordinary object, a problem, and a spiritual truth.

• Persuasive Essay: Write an essay on whether pumpkins or apples are the “best” fall symbol, supporting their answer with reasons and evidence.

• Parable Comic Strip: Illustrate The Pumpkin Patch Parable in comic-book style panels.

  
  

Pumpkin Patch Parable Activities

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Math Activities: Counting Fun

• Seed Counting: Count pumpkin seeds and practice skip counting (by 2s, 5s, 10s). You can find counters here.

• Weighing Pumpkins: Weigh a pumpkin and estimate how many pounds it is before putting it on the scale.

• Circumference Measurement: Measure the circumference of pumpkins using a string or tape measure. Compare big vs. small pumpkins.

• Graphing: Graph different pumpkin colors or sizes from a visit to the grocery store, pumpkin patch, or a walk around the block.

• Pumpkin Math Lab: Estimate and then calculate pumpkin volume using water displacement. Weigh pumpkin seeds in groups of 10, then calculate how many seeds the whole pumpkin might contain.

  
  

Science Exploration: Nature's Wonders

• Dissect a Pumpkin: Look at the pulp, seeds, and stem. Label the parts.

• Plant a Seed: Track its growth in a science journal.

• Pumpkin Comparisons: Compare pumpkins to other squash and gourds. What makes them alike or different?

• Decomposition Discussion: Discuss what happens to pumpkins left outside after the season.

• Scientific Observation: Conduct a decomposition experiment. Put a carved pumpkin in a container and observe/record daily changes. Discuss bacteria, fungi, and the cycle of life.

  
  

Art & Handcrafts: Get Creative!

• Pumpkin Prints: Cut a baby pumpkin in half, dip it in orange paint, and stamp it to create prints.

• Glowing Pumpkin Art: Draw or paint a glowing pumpkin using pastels or watercolors.

• Collage Creation: Make a pumpkin patch collage from construction paper or fabric scraps.

• Parable Picture Book: For older kids, design a parable picture book inspired by The Pumpkin Patch Parable.

• Pumpkin Photography Project: Take close-up photos of pumpkins in different stages (whole, carved, seeds drying, baked in bread) and create a photo essay titled “The Life of a Pumpkin.”

• Pumpkin STEM Challenge: Build a mini “pumpkin launcher” (catapult) with popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Graph how far each pumpkin candy flies.

  
  

Field Trip & Family Fun: Making Memories

• Visit a Local Pumpkin Patch: Explore a local pumpkin patch or farmer’s market together.

• Baking Together: Try baking pumpkin bread or roasting pumpkin seeds as a family.

• Family Evening: End your unit with a family evening. Carve pumpkins, read the parable again, and share how each person sees God’s light shining through their life.

  
  

Pumpkin Patch Parable Activities

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Pumpkin Patch Parable Activities and Printable Ideas

• Pumpkin Life Cycle Wheel: Create a visual representation of the pumpkin life cycle.

• Seed Counting Worksheet: A fun worksheet for counting pumpkin seeds.

• Journaling Pages: Provide journaling pages with a pumpkin border for creative writing.

• Bible Verse Coloring Pages: Color and reflect on Bible verses.

  
  

Additional Pumpkin Picture Books: (Check your library for these!)

• Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell – Follows a jack-o’-lantern as it decays, teaching kids about the pumpkin life cycle. Purchase HERE

• From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer – Nonfiction explaining how pumpkins grow. Purchase HERE

• Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington – A classic simple story about planting and growing pumpkins.

• The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll – Two mice secretly care for the same pumpkin, learning about cooperation. Purchase HERE

• The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis – A giant pumpkin breaks loose and causes a rollicking adventure. Purchase HERE

• Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper – Three friends learn lessons about friendship and sharing while making pumpkin soup. Purchase HERE

• Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White – A woman who dislikes pumpkins finds herself with more than she can handle—great for gratitude lessons. Purchase HERE

• Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell – A sweet fall-themed story of visiting a farm to pick apples and pumpkins. Purchase HERE

• Pumpkin Day! by Candice Ransom – A fun early reader about a family visiting a pumpkin patch. Purchase HERE

• Pumpkin Day at the Zoo by Susan Meissner - Zoo animals enjoy a little pumpkin snack. Purchase HERE

  
  

Informational / Science Connections:

• The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons – Classic nonfiction explaining pumpkin history, planting, growing, and uses. Purchase HERE

• Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie by Jill Esbaum – Photo-based nonfiction exploring pumpkins from seed to table. Purchase HERE

• How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara – Combines a classroom story with skip counting, estimating, and math concepts. Purchase HERE

  
  

Wrapping It Up: A Season of Learning and Love

The beauty of The Pumpkin Patch Parable is how ordinary things can point to extraordinary truths. Pumpkins are everywhere in fall—why not use them to talk about God’s love, practice academics, and make sweet family memories?

Arika

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