It is time for our biggest project of the semester!
The "My Life as a Pumpkin" story incorporates a lot of fun steps. First I showed the students pictures of the stages of life of a pumpkin that my children and I had planted. From seed leaves to vine leaves, from tendrils to flowers, and of course, the final pumpkin product, the students learned about it all. I also read them a book about the process of growing pumpkins.
When the science lesson was over, we then imagined what it would be like to be a seed, a vine, and eventually a pumpkin. Would we be nervous? Excited? Optimistic? Pessimistic? Grumpy? Scared? These were all moods that came to mind for my students. They were so creative!
The older students were challenged to pick a mood out of the bag and match their story to that mood. This was an excellent challenge for my returning students who had done this project before, as well as any student who wanted to get pushed outside their usual comfort zone with voice and style.
Once our mood was decided, we story mapped the 5 W's (who, what, when, where, and why) of each of the three chapters: Seed, Growing, and Pumpkin. Once story maps were checked for clarity, rough drafts were written. On the third week, final copies were getting turned in! This was a big assignment, and one that many students enjoyed. I hope you enjoy reading these samples from across the grades!
My Life as a Pumpkin
by Tyler (1st grade)
I started as a seed.
I started my life as a cool and fantastic seed. I got planted in spring. I was with Drew, Brady, Zach, Daddy, and Mommy. I got planted in dirt and seven days later, I had a green sprout.
I began to grow.
Then I became a huge vine. I was in a dirt patch in Mommy's and Daddy's garden. It was July. Drew, Zach, and Brady were next to me. My vines got big. My vines got tangled with my friends. My yellow flower got so big that it took all the sun from the other plants! Then my flower got pollenated by five bees.
Then, I became a pumpkin.
I ended my life as a pie and a prize jack-o-lantern. It was October. I was the biggest pumpkin! Mommy baked me into a pie, and I ended my life in her tummy.
My Life as a Pumpkin
by Alyssa (2nd grade)
I started as a seed.
I started my life as an excited and tiny seed. I was in a Hawaiian garden in Spring on a sunny day. My best friend was with me. A girl named Alyssa squished me in the brown and stinky dirt. That hurt! Then it rained, and I grew and grew and grew into a green sprout.
I began to grow.
Then I became a twisty and swirly vine. I was still in Alyssa's garden. It was June. My friend and I played catch with dirt. Then I grew into a big, tall, and golden flower.
Then I became a pumpkin.
I was at home on Halloween on a spooky night. Alyssa was with me. Finally, I was pumpkin cake. I felt warm and happy.
At first, I was green, but then, I became a real, big, orange pumpkin!
My Life as a Pumpkin
by Ridley (3rd grade)
Chapter One
I
am going to tell you about my good life as a pumpkin. I started out as a seed in a pumpkin.
I
was discussing a plan with my brothers and sisters about when we get out of our
mom. Just then, something cut
right into our mother’s stomach!
We were all terrified at the sight of the object right in-front of us.
It
started to go around as it cut our mom in half! Then hands came in. They grabbed us, and pulled us out of
our mom.
Outside
the sun was very bright. It really
hurt my eyes. The hands lifted us
up and put us into the soil. In
the soil, it was cold. I was a bit
scared.
Chapter Two
Oooh,
I had two little leaves above me.
They were so small and cute!
Woah! I looked up at the
other vines. They were huge!
A
few weeks passed and then I had this yellow flower on my head, which was a small green ball! It was very pretty. It got a bit looser than a week
ago. I hoped it wouldn’t fall
off! I had grown very fond of
it. If it did fall off, then I
wouldn’t have my umbrella! I
started to get sad and scared a bit.
After
I talked to myself a bit I got tired, so I went to sleep.
Chapter Three
Ahhhhh! Hey stop that!!!! The farmer was pouring water on what
used to be my tiny little leaves, but now they are huge leaves. Anyway, he was pouring icy-cold water
on my head!! When that was done,
it felt like my vines were frozen!
The
farmer suddenly walked toward us!
He stopped at me, (like I said, I am the oldest of my brothers and
sisters.) For once, being the
oldest was a bad thing.
A
razor sharp knife cut into my vine!!
