How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? (Mr. Tiffin's Classroom Series)
#1 in Mr. Tiffin'S Classroom Series
What’s inside...
Here is an adorable picture book for curious kids, which explores skip counting and estimation in a fun pumpkin-themed classroom experiment. 'How many seeds are in a pumpkin?' Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. Robert, the biggest kid, guesses that the largest one has a million seeds; Elinor, sounding like she knows what she's talking about, guesses the medium one has 500 seeds; and Anna, who likes even numbers better than odd ones, guesses that the little one has 22. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, doesn't have a guess. Counting pumpkin seeds is messy business, but once the slimy job is done, to everyone's surprise, the smallest pumpkin has the most seeds! As Charlie happily exclaims, 'Small things have a lot going on inside of them.' This book makes a wonderful read-aloud companion to any math or science curriculum, and it's a fun way to reinforce counting skills at home. From the Hardcover edition.
Discussion points
Why do you think Mr. Tiffin asked his class to guess the number of seeds in a pumpkin?
How do the characters in the book help each other during the seed counting project?
What did you learn about pumpkins and their seeds?
Can you think of other ways to estimate or count things in groups like the students did in the book?
How would you feel if you were part of Mr. Tiffin's classroom?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the counting experience in the book to counting objects at home. Ask them to explain their thinking process just like the characters did. Let them draw or write about their favorite part of the story to strengthen their comprehension and personal connection.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Counting and number skills
Explanation: Through Charlie's quest to find out how many seeds are in a pumpkin, children get introduced to mathematical skills such as counting, estimation, and multiplication.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these mathematical concepts in their everyday activities such as counting items, understanding quantities, or during shopping trips with parents when estimating cost or quantity of products.
Example Lesson: Scientific observation
Explanation: The book encourages children to explore scientific methods like observing and classifying through the activity of sorting pumpkin seeds.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to engage in scientific exploration by observing nature, collecting leaves, stones, or other natural objects and classifying them based on different criteria.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and cooperation
Explanation: Throughout the story, the children in Mr. Tiffin’s class work together to count the seeds in different pumpkins, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative effort.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the importance of teamwork in achieving a common goal, which can be applied in group projects at school or in collaborative games and sports.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: Charlie uses different strategies to approach the problem of estimating seeds in a pumpkin, illustrating a problem-solving mindset.
Real-World Application: Children learn to think critically and try various methods to solve problems, whether it's in their studies, puzzles, or interpersonal conflicts.
Example Lesson: Diversity and inclusion
Explanation: The book subtly teaches that appearances don’t always predict outcomes, as the smallest pumpkin had the most seeds, which can be a metaphor for valuing diversity and not underestimating others.
Real-World Application: This can help children understand the importance of inclusivity and respecting differences among their peers, fostering a more accepting and diverse environment.