Jack-O’Lantern Activity

I always liked enriching my student’s learning with self-checking activities. The students could work on these independently and check their own work. This enabled me to work with students who needed help with other work.

First, I cut a large pumpkin shape out of orange construction paper. I cut out the eyes, nose, and the mouth for make the face. Behind each eye and the mouth, I taped a rectangle shaped paper on three sides to make a pocket that could hold a blank index card. The questions would be on the cards for the eyes and nose and the matching answer could be placed on the mouth.

For math:

Each card could have a number that is placed behind each eye. You can predetermine what operation you want them to work on and place that behind the nose. Students can work out the problem and find the matching answer on another card which is place behind the mouth. Then allow students to check their work using a calculator.

Language arts:

Creating compound words. Write part of a word on each card. Have the first part written on cards in one color. Have the second part written on cards in another color. Students find the compound word on cards written in a third color and place it behind the mouth. Students can check their work using an answer key.

Rhyming words. Write words that rhyme on index cards. Students put the words that rhyme behind the eyes and mouth (and nose if there are more than 3). Number the back of the cards so that all correct answers have the same number.

Categories:

Using 2 sets index cards in 2 different colors. Put one set of words on one color and another set of words on another. Write categories that both words fit into on white index cards. Students put one color card behind one eye and the other color behind the second eye. Then they must find out what they have in common and what category word fits both. Students can check their work using an answer key.

Science/Social Studies:

Definitions of words. Write the definition on the card that will go behind the mouth. Students find the card that holds the word and another card that holds the picture or an example. Number the back of the cards so that all correct answers have the same number. Students can check their work to make sure they have found the correct matching items.

Do you have any other suggestions of activities using this Jack O’Lantern? Please share.