It hurt so bad!! Soon
enough I was off the vine. I heard
the farmer say that I was off to a fair! Since I was huge, I might just win the
contest!
Then
somewhere I heard something about Halloween. I might end up as a decoration on Halloween! I hope I won’t be carved.
When
we got there, the farmer opened the car door. He lifted me off the seat and outside the car. I could see the fair. It looked really cool. There were ferris wheels and
clowns! There was a place for the
competition. I was placed on a
square wooden place. The judges judged
us very carefully. I hoped I would
win 1st place.
A
few minutes passed. The judges
finally announced who had won the prize. It was…..US!!!!
We were so excited. I
wished my brothers and sisters were there. They’ll have their time.
It
was Halloween night and I was outside on the porch. All the people who drove by would not have seen us outside
if it was not for the candles in our heads.
We
were now all big and oranges like creamsicles! I was so excited, but now I must end my life story.
My Life as a Pumpkin
By Sammie (4th grade)
Chapter 1: Starting as a Seed
“Ouch! That hurt!” I said.
“That sun is very bright,” I thought. Suddenly, I got gently placed into the planter box by Laura,
Tyler, and Sammie. Then I felt
warm water sprinkle on me. My seed
coat was getting wet, so I knew
that it wouldn’t be long until I would grow.
I was in the
planter box with my best friend Anjalia Seed. I talked with Anjalia a lot because there was really nothing
else to do. Then I finally got little
legs. I knew I was growing!
Three days later, I
got little seed leaves. My legs
also got bigger. I was actually
becoming a real pumpkin plant!
What an exciting day!
That night, it rained
a lot. In the morning, I felt the
wonderful warm sun. I felt like I
was growing!
Chapter 2: Growing Up
A week later, I felt
different. I felt taller and
stronger. My vines and leaves were
getting bigger. My was also
becoming very curly.
One morning, I
noticed a little green ball, and a golden dress on me. “What is this green ball?” I
thought. Then Tyler started to
water me. It felt very good,
because it had been hot for the past few days.
Two days later, I
felt very dry. I realized that
Tyler hadn’t watered me yesterday,
“Oh no!” I cried out loud to Anjalia. “I can’t lift my arms!” Anjalia said it would be okay. That’s what best friends are for.
Then she told me she
saw Tyler coming to water us.
Phew! I was rescued! He dumped the water on me. It felt very refreshing to take a
bath. Lucky for me, I was feeling
all better. “Yippee!” I
exclaimed. I am saved!” My arms shot up in the air in
happiness!
The next morning, I
saw a paint brush coming into my dress.
It tickled a lot! I was
being pollinated by Laura! She was
gentle and sweet to me.
That night, my dress
closed. I felt sad because my
flower dress had made me look extra fancy. And now, it was all crinkly!
Over the next week,
my pumpkin ball got bigger. But
something else terrible also happened.
My flower dress completely dried up and fell off!
“Oh no!” I gasped
to Anjalia. I feel so exposed!”
Anjalia replied,
“It’s okay, Sammie. My flower also
fell off a few days ago. It just
means that we’re starting to become real, actual pumpkins!” That made me feel much better, and
grown-up!
Chapter 3: Making New Friends
Because I had vined
out so much, I met two new friends named Isabel and Sophia. I told Anjalia that I met two other
pumpkin plants, and she became friends with them, too!
We talked and played
Volleyseed with each other. We
played with an old seed that Sophia found in her planter box. We all had a great day.
Later that evening,
someone hurried through my front gate.
He slammed the gate, and it hit my planter box. “Aaaahhhhh!” I exclaimed. It’s an earthquake!”
Finally, the shaking
stopped. I felt like I was going
to be sick.
Then Anjalia said,
“What was that?! That dude was in
a hurry. I don’t want to be around
him when he is mad like that.”
I looked at the
house. The man that stomped
through the gate went into my owner’s walkway. “What is he doing?” I thought. He put something into a box. Then my owner came to the door and said, “Thanks for the
mail. Next time, please be more
careful with the gate because of our pumpkins!”
“Okay, I will,” he
answered.
The next day, I felt
bigger. Anjalia also looked
bigger, but she was asleep. I was
very thirsty. I knew it wouldn’t
be long until Tyler watered me. I
also knew that if I kept on eating a balanced diet, I would get bigger and
bigger, and eventually change color!
