Fall pumpkins are always a treat! Here are some creative ideas for using your pumpkin in a fun and educational way;

Make Pumpkin Muffins- Follow the recipe below to create a yummy pumpkin muffin that the whole family can enjoy! Your homeschooler can help to measure, prepare, mix and clean up, too.

Pumpkin Raisin Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup of fresh pumpkin
3 1/2 cups of flour
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup lowfat milk
1/4 cup butter or butter spread
1 cup of raisins
1 cup of walnuts or pecans, chopped finely
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to oven 400 degrees.

Put muffin cups into your muffin tins or grease the tins with some butter or butter spread.

Mix your butter and sugar.

Next add the pumpkin and the eggs.

Stir in the raisins, nuts, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

Spoon the mixture into the muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Enjoy!

Make a Mosaic- Use the pumpkin seeds to create a mosaic. Have your children use natural dyes or non toxic paint to shade them.

Bake and Eat the Seeds-Count them all first and then clean and bake them up!

Carve it out- Have your children help dig out the inside of a large pumpkin. Write down your thoughts as a family about each aspect of the pumpkin.

Paint Them- Paint the pumpkins with a variety of bright colors and glue on fun accessories!

Spell With Seeds- Use the pumpkin seeds to form letters and words.

Feed the Birds- Make a bird feeder out of your carved out pumpkin. After carving and cleaning out your medium sized pumpkin your homeschoolers can help you fill it with bird seed. Set it outside for your flying friends to enjoy. When your children see different birds enjoying their meal have them write or illustrate what birds they spot. This could even be part of a nature journal.

Here are some neat pumpkin decorating materials that your homeschooler will enjoy: