This fall, make a pumpkin sensory bag for your preschool pumpkin theme! It’s a simple, mess-free way for little hands to explore the inside of a pumpkin and engage in quality sensory play.
Pumpkin Sensory Bag
Sensory play is a huge part of the learning experience for young kids.
💡 Tip: You can draw whatever you want on the front of the bag! Not into Halloween? Draw a pumpkin instead!
Supplies:
- Pumpkin Insides
- Zip Top Gallon Bag
- Tape {optional if you want to reinforce the top}
- Sharpie {optional if you want to draw a face}, and packaging tape {optional if you want to seal top}
How To Make A Pumpkin Sensory Bag
STEP 1. Optional: To start your pumpkin sensory bag, draw a face on your zip-top bag.
STEP 2. Add the insides of your pumpkin!
💡 TIP: This is a great time to talk about parts of a pumpkin if you haven’t already! There is so much opportunity for hands-on learning when you are simply talking with your child while preparing an activity.
STEP 3. Seal the top and you have a pumpkin sensory bag.
If you have a child who is a bit squeamish about slimy feeling materials, this pumpkin sensory bag is a perfect way to explore the pumpkin comfortably! Sensory bags are terrific sensory play ideas.
Manipulating the pumpkin sensory bag with fingers or one finger is also a fine motor activity.
Push the seeds around, separate and count them. Trace letters or trace around the shapes of the face. Hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity are simple fine motor skills used here.
For this fun fall sensory play, you can use a pumpkin of any size. Whether you will carve a pumpkin or simply want to explore its inside, this sensory project is perfect to add to the activity.
💡 Check out more pumpkin projects perfect for kindergarten and preschool-age kids. Of course, you can extend the learning with pumpkin science experiments and pumpkin art activities too!
More Fun Ways To Explore Pumpkins
- Pumpkin Sensory Bin
- Pumpkin Oobleck
- Pumpkin Cloud Dough
- Pumpkin Playdough
- Pumpkin Investigation Tray
- Pumpkin Volcano
Pumpkin Books
These pumpkin-themed books will captivate kindergarteners and preschoolers’ imaginations and excite them about pumpkins and the fall season! I am an Amazon affiliate.
💡 Be sure to take a look at our pumpkin book List with matching activities here.
“Pumpkin, Pumpkin” by Jeanne Titherington
Follow a little boy’s journey as he plants a pumpkin seed, nurtures it as it grows, and watches it transform into a big, orange pumpkin. This book beautifully captures the life cycle of a pumpkin from seed to harvest.
“Too Many Pumpkins” by Linda White
In this fun and colorful story, Rebecca Estelle discovers a bumper crop of pumpkins in her garden after a pumpkin falls off a truck and smashes on her driveway. At first annoyed, she eventually finds creative ways to use her pumpkins with the help of her neighbors.
“The Biggest Pumpkin Ever” by Steven Kroll
Two adorable mice, Clayton and Desmond want to grow the biggest pumpkin ever. Without realizing it, they end up nurturing the same pumpkin vine. This book teaches cooperation and friendship sweetly and engagingly.
“It’s Pumpkin Time!” by Zoe Hall
Follow along as a brother and sister plant, care for, and eventually harvest pumpkins. This book not only covers the growth of pumpkins but also includes a simple pumpkin recipe at the end for some hands-on fun.
“Five Little Pumpkins” by Dan Yaccarino
This classic counting rhyme comes to life with colorful illustrations and playful rhymes. Follow the journey of five little pumpkins as they roll out of sight in this engaging and interactive book.
Free Pumpkin Playdough Mats
Pair these free playdough mats with our pumpkin playdough recipe to extend the sensory fun!
Printable Pumpkin Preschool Pack
Need a younger version of our Pumpkin STEM Project Pack? Perfect for older toddlers and preschoolers to explore pumpkins this fall season. 14+ Pumpkin theme activities include instructions, templates, and a great book list.
Or grab our Preschool Themes Bundle with 20 themed packs.
