Pumpkin Jack Rotting Science Experiment and Decomposition

Who is Pumpkin Jack? If you have ever carved a pumpkin, you may already know what time has in store for it. Your awesome Jack O’Lantern will soon begin to rot.

Have you ever read Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell? It’s a sweet story of a boy and his pumpkin and what he discovers about it. Well, this year, we specifically planned to carve our own Pumpkin Jack and look at the rotting science process which is awesome science for kids.

PUMPKIN JACK ROTTING SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

HALLOWEEN ROTTING SCIENCE

We had so much fun combining this awesome Fall/pumpkin book with a simple rotting science activity. We purposefully carved a Jack O’Lantern early this year. It hasn’t even been a week yet, but our pumpkin jack started to grow mold within a couple of days. Very exciting to check the changes every day

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Real Pumpkin STEM Activities

Grab a copy of Pumpkin Jack and get started. We will be tracking this rotting science experiment throughout the year, so be sure to check back and see our results. We will follow along with the story and see what happens.

SUPPLIES

• The book: Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell
• A carved Jack O’Lantern
• Magnifying Glass,
• Tray
• Disposable Gloves {optional for after he starts to rot}

After you carve your pumpkin, check out these two fun pumpkin activities that use the insides! Set up a pumpkin investigation tray and make a pumpkin sensory bag!

Looking for easy to print activities? 

We have you covered…

—>>> FREE Pumpkin Science Activities

Make sure to read this delightful and classic fall pumpkin book with the kids! I love how it puts a fun story behind this cool rotten science activity!

SIMPLE PUMPKIN SCIENCE TO EXPLORE

We left our carved pumpkin out on the front porch and checked on him every day. Throughout this past week, we have noted the mold growing. He’s growing fur was my son’s reaction. We could also feel him softening. We have observed him flattening out a bit too.

EXAMINE THE MOLD!

Pull out disposable gloves, a magnifying glass, and tweezers. Check out the mold.

Why does mold grow? The carved areas of the pumpkin are quickly susceptible to mold due to increased moisture and a good surface! Mold is actually a fungus but not the kind you want to eat!

Mold spores are very {microscopic} tiny, but when enough grow together, the mold can appear to look blue, black, or green. We had a package of mushrooms, so I showed my son an edible fungus!

EXPLORE DECOMPOSITION

Kids can also explore the process of decomposition or the breaking down of materials (the pumpkin)! Decomposition is all about rotting and decay. The pumpkin’s cells (every living thing is made up of them), will break down over time and especially once you have opened up the pumpkin. Mold and bacteria along with other organisms like worms go to work on the pumpkin!

If you toss Jack into your compost pile, he will eventually decay and become compost!

 

My kiddo is not a fan of mold…

 

STUDY THE LIFE CYCLE OF A PUMPKIN AND EXPLORE THE GUTS TOO!

From seed to pumpkin and back again. Make sure to investigate the different parts of the pumpkin before you set Pumpkin Jack out to rot. Check out a simple investigation tray set up or our pumpkin unit for additional ideas.

OBSERVE THE CHANGING SEASONS OF PUMPKIN JACK

We went through the book and talked about the changes we might see in Pumpkin Jack through the next few seasons. Of course, we are in Fall now, so we have a ways to go. My hope is to come back and post a new photo each season of our Pumpkin Jack and hopefully by next Fall have a whole new crop!

{Update: no luck growing a pumpkin yet. Maybe this is the year}. Make sure to take pictures and hopefully you will have a new pumpkin to start over with again.

**NOTE: I think squirrels ate the seeds that we planted. Maybe this year!**

I hope you try out your very own Pumpkin Jack rotting science experiment this Fall!

What will Winter bring for our Pumpkin Jack?

Check out these pumpkin activities for more ideas. Click photos for ideas.