The Witch in the Pumpkin Patch (Sweet Valley Kids)
#73 in Sweet Valley Kids Series
What’s inside...
Young Jessica's class trip to a pumpkin patch is spoiled when Elizabeth and she think they see a witch and decide to revisit the patch at night to find out if it is haunted.
Discussion points
What do you think the witch in the story feels when she meets the kids?
If you were a character in the pumpkin patch, what would you have done differently?
Why do you think the witch chose to live in a pumpkin patch?
How did the story make you feel about witches and why?
What lessons can we learn from how the characters in the book treated each other?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in the story, which enhances empathy and understanding. Discuss the emotions of different characters and relate them to real-life situations, promoting critical thinking. Allow your child to express their opinions about the story and validate their feelings. Connect the story’s lessons to everyday life to make the story more relatable and impactful.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage in facing fears
Explanation: The story illustrates how the characters confront their fears of the unknown when they explore a mysterious pumpkin patch rumored to be inhabited by a witch.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to face their own fears, whether it’s trying out for a sports team, speaking in front of the class, or sleeping alone in the dark.
Example Lesson: Friendship and teamwork
Explanation: The characters work together to uncover the truth about the pumpkin patch, demonstrating how collaboration can help solve problems.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to cooperate with their peers in group tasks at school or in collaborative games.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and exploration
Explanation: The book celebrates curiosity as the children delve into the mystery surrounding the pumpkin patch, showing the joys of discovering new things.
Real-World Application: It inspires children to be inquisitive about the world around them, fostering a lifelong love for learning and exploration.
Example Lesson: Critical thinking
Explanation: As the characters gather clues about the witch, they learn to differentiate between fact and fiction, practicing critical thinking skills.
Real-World Application: This helps children understand the importance of questioning information and not accepting everything they hear as truth, which is a valuable skill in academics and everyday decisions.