Suddenly, I was Tyler
with a hose. The water felt
excellent. But Anjalia was still
sleeping, and the cold water that felt fantastic to me, woke Anjalia up with a
fright! She was not happy. But I said it was good because she was
going to grow!
A week later, part of
my body was orange. I was very
excited! I looked over at Anjalia,
and saw she was also a little bit orange.
But, she was smaller than me.
Later that morning, we were playing Volleyseed. But when Sophia did a spike, the seed
cracked in half. “So much for that
game,” muttered Isabel.
“I think Sophia is
too strong!” I told my friends.
“Thank you, thank you
very much!” said Sophia.
“What are we going to
play now?” asked Anjalia.
“I have an idea!” exclaimed
Isabel. “We could play
Volleyleaf!”
Sophia asked, “How are we
going to play that?”
“It’s simple,”
explained Isabel. “One of you has
to tear off a leaf to play with….”
“NOOO!” we all
screamed. “We need our leaves to
get sunlight to keep growing!”
Five days later, I
looked over at Anjalia, and she was frantic. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I have bumps
all over me. What’s wrong with me? Do I have chicken pox?!” she exclaimed.
“I’m sorry, I don’t
know,” I admitted.
Then Laura came out
and said, “Look! We got a lumpy
bumpy Goosebumps pumpkin in our garden!”
This was good news to
us. “It’s okay, Anjalia. That’s just how you were meant to
be. That is your variety.” My news made her feel better.
“Okay, I trust you,”
she said, as she breathed a sigh of relief.
Two weeks later, I
was getting more and more orange.
I was very excited. I
looked over at Anjalia and she looked very bumpy and beautiful. We knew that Harvest Time was coming,
and we would get picked soon!
Chapter 4: The Time of My Life
It was five days
before Halloween, and all of my friends and I were going to get cut from our
vines. Just the thought of getting
cut by those sharp shears gave me nightmares! I wondered what it would feel like to be off of my vine
after being attached there for my whole life.
Then one day, I saw
Isabel and Sophia getting picked and put on to the walkway. I knew it wouldn’t be long until it was
my turn!
The day I got picked
was a very happy day. Sammie and
her mom came out of their house with some pointy shears. Then I saw them bending down to pick
me. “Aaaaaahhhh!” I exclaimed. “I’m going to get cut!”
Then, all of a
sudden, I heard a “SNAP!” and I was off the vine. I was surprised and thankful that it actually didn’t hurt!
Then Sammie
picked me up and almost dropped me because I was very heavy! When her mom saw that Sammie was
struggling, she took me instead. I
felt safer then! Once they put me
on their porch next to Isabel and Sophia, I saw them bending down to pick Anjalia. She looked very scared, but once she
was off the vine, she saw me and looked happier.
Suddenly, they picked
up Sophia and Isabel, and brought them inside. I wasn’t sure what was happening to them while they were in
there, but there was no screaming for help, so I figured they were okay.
The door opened, and
out came Isabel and Sophia.
Isabel’s white skin had a bunch of holes, and in the holes, Laura and
Sammie had stuck lollipops for the mysterious people that they called
trick-or-treaters! (We had
no idea what “trick-or-treaters” meant.)
Sophia was carved with the word “BOO!” on her peach skin. I was devastated to see that the
insides of my friends had been hollowed out. That must’ve felt very weird, and I didn’t want it to happen
to me!
That afternoon,
I got taken into the house and got put on the table. I was wondering what my owners would do to me! Sammie approached me with a skinny tool
with bristles on the end. Then, I
felt this thing tickling me. I was
getting a massage, and it felt very relaxing!
I must’ve dozed off,
because when I awoke, I saw I had been painted with a cat’s face on me! I thought I looked very dazzling!
So here is where my
story ends. My friends and I are
all dressed up for Halloween. We
have seen many trick-or-treaters coming up to the door and taking the lollipops
out of Isabel’s head tonight. I
feel very proud because all of the kids are saying how superb we look. We are all different varieties with
different designs, but we are all great friends. I wish Halloween could last forever!
On May First.
