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| "Deep in the woods in an old white cabin, three friends make their pumpkin soup..." ~Helen Cooper |
This sweet tradebook, Pumpkin Soup,
tells the tale of how three friends, Duck, Cat, and Squirrel, learn to
work together to make their favorite fall dinner. In the elementary
grades, the book lends itself well to teaching process writing and
verbs. Likewise, preschoolers can be introduced to the same topics of
teamwork and friendship that are explored through the text through
various play activities. Young children and adults will both love the
illustrations and this simple story to celebrate the coming of autumn
together.
Ages and Grades: Preschool--First Grade
The Big Picture: Autumn, Teamwork, Friendship
Dictionary: Process, Sequence, Step(s), Pumpkin, Scoff, Trudge, Mutter, Wail
In The Classroom...
- Read aloud Helen Cooper's storybook Pumpkin Soup
- Brainstorm a list using a graphic organizer of all the different foods we eat with pumpkins
- Have students sort out the sequence of steps to making pumpkin soup based on what they heard in the read aloud
- Process Writing Activity (1st Grade): Have students pick one of the pumpkin foods brainstormed, write the sequence (series of steps) of how that food is made, then add illustrations
- Have students identify the verbs the author used throughout the book (e.g. scoff, mutter, trudge) through various vocabulary strategies and activities
- For preschoolers discuss each character's job and how they needed to work as a team to make their pumpkin soup using this free job card printable from Learning Parade
In The Home...
- For little ones set up this sensory table inspired by the book from Frogs, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails.
- Read the further tales of Squirrel, Cat, Duck, and their favorite soup in the companion books Delicious! and A Pipkin of Pepper.
- Make a pipping hot pot of pumpkin soup together as a team at home with this recipe: Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Further Resources...
- Related Lesson: It's Pumpkin Time!
- YouTube Video Read Aloud
- Teacher's Notes for The Pumpkin Soup Trilogy (along with discussion questions)
*CCSS: ELA-Literacy.W.1.5
Lessons by Natalie Grimm © 2014