Free printable Multicultural Lesson Plans: books, coloring pages, crafts, snacks from around the world

 Hello my Omschooligans! Here at the Omschool Tree Fort, we're setting sail on an adventure around the world, by exploring children's literature, foods and customs from many lands. Here's a cross-curricular multicultural unit of world lesson plans. I've included free printable coloring pages, craft projects, STEAM connections, recipes for snack crafts and more. Make social studies come alive with these global activities. 

Free Printable Around the World Coloring Pages

• Visit Activity Village free printable social studies coloring pages. Print pictures of landmarks, games, crafts, post cards, maps and flags from around the world. Use these as culture studies worksheets. Get free printable coloring pages of children around the world in native dress and traditional costumes: explore cultures from Australia, India, China, Japan, Africa, England, Russia, South Africa, Africa, Scotland, New Zealand, Brazil and Wales. There are also free printable coloring pages of pilgrim (or puritan) children, Ancient Egyptian, native American Indian and settler (also called pioneer) children in traditional dress.

  🎨 Historical Note:

  Coloring pages featuring cartoon children in traditional costumes may be more fanciful, but the dress itself is authentic. These world coloring pages imitate vintage images from old coloring books that reflect how children would have historically dressed for ceremonies. So value-added are history activities too! 

• Raising our Kids has a free printable children around the world coloring pages. Children are shown in rural village settings often with animals from that habitat or locality. They sometimes shown performing traditional activities such as yodeling or interacting with regional foods, such as the boy from the Netherlands delivering rounds of edam cheese. Encourage children to identify and label elements shown in the pictures while coloring. 
• Edupics is a giant repository for printable coloring pages. Here are more free printable children pages of children around the world in traditional costumes. Some are misrepresentational or stereotyped and should not be used. But the resource may be of some value in the dress images. 

• ⚠️ Important Note on Depiction & Stereotypes:

  Older or vintage visual resources can sometimes rely on generalized, tokenistic, or culturally stereotyped representations. Educators should carefully review resources—such as essentially unfiltered archives like Edupics Children of the World—to ensure materials are respectful, accurate, and free from outdated caricatures before using them in lesson plans. 

• DL-TK has tons of free printable children around the world crafts, games and activities. Activities are grouped by country of origin. 

Children's literature from around the world

Read around the world to visit children in other lands and experience their lifestyles, religion and culture. Many of these children's literature kids books are Caldecott Medal recipients. This means that they have been recognized for their art and illustrations. Typically a Caldecott winner depicts lifestyles of children around the world.Here is a breakdown of the classic children's stories featured in your multicultural unit list:

African Folktales & Traditions

• Shadow by Marcia Brown: Set in Central Africa, this Caldecott-winning book uses striking, dramatic imagery and folklore to personify the spirit of the night, or "shadow," as it follows villagers around the African landscape.

• Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions by Leo and Diane Dillon: A Caldecott Medalist that presents a journey across the African continent, highlighting the diverse customs, traditions, and artifacts of 26 different tribal populations.

• Moja Means One and Jambo Means Hello by Tom and Muriel Feelings: Conceptual counting and alphabet books that immerse young readers in East Africa's Swahili-speaking culture, beautifully capturing daily village life.

• Verna Aardema's Collections:

  • A Story, A Story: An African trickster tale about Anansi the Spider bargaining with the Sky God for stories.

  • Koi and the Kola Nuts: A classic folktale about a chief's son who shares his food with animals and is rewarded on his journey.

  • What's So Funny, Ketu?: A humorous tale about a man who gains the ability to understand animal speech, only to find it brings unexpected trouble.

  • Bringing Rain to the Kapiti Plain: A cumulative poem explaining a Masai tale of how a drought was broken on the East African plains.

  • Vigananee and the Tree Toad: A traditional Zulu folktale about a greedy monster and a clever little toad.

  • Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African explanatory folktale detailing how a chain reaction of silly animal exaggerations leads to a tragic event and why mosquitoes buzz.

Asian Literature

• The Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel: A Japanese folktale about a cheerful woman who chases a runaway rice dumpling down a subterranean hole and encounters underground spirits (oni).

• The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack: A beloved classic about a young duck living on a Yangtze River houseboat in Shanghai, China, who gets left behind and must find his way back to his family.

• Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth: A contemporary picture book featuring a wise giant panda named Stillwater who moves to a suburban neighborhood and teaches three children mindfulness and traditional Zen Buddhist parables.

• Buddha Stories by Demi: A collection of Jataka tales and traditional parables that introduce young readers to the life, wisdom, and moral teachings of the Buddha.

• Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling: A classic, dramatic adventure story set in a colonial Indian bungalow, featuring a heroic mongoose who defends a human family from venomous cobras.

• Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho: A gentle, rhythmic bedtime story where a mother asks various Thai jungle animals (like lizards, monkeys, and water buffaloes) to stay quiet so her baby can sleep.

North American Landscapes & Traditions

• Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey: A Caldecott-winning poetic tribute to the changing seasons, weather, and coastal beauty of Maine.

• Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling: The journey of a small carved wooden canoe and an Indian boy who sets it afloat in the Canadian wilderness, traveling all the way through the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean.

• Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall: A Caldecott Medal-winning depiction of early 19th-century rural life in the American Midwest, following a farmer's yearly cycle of work, harvest, and market.

• The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton: A Caldecott winner that chronicles the changing American landscape as a quiet countryside home is gradually surrounded and engulfed by a growing city.

• An American ABC by Maud and Miska Petersham: An alphabetic journey through American history, folklore, symbols, and foundational figures.

• The Legend of the Poinsettia and The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie dePaola: Warm, beautifully illustrated stories celebrating Mexican cultural traditions, folklore, and holiday celebrations.

• Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi: A story about a young boy named Juan who eagerly awaits the return of the swallows to the historic mission of San Juan Capistrano in California.

• Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets: A story capturing a little Mexican girl's excitement about participating in her very first posada celebration during the Christmas season.

European Tales & Traditions

• The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse: A magical, wordless-style photographic story from France about a lonely Parisian boy and his loyal, sentient red balloon.

• Anatole and the Cat by Eve Titus: A charming story featuring Anatole, a sophisticated French mouse who works as a cheese taster in Paris and must outsmart the local feline population.

• Baboushka and the Three Kings by Ruth Robbins: A traditional Russian folktale about an old woman who hesitates to join the Wise Men in searching for the baby Jesus and spends each year searching for Him still.

• The Tree by Katherine Milhous: A Caldecott-winning story about a Pennsylvania Dutch family celebrating an old Easter tradition of decorating a special tree in their yard.

• Wheel on the Chimney by Margaret Wise Brown: A migration story following storks as they journey from their winter home in Africa to an old chimney on a farmhouse in Holland.

• Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges: A classic retelling of the English legend of St. George, complete with medieval romance, peril, and a fearsome dragon.

• Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola: A humorous story set in Italy about a magical grandmotherly witch and her clumsy assistant, Big Anthony, who tries to use her magic pasta pot with disastrous results.

• Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback: A vibrant, Caldecott-winning adaptation of a traditional Yiddish folk song about a resourceful tailor who continually refashions a worn-out coat into smaller and smaller garments.

South American Stories

• Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood: Set in Cateura, Paraguay, a town built on a landfill, this inspiring true story follows children who build musical instruments out of trash and form an orchestra, teaching powerful lessons about resourcefulness, hope, and creativity.

• Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia by Jeanette Winter: A heartwarming look at a schoolteacher who packs two donkeys with books to travel across rural Colombia, bringing reading and stories directly to children in remote villages.

The Middle East

• Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad by James Rumford: A moving picture book about a young boy growing up in Baghdad who finds comfort, history, and emotional escape through the traditional art of Arabic calligraphy amidst the turmoil of war.

• The Persian Cinderella by Shirley Climo: A vibrant, culturally rich retelling of the Cinderella tale set in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran), featuring unique folklore elements like a magical blue jug and clever animal helpers.

Central Asia Tales

• Tales Told in Tents: Stories from Central Asia by Sally Pomme Clayton: A wonderful collection of traditional stories, fables, and riddles gathered from various parts of Central Asia. It includes engaging retold folktales (such as tales from Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan) that introduce young readers to the region's rich nomadic heritage, desert landscapes, and cultural values. 

• Orange and Blue: The World of Barzu by Marina Abrams: Set in Tajikistan, this visually striking picture book follows a young boy named Barzu as he helps deliver a traditional clay bread oven (tanoor) to his grandmother. It offers children an authentic, beautifully illustrated look at daily life, family roles, and traditional flatbread (non) making in Central Asia.

• We’re Riding on a Caravan: An Adventure on the Silk Road by Laurie Krebs: This rhyming picture book takes young readers on an adventurous journey following a family traveling along the historic Silk Road—stretching from Xi'an all the way to the bustling markets of Kashgar in western China/Central Asia—giving kids a vivid feel for caravan travel, textiles, and trading culture.

Oceana Stories for Kids

• The Emperor's Egg by Jane Chapman: Set against the icy, freezing backdrop of Antarctica, this heartwarming picture book follows a male Emperor penguin as he lovingly and carefully balances his precious, single egg on his feet through the harsh winter, offering a wonderful look at animal fathers and polar survival.

• Tacky in Trouble by Helen Lester: Set in the icy landscape of Antarctica, this delightful and humorous tale features the delightfully odd penguin Tacky, who manages to stand out among his neat-feathered penguin peers and finds himself in a sticky situation when hunters arrive, teaching young readers about individuality and being comfortable in your own skin.

• Possum Magic by Mem Fox: A beloved Australian classic about a grandmother possum who uses bush magic to make her grandchild, Hush, invisible for protection. When it's time to make her visible again, they have to travel all across Australia eating iconic Aussie foods like lamingtons, pavlova, and minties.

• Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French: A hilarious, deadpan look at the daily life of a remarkably busy Australian wombat who spends her time sleeping, eating grass, and training her human neighbors to provide carrots and oats.

• Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan: A classic, rhythmic cumulative tale where a dingo catches a wombat to make a stew, but all the other clever Australian animals step in with bizarre "ingredients" of their own to save their friend.

• The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith: A massively popular and utterly silly New Zealand picture book about a donkey with three legs, one eye, a love for country music, and a very funny name that never fails to get kids giggling.

Multicultural Snack Crafts for Story Time

Here is a fun list of 8 multicultural snack crafts tailored to match the regions in your global unit. Each one doubles as an easy, hands-on craft activity and a tasty treat for kids:

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1. Africa: Safari Animal Peanut Butter Toast

• Region: Africa

• Snack Craft: Use whole wheat toast as a base, spread peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter), and let kids use banana slices, raisins, and pretzel sticks to create the faces of African savanna animals like lions, giraffes, or elephants.

2. Asia: Panda Rice Cake Bites

• Region: Asia (linking to stories like The Story about Ping or Zen Shorts)

• Snack Craft: Take a round brown rice cake, spread a thin layer of cream cheese or yogurt, and use blueberries or chocolate chips to create a cute panda face (ears, eyes, and a nose).

3. North America: Log Cabin Pretzel Sticks

• Region: North America (inspired by pioneer and frontier tales like Ox-Cart Man)

• Snack Craft: Give kids pretzel sticks and use cream cheese or peanut butter as "mortar" on a paper plate to stack the pretzels into miniature log cabins or rustic fences.

4. Europe: Pretzel Windmill Towers

• Region: Europe (pairing with Dutch tales like Wheel on the Chimney)

• Snack Craft: Use a thick cheese stick or banana half upright on a plate, and attach pretzel twists using peanut butter or cream cheese to form the classic sails of a European windmill.

5. South America: Recycled Orchestra Fruit Skewers

• Region: South America (inspired by Ada's Violin)

• Snack Craft: Teach resourcefulness by letting kids "recycle" and arrange colorful bits of tropical fruit (like pineapple, mango, and kiwi) onto pretzel sticks or bamboo skewers to look like bright musical notes or instruments.

6. The Middle East: Crescent Moon Pita Pockets

• Region: Middle East (tying into desert tales and folklore)

• Snack Craft: Cut pita bread into crescent moon shapes, toast them lightly, and let kids stuff them with hummus, cucumber slices, or cream cheese and dates.

7. Central Asia: Silk Road Trail Mix Packets

• Region: Central Asia (matching Silk Road journeys)

• Snack Craft: Set out bowls of traditional trade items like dried apricots, raisins, almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. Let kids scoop and mix their own custom "caravan trader" snack bags to take on their reading adventures.

8. Oceania (Australia/Antarctica): Lamington Bites or "Wombat Burrows"

• Region: Oceania (pairing with Possum Magic or Diary of a Wombat)

• Snack Craft: Take small cubes of pound cake, dip them briefly in chocolate sauce or melted chocolate, and roll them in shredded coconut to recreate Australia's famous Lamington treat, or build edible "wombat burrows" using graham crackers and peanut butter.

Pumpkin themed lesson plans: free printable pumpkin stencils, STEAM activities, recipes and reading games

Hello my Omschooligans! Teacher Omi of the Omschool Tree Fort here with a whole harvest of pumpkin-themed fall lesson plans, craft projects, recipes and activities with pumpkins! I've got pumpkin math games, free printable pumpkin carving stencils for STEAM lessons, pumpkin snack crafts and science activities and more! 