By Bette (5th grade)
Chapter 1- A Seedling
It was May first, and I thought that I was the most excited seed ever alive. I was finally being bought from the store. Also, I wasn’t alone, so that made me even more excited. I had never actually seen dirt so I was a little bit curious.
Finally we had made it to the house. They took us out of the shopping bag and failed to rip us open. The tallest, (which I am guessing is the mom) went to the knife producer. She took out a pair of scissors and snip! We were open. The 2 girls poured us into each of their hands. I wound up in the dark haired girl's hand. She walked a little and then poured us into the soft soil. It felt like a soft blanket wrapping around my body. I decided that I would get a snack and then I would sleep for the rest of the day!
“Ah!” It felt like heaven being watered for the first time. It was a sunny Saturday, and the twins had come out to feed us with fresh water. I love how we get all of this extra food. I am getting bigger and I overheard someone saying something about us sprouting a flower soon.
Chapter 2
A Flower
They were right, I have just sprouted a beautiful yellow flower. I have a small green ball at the end of it. Today I have started to grow vines. They are long, green and prickly. They tend to like to touch everyone around me. I am gathering sunlight and water for my dress (flower).
Today I saw something. It was big and it was yellow and black. I have seen it coming to other flowers around me and landing on their flowers. I have heard that it’s called “pollinating”. The twins came out today and were fighting over who would water us. They dropped the water and it spilled all over me. It made me feel cold and drowsy. I have been wilting ever since. Their mom came out to see the other day and said that I was being “Over watered.” It made me scared until today when she said that all the twins have to do is not water me for a little bit. I have been waiting for the creature to come strike me. All of neighbors have been hit and I am hoping that today the creature will come!
Tonight I have my eyes open for “It”. I can see it in the far distance, and it is getting closer by the second. Finally it is here and it is like a dragonfly; it just keeps buzzing. It has landed on my flower and it is putting something into my dress. I looked up. It was “pollinating” me. I was so scared the next day because my flower has started to shrivel up and my ball is getting bigger!!
Chapter 3
A Grown Pumpkin
I have said goodbye to my dress and my ball is huge; by that I mean it is the size of your hand. I am not drowsy, and I have been really happy, because they said that once I am “A full grown pumpkin.” I get to be put for sale at the farmers market.
Apparently, a holiday called “Halloween” is coming up. They want to put me up for sale for someone to buy me and carve me into a jack-o-lantern. I am happy but sad since I have to leave all of my friends. I am growing to an orange color, and now I am the size of a soccer ball. They said tomorrow that I would go on sale at the farmer’s market.
Today is the day that my friends and I will go into someone else’s world. I am in the truck on the freeway and we are passing a lot of cool buildings. I am so excited that I get to see the outside world.
We finally made it to the farmer’s market. They took us out and put us on a shelf. We cost $5.00, and we had an extra carving set for $2.00. I had stayed there for three days when someone finally bought me. She had a son named Jack and had long blond hair. I was in her car when I realized that she had bought the carving set as well. Now that I think about it, she is going to cut my top off and cut a face into me. This was like having plastic surgery…. but for a pumpkin!?!
When the family and I got home they put me inside. They ripped the carving set open and got to work. My top was cut open, and all of my guts were spooned out. When they were done, I had 2 triangle eyes and a smile for a mouth. I was put outside.
My life ended the day after that. Her son had thrown me on the ground since he was mad he didn’t get to have a playdate with his friend Joe. My last thoughts were that I hoped that if my seedlings are planted, they have a better ending of their life. I had a great life and I hope that all of my seedlings do too.
By Adam (5th grade)
Chapter 1: Seed
“Where am I?” I thought. One
moment I was having the time of my life. I was riding on a strange black thing
that I heard was called a conveyor belt. Then I was in a strange vehicle with
many wheels. I decided to take a nap, but the ride kept on bumping, so I
couldn’t sleep. I soon slept without realizing. When I awoke, I was in a weird
place with many giants, all of them different sizes. There were little giants
that were very tiny compared to the large ones.
Soon, a mini giants hand
zoomed in to my bag, which my friends and I were in. The mini giant grasped my
body, and I could hardly breathe. One of the mega giants were poking holes in
the ground, and throwing my friends and I in them! I was outraged. I tried to
escape, but I had no time, and legs. The mini giant released the grasp, and
threw me in the hole. In a matter of seconds, I was buried.
