Great Pumpkin Investigation- Halloween Science Worksheet, Lab, October Activity

Which Pumpkin Will Survive Halloween Night?

Bring some Halloween fun into your science classroom with this engaging Pumpkin Survival Challenge! Students become Pumpkin Survival Scientists and analyze six pumpkins as they face flooding, rolling, decomposition, and an unexpected drop.

Throughout this 40-minute science activity, students calculate density, analyze data, make predictions, interpret experimental results, and use evidence to crown the Ultimate Halloween Survivor.

Best of all? No real pumpkins, messy materials, or special supplies required!

Students Complete 4 Challenges:

• Sink or Float? — Calculate density and predict which pumpkins will float.
• The Great Pumpkin Roll — Analyze shape and stability.
• Race Against Rot — Analyze decomposition data and calculate mass loss.
• The Pumpkin Drop — Use experimental data to predict impact damage.

Students finish by completing a Survival Scorecard and writing a CER to defend which pumpkin has the best chance of surviving Halloween night.

What’s Included:

• Complete student investigation
• 6 pumpkin profiles
• 4 science challenges
• Build the Ultimate Pumpkin extension
• Teacher guide + answer key
• Differentiation ideas
• and more!

Skills Practiced:
Density • Mass & Volume • Percent Calculations • Data Analysis • Scientific Reasoning • Argument from Evidence • CER

Perfect For:
Middle & High School Science • Halloween • October • Fall Science • Sub Plans • Enrichment

Just print, grab calculators, and let the pumpkin competition begin! 🎃

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Thanks for visiting!
Jessica