This activity is perfect for little green fingers and is especially suited to schools who offer "Sustainable Living" as a subject, although it can be done at home as a family project too! To add; this activity also promotes recycling, gives insight into how plants grow and turn into food and it offers the kids the opportunity to enjoy some outdoor fun.

Over the next few weeks I will be bringing you a series of Halloween-themed science experiments and activities to do with students or your own kids at home. Who says Halloween has to be all about dressing up in crazy costumes and Trick-or-Treating? Take advantage of these festivities to introduce some educational fun!

Before I introduce today's lesson, please see some of my previous additions:

• "Blood' Liquid Density - Halloween Science Experiment
• "Brain Surgery" - Halloween Experiment (Learn About Polymer Chains)
• Oozing Jack o' Lantern Experiment And Halloween Effect
• Monster Slime - (Halloween Activity And Science Experiment)
• Sensory Play With Ghost Mud

Today's addition:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Plant Pumpkins In A Pumpkin! 

This activity can be done now, so that by the time you are ready to set up for Halloween, the pumpkin seeds will have already sprouted and the planter can be used as decor (they make excellent center-pieces). Or, you can wait until Halloween is over and use your Jack o' Lantern's as planter in your vegetable garden!

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What you will need:

• Some pumpkins (or some ready made Jack o' Lanterns)
• Carving knife/saw
• Large scoop/spoon
• Potting/seedling soil
• Watering can with water
• GREEN FINGERS!

NB. Please note that adult supervision is required during the slicing/carving of the pumpkins! 

 Instructions:

1. Jack o' Lanterns that are left over from Halloween are perfect for the project and can be reused this way! Alternatively, you can simply just slice the top of your pumpkin off and scoop out the insides, leaving a hollow pumpkin shell.
2. Fill your pumpkin with the soil.
3. Place the pumpkin seeds that you scooped out back into the pumpkin.
4. Add another layer of soil on top of the seeds, about 2 centimeters deep.
5. Water lightly and the wait patiently for them to grow!

* Pumpkins grow best in when they get lots of warm sun. They don't like cold winds and frost! If you live in a very old area, it will be best to keep your seedlings indoors. 

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Remember to water your seedlings often and they will begin to sprout in about 5-10 days.

Over the next few weeks you will notice that your pumpkin planter will start to rot/decay. Once this starts to happen you can dig a hole in the ground and place the whole pumpkin planter with its seedlings into the hole. Cover with some more soil. The pumpkin shell will decay further and in the process it will create a wonderful and natural fertilizer for the new growing pumpkins!

What do vegetables rot/decay?

The process of spoiling is a natural part of the life cycle of all foods, and it's easy to detect by smell, taste, feel, or sight.    When food is harvested, either in the form of vegetables, fruits, or meats (from animals), it becomes detached from the sources that gave it life. In other words, once you pick an apple, it begins to die immediately.Some foods, such as fruits and vegetables, have thick cell walls that keep the food in an edible state for several days or even weeks. Over time, though, those cell walls begin to break down. When this happens, you can feel these fruits and vegetables become less solid. They may also begin to turn colors, smell bad, and taste even worse!  Some of the primary culprits are air, moisture, light, temperature, and microbial growth. When two or more of these culprits get together, they can accelerate the spoiling process even further.  Find out more HERE

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Source Link: http://unschoolingparadise.com/grow-a-pumpkin-plant-with-out-a-traditional-pot-scary-halloween-pumpkin-experiments/

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You can use your pumpkin shells to plant all sorts of vegetables, fruits and flowers! They make colorful garden ornaments and can eventually be used as a natural fertilizer once they start to rot and are placed into the ground. 

Watch this helpful video and learnt o make your own pumpkin planters!

The video source link: See Here 

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Much Love - @sweetpea

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