
Alyssa
Harris,
math
resource
teacher
at
Featherstone
Elementary
School,
had
a
special
treat
for
students
with
pumpkin
math
day.
Students
worked
on
increasingly
difficult
math
problems
based
on
their
grade
levels.
Some
of
the
concepts
students
worked
on
included
estimation
and
number
sense,
addition,
subtraction,
multiplication,
and
division.
Students
were
asked
to
guess
how
many
seeds
were
in
the
pumpkin,
and
then
produced
a
new
estimate
once
the
top
of
the
pumpkin
was
cut
off
and
they
could
see
inside.
Students
also
estimated
and
measured
the
circumference
of
pumpkins
in
inches.
Harris
posed
a
ratio
table
number
sense
problem
about
how
much
the
pumpkins
cost.
For
example,
two
pumpkins
cost
$10,
how
much
for
four,
eight,
10,
and
so
on.
Using
everyday
items
such
as
pumpkins
and
seeds
helps
students
see
the
relevance
of
math
in
their
everyday
lives.
and
engages
them
in
mathematical
thinking
through
activities
they
enjoy.
"When
students
are
enjoying
what
they
are
doing,
their
confidence
increases
and
they
are
more
willing
to
take
risks
and
try
more
difficult
math,"
shared
Harris.