🌍 A Message From Our Earth:

Pumpkin carving is lots of fun. But it also creates an enormous amount of food waste. In the US, around 1.5 billion pumpkins and gourds go in the trash. So keep reading for ways to enjoy pumpkin carving in more sustainable ways!

Pumpkin Carving STEAM Lesson Plans 

Carving pumpkins addresses a plethora of learning objectives, particularly for pre-K students. In a hands-on Montessori way, children learn eye-hand coordination, measurement, design, fine motor skills and even some basic drafting skills. Here are top websites offering extensive collections of free printable pumpkin carving stencils and patterns which you can use in the more sustainable carving alternatives, too. 

• The Pumpkin Lady: Features a library of nearly 1,000 free, handcrafted PDF stencils sorted across 16 categories, including classic jack-o'-lanterns, pop culture/celebrity portraits, animals, and faith-based designs.

• HGTV: Offers over 100 beginner- and kid-friendly templates, including dinosaurs, unicorns, haunted houses, and classic spooky shapes.

• Monday Mandala: Provides high-resolution PDF printables ranging from popular characters (like Bluey, Minecraft, and superheroes) to classic horror themes and simple shapes.

• Woman's Day: Includes a curated gallery of 60 free printable stencils with options ranging from simple faces to intricate fall-themed patterns like sunflowers and ravens.

• Homemade Gifts Made Easy: Features 75 printable PDF patterns organized by difficulty level, covering fairies, zombies, witches, and classic jack-o'-lantern expressions. 

Pumpkin carving tools you'll need

Check Amazon and Walmart for kid-friendly versions of cooking utensils. 

• Grapefruit knife. This is a paring knife with serrated edges on both sides. 
• Serrated grapefruit spoon. This spoon has a jagged edge along the top and makes gutting pumpkins easier.
• Vegetable peeler set. This is for paring down parts of the pumpkin skin to make contrasting color patterns. Look for parers/peelers with multiple functions. You might also use vegetable "stripers" such as those used in sushi prep. 
• Metal cookie cutters--the outline kind that are hollow in the middle. Flat plastic cookie cutters won't work to cut but can be used as templates. 
• hammer or wooden mallet (lightweight)
• large metal spoons for scraping insides and gutting pumpkin
• sturdy plastic knife for trimming off ragged edges. 
• medium pumpkin or gourd, one per person. 
• paper to design pumpkin pattern
• printable pumpkin patterns
• permanent marker or paint pen to draw designs 

To carve pumpkins with cookie cutters:

You can do this as a group project but it works better if each student has her own pumpkin. 

• Clean pumpkin.
• wipe outside and dry
• cut a circle around the stem to remove stem and slice off pithy part. Save this piece.
• gut pumpkin using grapefruit spoons and large metal spoons. 
• Have students design their pumpkin patterns or choose from one of the printable pumpkin stencils. 
• Align metal cookie cutter on pumpkin exterior.
• Gently tap edges of cookie cutter with hammer to press into pumpkin.
• Remove cutout piece.
• If cookie cutter doesn't go all the way through, use plastic knife to finish cutting along pattern lines, through to the inside. 
• Save pumpkin membrane and carved out pieces. 

To carve pumpkins with grapefruit knife and/or potato peeler:

• Print pumpkin stencil and cut out black parts (this is what you'll carve away)
• Trace printable pumpkin pattern on pumpkin using paint pen or permanent marker. 
• Use grapefruit knife to carefully carve out design.
• Or peel off top orange layer of pumpkin skin along design pattern. Yellow rind will show through.
• Use curved end to dig out small areas of pumpkin rind. The deeper you pare, the thinner the rind and the more light will show through.

🎃

Teacher Omi's Jack-o'-Lantern Carving Pro-Tips

Place a wax votive or battery-operated candle in your pumpkin and display!

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Remember when carving pumpkins:

• Work outside for easier cleanup and mess containment
• Supervise children using sharp tools
• Wear old clothing
• Leave pumpkin guts for squirrels

Sustainable Halloween Fun

The science behind Halloween unsustainability

In the United States alone, approximately 1 to 1.5 billion individual pumpkins and decorative gourds are grown each year specifically for carving, fall displays, and ornamental decoration. And most all go into landfills on Nov. 1. 

Key USDA & Agricultural Statistics:

• Total Annual Production: According to the USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. farmers harvest 1.44 to 1.58 billion pounds of pumpkins annually across nearly 69,000 acres. This translates to over 1.5 to 2 billion individual pumpkins.

• Fresh Market (Decorative) pumpkins vs. Processing (Canned):

  • Over 15,000 U.S. farms grow fresh-market decorative pumpkins, compared to fewer than 1,000 farms that grow processing pumpkins for food.

