Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater: Using the Nursery Rhyme in Preschool Lesson Plans

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her.
He put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her very well.

Using Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater in Preschool Lesson Plans: In and Out

The nursery rhyme Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater provides an excellent opportunity to teach preschool students about the concepts of in and out. Remember, Peter put his wife in a pumpkin shell.

Prior to class, cut off the top of a pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. During circle time or small group time, set the pumpkin and a small plastic doll in front of you. Recite the Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater nursery rhyme, putting the doll in the pumpkin as you say the line, "He put her in a pumpkin shell." Then tell your students that you are taking Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater's wife out of the shell as you take her out. Pass the pumpkin and the doll around the circle, letting your preschool students take turns reciting the poem and putting Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater's in the pumpkin shell.

Carry this lesson further by having your students put the doll in other objects such as boxes and cans. