Halloween activities for kids often include pumpkins, costumes and crafts. This year when you carve a jack-o-lantern from a big orange pumpkin, save the pieces for this fun painting activity.

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There are lots of activities to look forward to during the Halloween season: decorating the front porch; baking special treats; carving a jack-o-lantern from a pumpkin. 

If carving a jack-o-lantern is an annual event at your house or in your classroom, you probably end up with pumpkin pieces in a variety of sizes and shapes: circle, triangle, rectangle. 

The eyes, nose and mouth carved from a pumpkin provide an opportunity for some fun process art.

 Painting with pumpkin stamps

 1. After carving the pumpkin, trim each piece to remove the pulp and create a flat surface to make an effective stamp.

2.  Spread a large piece of brown wrapping paper or cardboard on the work area, outside if weather permits.

With a small group of children, provide enough paper for individual paintings as well as one large sheet for a group activity.

3.  Pour a variety of paint colors into a tray.

If preferred, you can provide a tray for each paint color.

4.  Press a pumpkin piece into the paint and stamp onto the paper.

This is an open-ended art activity, which means kids can explore materials without an expected result. This allows kids to freely engage in the creative process, choosing shapes and colors and making unique designs.

Guide the activity comments about the designs the kids make with the pumpkin pieces.

• You painted a row of red triangles and a row of blue circles.
• What shape are you using now?

Extend the activity with simple challenges.

• Can you use a pumpkin piece like a paintbrush to make the first letter of your name?
• Can you make a face with the stamps?

• Create a simple pattern with 2 pumpkin stamps and ask your child to repeat the pattern.
• Encourage kids to create their own patterns.

Painting with pumpkin pieces is a fun way to extend your pumpkin carving activity. 

Start your new tradition this Halloween!

Things to do with real pumpkins!

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