  • Outside of Illinois (which produces the majority of canned pumpkin puree), top-producing states like Indiana, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New York produce almost exclusively fresh-market decorative pumpkins and ornamental gourds.

• Jack-o'-Lantern Specialties: Over 500 million pounds of Howden pumpkins—the standard orange jack-o'-lantern variety—are harvested every year solely for carving and decoration.

• Post-Holiday Waste: Because most decorative pumpkins are carved or left outside as porch decor, the vast majority end up in municipal waste streams or composting programs after Halloween rather than being eaten. 

  
  
  

Reusable Edible Alternative Carve-ables

In my world, food is grown to eat, not to decorate and discard. Here are some pumpkin and gourd alternatives to carve and then use in recipes! 

• Pie Pumpkins: these are smaller and can be carved using the peeler method. Or use removable  pumpkin stickers. Then after Trick-or-Treat, fully pare them and cook to make your own pumpkin pie ready puree. 
• Apple-lanterns: Using an apple corer, remove core and insert a solar candle. Solar is the way to go in sustainable outdoor lighting. Add little faces. After Halloween, rinse, cook down and make yummy Happylesauce! 
  🍏🎃

  Sugar-Free Halloween Happylesauce

  Naturally sweet, warm-spiced homemade applesauce—no added sugar needed! Perfect hands-on Omschool fall activity for all ages! 

  ⏱️ Prep: 15 mins🔥 Cook: 20 mins🥣 Yield: 4–6 servings

  🎃 Zero-Waste Halloween Tip: Perfect for turning post-Halloween "Apple-Lanterns" into a delicious treat! Just trim away any charred or candle-exposed bits, rinse well, and cook them down into fresh Happylesauce.

  Ingredients

  • 3 lbs sweet-tart to tart apples (such as Macintosh, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonamac), cored (from life as a Halloween decoration!) 
  • 1 cup water (or unsweetened apple juice)
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp ground cloves
  • ⅛ tsp ground allspice
  • Optional: fresh cranberries or raisins

  Instructions

  1. Prep Apples: Core and cut apples into 1-inch pieces. (Peeling is optional; leaving skins on adds extra color, fiber, and nutrients).
  2. Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped apples, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. Stir well.
  3. Simmer: Cover and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft and tender.
  4. Mill and mash: Remove from heat.
     • For Chunky Happylesauce: Press through an apple mill to remove skins
     • For smooth, blend till chunks are broken down. 
  5. Serve & Store: Enjoy warm or chill in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
  6. Bonus Happy: Package in resealable containers decorated with pine cones or cinnamon sticks. Share with the neighbors! 
  
  
• Squash. Not all gourds are decorative. Most squash can be eaten. Look for butternut, buttercup, sweet dumpling and acorn squash. If you use for decorating, wipe them with a coating of oil to preserve. Acorn squash make the cutest little heart shaped jack-o-lanterns, carved with a tea light inside.  And then they make a yummy  dinner stuffed with sausage, apples and spices. 
• Turk's Turban Squash. Listing these separately because they actually look already like a face with a hat. All you have to do is carve out a little tope, insert your tea light, add some features and you have your jack-o-lantern. 
  
  
  
• Potatoes and sweet potatoes.
• Daikon radish. These long tubular radishes can be carved to look like ghosts and then eaten like mashed  potatoes. 
• Watermelon, honeydew or cantaloupe.  Not just for summer, melons can be cut down to the rind, to remove (and eat) the fruit, then carved as you would a pumpkin. 

Pumpkin themed snack crafts and treats

1. Clementine "Little Jack" Oranges

• Ingredients: Clementines or mandarins, black edible food marker (or permanent marker if peeling before eating).

• How to Make:

  1. Hand kids a clementine and an edible ink marker.

  2. Let them draw jack-o'-lantern faces—triangle eyes, toothy grins, or silly expressions—directly on the peel.

  3. Optionally, insert a tiny piece of celery stick into the top center to act as a pumpkin stem.

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2. Rice Krispie Treat Jack-o'-Lanterns

• Ingredients: Premade Rice Krispie treats (or a homemade batch dyed orange with food coloring), green M&Ms or green pull-and-peel licorice, mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel.

• How to Make:

  1. Have kids gently roll and shape a pre-made Rice Krispie treat into a round ball.

  2. Press a green M&M or a small piece of green licorice into the top for the stem.

  3. Use mini chocolate chips (pressed tip-down into the treat) or black decorating gel to construct eyes, nose, and a smile.

