Pumpkin STEAM Activities for Kids: Hands-On Halloween Fun
- Amy
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Halloween is the perfect time to mix spooky fun with hands-on learning! Pumpkins are more than decorations — they are a perfect tool for Pumpkin STEAM activities for kids, offering opportunities to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math in a fun, seasonal way.
In this post, you’ll find pumpkin-themed STEAM activities for kids that are easy, engaging, and can be done at home or in classrooms. Plus, we’ve included links to our favorite materials so you can grab all the supplies you need in one click!
Some links in this post are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Science: Plant Your Own Pumpkin Garden
Pumpkins are a fun and engaging way to explore plant biology and see how plants grow over time. Kids can compare the growth of different pumpkin varieties, including Baby Boo, Giant Big Max, Jack Be Little, Jack O’ Lantern, and Sugar Pie. By observing how each seed sprouts, the rate of growth, and differences in leaf and stem development, children can practice scientific observation and data collection, learning firsthand how genetics and environment influence plant growth.
Hands-On Activity: Pumpkin Seed Planting & Journaling
Fill a seed tray with soil.
Plant one of each type of pumpkin seed from the packet in separate sections of the tray.
Create plant markers for each seed so kids can label which variety is in each section — this makes it easy to track growth.
Water gently and place in a sunny spot.
Watch the seeds sprout, and keep a growth journal:
Record days until sprouting
Measure height of each plant weekly
Note leaf size, stem thickness, and any differences in growth
This activity introduces kids to scientific observation, measurement, and data collection, key skills in STEAM learning.
Science Behind Pumpkin Growth
Why do some pumpkins grow bigger than others? It’s all about genetics, environment, and resources:
Genetics: Giant Big Max pumpkins are bred to grow extra large, while Jack Be Little pumpkins remain small.
Sunlight & Water: Plants with more sunlight and adequate water grow faster and produce larger pumpkins.
Soil Nutrients & Space: Rich soil and plenty of room for roots allow pumpkins to reach their maximum potential.
Pollination: Bees transferring pollen between flowers help pumpkins develop fully.
By observing different pumpkin varieties side by side, kids can see how genetics and growing conditions affect plant size, turning a fun Halloween activity into a real science lesson.
Technology: Light Up Your Jack-O’-Lantern with LED Circuits
Bring your jack-o’-lantern to life while teaching kids the basics of electricity and circuitry! This activity uses a simple LED and a coin cell battery to create a safe, glowing pumpkin without candles.
Hands-On Activity: LED Pumpkin Lights
Identify the LED legs: The longer leg is the positive (+) leg, and the shorter leg is the negative (-) leg.
Place the positive leg on the positive side of the coin cell battery and the negative leg on the negative side. This completes the circuit and lights up the LED.
Once the LED is lit, secure the legs with electrical tape so it stays in place.
Insert the LED into your jack-o’-lantern for a glowing effect.
To turn off the light, remove the tape from one side of the battery, breaking the circuit.
Creative Variations
Try different colored LEDs for multi-colored pumpkin lights.
Use a blinking LED for a spooky flicker effect.
Experiment with a color-changing LED to make your pumpkin glow magically.
This project demonstrates a complete circuit, teaching kids polarity, energy flow, and problem-solving, while allowing them to creatively customize their jack-o’-lantern.
Engineering: Launch a Mini Pumpkin with a Trebuchet
Take Halloween fun to the next level by combining engineering and hands-on play! With the Xplorably Build-A-Trebuchet Kit, kids can construct a small trebuchet capable of launching a spooky ball — perfect for learning force, motion, and energy transfer.
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Hands-On Activity: Mini Pumpkin Launch
Build the Xplorably trebuchet according to the instructions.
Use a ping pong ball that looks like a pumpkin as your projectile.
Experiment with different release angles and counterweight positions to see how far your “pumpkin” travels.
Keep a log of each launch — distance, angle, and technique — and try to beat your personal record!
Fun Facts About Pumpkin Chucking
The World Championship Pumpkin Chunkin’ Contest features giant trebuchets that launch real pumpkins over 3,000 feet.
There are multiple categories for pumpkin launching, including air cannons, catapults, and trebuchets.
The largest pumpkins ever launched in competition have weighed over 100 pounds.
The current world record for the longest pumpkin launch using a trebuchet is 3,377 feet! In 2019, the team Colossal Thunder achieved this at the Punkin Chunkin competition in Rantoul, Illinois. That’s almost two-thirds of a mile for one pumpkin!
This activity turns Pumpkin STEAM activities for kids into an exciting lesson in hands-on engineering, giving kids a chance to design, test, and improve their model trebuchet just like real engineers.
Art: Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas
Pumpkins are a blank canvas for creative art projects. There are endless ways to make your pumpkins unique this Halloween:
1. Sticker Faces - Pumpkin STEAM Activity for kids
Decorate pumpkins with stickers for fun, silly, or spooky faces. No carving required.
2. Chalkboard Pumpkins
Spray pumpkins with black chalkboard paint and decorate with colorful chalk markers.
3. Decoupage Pumpkins
Use vintage Halloween decoupage paper and glue for textured, colorful designs
Art Challenge: Host a family pumpkin art show! Everyone uses a different technique, then vote for “Most Creative” or “Spookiest.”
Math: Pumpkin Seed Counting Challenges
Pumpkin seeds make math fun and tactile! Here are a few ways to use them in Pumpkin STEAM activities for kids:
1. Guess How Many
Fill a jar with seeds and have children guess how many are inside before counting.
2. Counting by 5s or 10s
Line up seeds in groups to practice skip counting.
3. Sorting & Graphing
Sort seeds by size or color, then graph the results.
4. Measurement Challenge
Weigh your pumpkin before and after removing seeds — how much do they weigh?
Extension Idea: Compare seed counts across pumpkin varieties to explore patterns and predictions.
Wrap-Up: A STEAM-Powered Halloween
From plant biology to circuitry, engineering design, creative art, and math challenges, pumpkins provide endless opportunities for hands-on learning and fun.
These Pumpkin STEAM activities for kids are affordable, engaging, and educational — perfect for home, classroom, or Halloween parties.
🛒 Start your Pumpkin STEAM adventure today! Share your creations on social media and tag @Xplorably with #PumpkinSTEAM for a chance to be featured!
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we trust and think will help you create fun, hands-on STEAM activities for kids.