I couldn’t see, hear or feel
anything. They separated me from my friends. Why would they do this to me? I am
so paranoid! I then started to feel we. The water from above has finally
reached the under-earth that I called home. Yet, the water wasn’t enough. I
wanted to shoot at it, but I had no mouth. Why was my life killing me? What did
I do Mother Nature? Let me live. As if on cue, I started to grow legs. My seed
coat fell off, and I was rising. I could barely see the bright yellow sun.
Finally, I was green, a nice
fresh green. Although I was a blue seed, I was green. Thank you Mother Nature.
I could see of my friends, rising out of the ground. Life is amazing. Now all I
need to do is stay alive.
Chapter 2:
Growing
It was great to finally be
able to see the world. The sun was a very amazing feature to have in life. Yet
I was still nervous. All these mini giants would always crowd around me. I
always have the feeling they’re planning a secret way to pull me out of the
ground. But I knew that couldn’t be true. Yet they would always watch me from a
distance with those devilish eyes. I wanted to yell at them and tell them to go
away, but only my mad neighbors heard my complaints.
Soon the mega giants came
outside to escort the mini giants back to the strange room they would hide in.
As they went one by one into the strange room, I was think of taking a nap, but
in the corner of my eye, I saw on remaining mini giant. It stared into my soul
with its devilish eyes. I tried yelling at the mega giants, but only my
frustrated neighbors could hear me again. I had never felt more stalked in my
life.
The mini giant started to
approach me. I was freaking out. What if it killed me? I looked for any
possible escapes, but there weren’t any. It now started to run. This is not how
I wanted my life to end.
I soon lost hope. My life
would end here. I knew it. But then there was a miracle. The mini giant
tripped, and some strange red liquid oozed out of it. A terrible noise came out
of the hole in its face. Water was coming out of its eyes. That should teach it
a lesson, I thought. The mega giants escorted it to a different room. I felt a
little bad, but it was going to kill me so we are even.
As the days went by, I
started to grow more features to my body. First my arms started grew up out of
the ground, and many vine leaves as well. Then my hair started to grow. It was
a funky yellow. I was confused because I was a blue seed with yellow hair. But
when I looked at my friends, they all had the same yellow hair I had. So
I was satisfied.
The worst type of days that
I experienced were the hot ones. I heard from my neighbors, that too much heat
would end you. I decided that I would like the cold better, so I wouldn’t have
too much heat and die.
The worst time of day is
when it is so dark. Legends say it is called night. At night you would see dark
and spooky things. But I never saw any dark and spooky things, at least not
until October 21.
I was taking a nap, my
looking a fresh yellow, when I had heard a small rustle in the bushes. I
immediately woke up and scanned the area. A yellow and black figure appeared.
It bolted towards me. I was as scared as a pumpkin that was about to die. I
closed my eyes waiting for the pain to strike at me. Nothing happened. I looked
up and saw the “thing” walk on my hair. It sucked some strange yellow bits in
my hair. Then it had left like nothing had happened. Frightened, I went to be.
I had a dream of me as a seed in my bag, having a normal life.
Later that day, I woke up
by the sound of my own snoring. How embarrassing I had thought. It was a sunny day,
I was looking up at the sun when my hair started to curl together. At first I
thought it was my imagination, but then my magnificent yellow hair fell off,
right in front of me. I was outraged, why would this happen to me I had
thought. Later, I forgot the whole thing because I was growing tall. I was
proud.
Chapter 3: Death
I was a blue pumpkin, a
vivid blue pumpkin. To my pumpkin friends I was an astounding blue pumpkin, but
to the giants, I was food. It was a normal day. I was getting ready to rest,
but then a mega giant’s hand grasped my blue body, and yanked me out of the
ground. I was frightened, as they took me into the room.
Mega giants are stupid, I
had thought. They had put me the pumpkin, in a warm box, hoping to make me into
pumpkin pie, so sad. They carried me into a room with many giants, mostly mini
giants. They carried me to the strange box, and placed me inside it. I was so
worried. They were no escapes. I then started to spin as the mega giants
touched the box in different places. Each second the box got warmer and warmer,
I was boiling. The heat was so strong, that it had killed me. What a horrible
way to die.