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3. Jack-o'-Lantern Rice Cake / Toast Smiles

• Ingredients: Rice cakes or toasted bread slices, orange spread (such as cheddar cheese spread, pumpkin butter, or cream cheese tinted with orange food dye), raisins, chocolate chips, or sliced olives.

• How to Make:

  1. Spread the orange topping evenly across the rice cake or toast to create a blank pumpkin canvas.

  2. Provide small bowls of toppings like raisins, chocolate chips, or olive slices.

  3. Let children arrange the toppings onto the spread to build custom jack-o'-lantern face features.

Free printable Halloween Puzzles and Word Games

🎃 Halloween Word Scramble 🎃

Unscramble the letters to reveal the Halloween words!

1. P M U P N I K — _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. S T O H G — _ _ _ _ _

3. C T W I H — _ _ _ _ _

4. Y A C D N — _ _ _ _ _

5. A C U L A R D — _ _ _ _ _ _ _

6. O S O P Y K — _ _ _ _ _ _

7. L A N T E R N — _ _ _ _ _ _ _

8. T C I R K — _ _ _ _ _

9. T A R E T — _ _ _ _ _

10. A C D O R U L N — _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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🔑 Answer Key

1. PUMPKIN

2. GHOST

3. WITCH

4. CANDY

5. DRACULA

6. SPOOKY

7. LANTERN

8. TRICK

9. TREAT

10. CAULDRON

Printable Fall Harvest Word Search

H  A  R  V  E  S  T  P  U  M  P  K  I  N

O  B  O  U  N  T  Y  A  P  P  L  E  S  M

S  C  A  R  E  C  R  O  W  G  S  F  E  A

U  F  A  L  L  S  Q  U  A  S  H  O  A  I

N  I  S  C  O  R  N  U  C  O  P  I  A  Z

F  E  P  I  E  I  C  I  D  E  R  T  O  E

L  L  A  E  Q  U  I  N  O  X  K  Y  S  L

O  D  R  A  K  E  L  E  A  V  E  S  U  E

W  E  T  C  A  R  T  R  I  D  E  B  N  A

E  R  O  R  C  H  A  R  D  P  I  C  K  S

R  S  O  U  R  A  K  E  T  R  E  E  S  T

Words to find: 

1. Trees
2. Rake
3. Wet
4. Orchard
5. Pick
6. Apples
7. Scarecrow
8. Bounty
9. Fall
10. Squash
11. Leaves
12. Cornucopia
13. Cider
14. Pie
15. Harvest
16. Bounty
17. Flower
18. Pumpkin
19. Field
20. Cart Ride

1. Pumpkin Chemical Eruption (Acid-Base Reaction)

Objective: Explore chemical reactions, gas production, and pressure by creating a foaming eruption inside a pumpkin shell.

Materials:

• 1 small to medium hollowed-out pumpkin (or carved jack-o'-lantern)

• ½ cup baking soda

• 1 cup white vinegar

• 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap

• 5–10 drops food coloring (orange, green, or red)

• Shallow tray or baking dish (to catch overflow)

Steps:

1. Prepare the Base: Place the hollowed pumpkin on a tray. Add ½ cup of baking soda directly to the bottom of the pumpkin.

2. Add the Foaming Agents: Stir in 1 tablespoon of dish soap and a few drops of food coloring into the baking soda.

3. Trigger the Eruption: Pour 1 cup of white vinegar directly into the pumpkin and watch the foam erupt out of the top and carved face features.

The Science:

This experiment demonstrates an acid-base reaction. Vinegar (acetic acid) reacts with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to create carbon dioxide gas ($CO_2$). The dish soap traps the escaping $CO_2$ gas, converting the rapid gas release into a thick, foaming eruption.

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2. Pumpkin-in-a-Pumpkin Germination (Plant Life Cycles & Decomposition)

Objective: Study seed germination and natural composting by transforming a fresh pumpkin into a self-sustaining pot.

Materials:

• 1 small pumpkin

• Potting soil

• Water

• Knife and spoon (for adult setup)

• Spray bottle

Steps:

1. Prep the Shell: Slice off the top off the pumpkin. Leave the seeds, pulp, and guts fully intact inside.

2. Fill with Soil: Fill the interior of the pumpkin with potting soil until it reaches about 1 inch below the rim, lightly covering the loose seeds inside.

3. Moisten and Place: Water the soil thoroughly until damp. Place the pumpkin in a sunny location indoors or outdoors.

4. Observe Growth: Water every 1–2 days with a spray bottle to keep the soil moist. Within 7 to 10 days, pumpkin seeds will begin sprouting through the soil.

