Posted on 19th Sep 2024 | Nicola

Harvest Fun for Kids: Pumpkins, Farming, and Autumn Learning

Visiting the Allotment today to check on the pumpkins and learning about the word ‘harvest’. 

The term ‘harvest’ originates from the Old English word ‘haerfest’, which refers to autumn. It can also signify ‘harvest-time’ and ‘August’. Gradually, ‘harvest’ evolved to represent the act of gathering crops that are ready to eat. 

Fun Facts About Harvest:

What is a Harvest?

  • A harvest is when farmers gather all the ripe fruits and vegetables they’ve grown. It usually happens in the fall when most crops are ready.

Why is Harvest Important?

  • Harvest is important because it’s when we collect food to eat. Without it, we wouldn’t have yummy fruits, veggies, or grains like corn, wheat, and pumpkins.

Harvest Celebrations:

  • Many countries have special celebrations for the harvest, like Thanksgiving in the U.S. and Canada, where people give thanks for the food they’ve gathered.

How Do Farmers Know It’s Time to Harvest?

  • Farmers know it’s time to harvest when the fruits and vegetables are fully grown, ripe, and ready to eat. For example, when corn is golden, or apples turn red, it’s time to pick them!

Tools for Harvest:

  • Farmers use different tools to help them harvest, like tractors, sickles, and baskets to collect the crops.

Fun Facts About Pumpkins:

What are Pumpkins?

  • Pumpkins are big, round fruits with thick orange skin. Even though we think of them as vegetables, they are actually a type of fruit because they have seeds inside!

Pumpkin Plants:

  • Pumpkins grow on long vines that spread out on the ground. A pumpkin starts as a small yellow flower before growing into the large fruit we see in fall.

Pumpkin Colors:

  • Pumpkins are usually orange, but they can also be yellow, white, green, or even blue!

How Big Can Pumpkins Get?

  • Pumpkins can grow to be huge! Some pumpkins can weigh over 1,000 pounds – that’s heavier than a cow!

Pumpkin Seeds:

  • Inside a pumpkin, there are lots of seeds. You can roast them in the oven for a tasty snack.

This morning, we listened attentively to the story ‘The Little Red Hen’ and discussed the concept of harvesting. This prompted an impromptu stroll around the allotment to identify which crops were still awaiting harvest. It was a delightful morning filled with inquiries, responses, and conversations.

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