A different Halloween...

Halloween is a celebration well accounted for in many countries of the world and is a great motivation for kids to play, learn and laugh! I decided to create educational and interdisciplinary actions revolving around pumpkins, the main theme of Halloween.

Firstly you can show your kids a Halloween pumpkin which can initiate them into the whole theme:

•         What is it?

•         Why do we sculpt them in face like figurines?

•         When do we use pumpkins like this?

•         How is the celebration called?

•         Which is the history of the celebration?

•         Where can we find information about Halloween?

You may search with the kids in the internet about Halloween and its history. You can show pictures, videos or you may read to them details concerning the celebration.

Firstly, Mr. Pumpkin will present himself and then show to the kids his home. And which is his home??? The paintings of  Yayoi  Kusama. 

12 

3

Then you can show the above paintings to your kids so as to discuss about the painter's work:

•         What is presented?

•         What are the colors of  the paintings?

•         Which painting technique has Yayoi Kusama used to create her paintings?

The painter is influenced by her family work who used to crop pumpkins and the painting technique which  she used is pointilism.

•       Can we draw as Yayoi Kusama?

Mr. Pumpkin may suggest kids draw pumpkins like those in his house. You can give to the children a coloring page pumpkin and can ask them to paint it with a cottony and tempera colors. They will probably adore this activity.

But Mr. Pumpkin wants to return to his home. A witch has poured curse to his village so Mr. Pumpkin needs help to overcome the witch's obstacles. Can we help him? Of course!

The first test that toddlers need to front so as to arrive to the first painting, is the broken bridge. The broken bridge consists of pumpkins which  miss the inside part, a shape. The children should find and put the right shape to cross the bridge.

 

When kids overcome the activity, they should carry out the next test to go to the second painting. As the kids with Mr. Pumpkin are walking, they found a door which is the entrance for the painting but the witch has put a password! The toddlers need to put the letters into the right order so as to make the word pumpkin!

Finally as far as the last test is concerned the kids arrived in a field full of transformed pumpkins. The children should dance the musical pumpkins to break the curse. Each child can stand near a pumpkin. When the music starts, the kids dance in Halloween's rhythms whereas when it stops the kids return to their pumpkin. You can take away a pumpkin each time the music stops whoever child fails to get back to his pumpkin is eliminated. The game is repeated until only one player remains.

And yes you did it!!! You won the witch and you brought Mr. Pumpkin back to his home!! You may find the treasure of the witch (only treats)!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!