The Science:

As the seeds absorb moisture and germinate, the inner flesh of the pumpkin gradually breaks down. Microorganisms decompose the organic pumpkin flesh, releasing essential nutrients (like nitrogen and potassium) directly into the soil to nourish the growing seedlings. Once the outer shell weakens, the entire pumpkin can be planted straight into a garden bed as a biodegradable pot.

Pumpkin Recycling and Composting

Here at the Omschool, we're all about sustainability, recycling and reducing food waste. I'd prefer we not carve them at all, or carve something reusable to eat. If you do carve a jack-o-lantern, consider doing it in such a way that it can be recycled or composted. Or, keep reading for pumpkin-alternative carve-ables. 

• Zoos, Wildlife Sanctuaries, & Nature Centers: Many local zoos, petting farms, and wildlife rehabilitation centers accept leftover pumpkins as nutritional treats or enrichment toys for animals like bears, tortoises, pigs, and deer. For example, institutions like the Detroit Zoo feature annual animal enrichment events, and smaller regional facilities often setup seasonal drop-off bins.

• Livestock Farms & Animal Sanctuaries: Local farms with pigs, goats, cows, sheep, or chickens frequently welcome pumpkin donations. Organizations like Pumpkins for Pigs maintain searchable national directories connecting residents with nearby farms and rescues.

• Municipal & Community Composting Programs: Many city public works departments, county conservation districts, and waste management authorities host post-Halloween drop-off sites or "Pumpkin Smash" collection events to keep organic waste out of landfills.

• Community Gardens & Urban Farms: Local community gardening groups and neighborhood urban agriculture projects accept whole or broken-down pumpkins to enrich their compost bins for spring soil preparation.

• Food Pantries & Food Rescues: If pumpkins are completely uncarved, undamaged, and of an edible culinary variety (such as pie pumpkins or sweet squash), local food banks and organizations like Pumpkins for the People redirect them to feed families in need.

Essential Drop-off Guidelines

• Remove All Non-Organic Materials: Ensure candles, wax, tea lights, toothpick structures, stickers, glitter, and plastic decorations are fully removed.

• Avoid Painted or Treated Pumpkins: Do not donate pumpkins decorated with paint, sealer, bleach, petroleum jelly, or chemicals, as these are toxic to animals and disrupt soil composting.

• Check Acceptability: Most animal organizations strictly accept uncarved pumpkins or only freshly carved jack-o'-lanterns without mold. Always confirm requirements or call ahead before dropping off.

Pumpkin STEAM activities

Pumpkin Counting Board Game

🎃 🌾

Pumpkin Patch Counting Adventure

Count your way from the Barn to the Harvest House! (Spaces 1 to 40)

START

2

3

4 🌾

5

6

7

8

16 🎃

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

17

18 🌾

19

20

21

22

23

24

32

31

30

29

28 🎃

27

26

25

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

FINISH

🌾 Scarecrow Spaces (4 & 18): Stop and count to 10 out loud! | 🎃 Seed Spaces (16 & 28): Take an extra bonus step!

Objective: Be the first player to travel from the Pumpkin Patch Entrance to the Harvest Barn while practicing counting and number recognition.

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Setup & Materials Needed

• Game Board: Print out the game board above.

• Game Tokens: Small pumpkin erasers, buttons, pennies or colored beads (one for each player).

• Dice / Spinner: 1 standard six-sided die (or a 1–3 number spinner for younger children).

• Counting Cards (Optional): Small cards with numbers 1 through 10 or dot patterns for extra practice.

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How to Play

1. Start: Each player places their token at the START space (Pumpkin Patch Entrance).

2. Take Turns: Players take turns rolling the die and counting out loud as they move their token forward that many spaces along the numbered track.

3. Special Spaces:

   • Pumpkin Tile (🎃): Count the total number of seeds on the space and take that many extra steps forward!

   • Scarecrow Tile (🌾): Stop and count to 10 out loud to keep the crows away.

   • Mud Puddle (🌧️): Lose 1 turn while washing off your boots.

4. Winning the Game: The first player to reach the FINISH (Harvest Barn) wins!

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Print & Play Variations

• Pre-K / Kindergarten: Use a 1–3 die or number cards so children focus on one-to-one correspondence for smaller numbers.

• Math Addition Challenge: Have players roll 2 dice, add the numbers together, and move that total number of spaces.

• Print and use this game board which has the numbers out of order. Children must identify which number should be next. This boosts higher order thinking skills of evaluation. 

Fall Harvest Story Time in the Omschool Tree Fort Book Corner

No Omschool lesson plans are complete without a bushel basket of books for story time! And no story time is complete without book-themed snacks. So here are fall and pumpkin themed books to share plus harvest-licious pumpkin cream cheese muffins kids can make themselves. 

🎃

Healthy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Moist, spiced, and naturally sweetened using applesauce or banana!

⏱️ Prep: 15 mins 🔥 Bake: 20 mins 🧁 Yield: 12 muffins

💡 Healthy Oil Swap: Replace traditional vegetable oil with an equal amount (½ cup) of unsweetened applesauce for a classic pumpkin spice taste, or mashed ripe banana for extra natural sweetness and moisture. 

Ingredients

Cream Cheese Swirl: 

• two 8 oz cream cheese packages, softened
• 1 cup sugar (or 1/2 c. maple syrup)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 stick softened butter
• dash of salt

Pumpkin Muffin Batter:

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinnamon + ½ tsp nutmeg + ¼ tsp cloves)
• 2 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling) set aside 1/4 cup for frosting)
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce OR mashed ripe banana
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease with cooking spray.
2. Make Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Divide in half and set two bowls aside.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
4. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk pumpkin puree, applesauce (or mashed banana), brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until fully combined.
5. Combine: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined (do not overmix).
6. Assemble & Swirl: Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups (about ¾ full). Spoon 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture on top of each. Use a toothpick to gently swirl the cream cheese into the batter.
7. Bake: Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin portion comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan before serving.
8. Decorate to look like pumpkin face. Color reserved half of cream cheese filling with canned pumpkin or orange food coloring. Arrange candy corn for eyes and nose and a smile of raisins or chocolate chips.  Use a Rollo candy for pumpkin stem. 

Kids Literature to enjoy with your muffins!

🎃 Pumpkins & Science

• Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell (Ages 4–8) — A young boy watches his carved jack-o'-lantern rot in the garden, sprout seeds in the spring, and grow brand new pumpkins by autumn. Ideal for science lessons on decomposition and plant life cycles.

• How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara (Ages 4–8) — A primary school class estimates and counts pumpkin seeds using skip-counting, estimation, and grouping. Great for STEAM and math activities.

• Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano (Ages 3–7) — A unique square pumpkin embraces his differences and saves the patch during an autumn storm.

• The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll (Ages 4–8) — Two mice secretly tend to the exact same pumpkin, learning to work together to raise a record-breaking giant.

• Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White (Ages 4–8) — When a truck spills pumpkins all over her yard, Rebecca transforms an accidental harvest into a festive community feast.

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🍂 Fall & Harvest

• Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Ages 3–7) — Illustrated with real autumn leaf collages, this book follows the wind blowing leaf critters across fields, orchards, and pumpkin patches.

• Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak (Ages 4–8) — A young child walks through the woods and town, greeting the subtle signs of nature shifting from late summer into cool fall.

• The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger (Ages 4–8) — A gentle story about a lone yellow leaf finding the courage to let go of its branch as the season turns.

• Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson (Ages 3–7) — Fletcher the fox gets worried as his favorite tree loses its leaves, until winter brings a sparkling surprise.

• Apple Harvest by Calvin Harris (Ages 4–7) — A simple non-fiction book introducing young readers to how apples grow, get picked in the fall, and get turned into treats like cider and applesauce.

• Stick Man by Julia Donaldson (Ages 3–7) — Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children, but gets blown away and carried off on a long autumn journey as dogs, swans, and humans try to use him as a twig. 

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👻 Halloween & Trick-or-Treating

• The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams (Ages 3–7) — A classic cumulative read-aloud with interactive sound effects (CLOMP, SHAKE, CLAP) as spooky clothing items follow a brave woman through the woods.

• Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman (Ages 3–8) — A witch grows a pumpkin so massive she can't pull it off the vine, requiring teamwork with a ghost, vampire, mummy, and a clever bat.

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson (Ages 3–7) — A friendly witch invites a dog, bird, and frog onto her broomstick, and her new friends band together when a dragon appears.

• Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds (Ages 4–8) — A humorous, mildly spooky tale about Jasper Rabbit, who suspects the carrots he's been harvesting from Crackenhopper Field are following him around.

• Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell (Ages 3–6) — A playful countdown book where a witch tries to scare ten ghosts out of her haunted house, but the ghosts figure out a trick of their own.

© Omschool Tree Fort

All lesson plans and activities are property of the Omschool and lovingly shared for non-profit educational use and homeschool families. Thank you for respecting that.  💞🥰 Teacher Omi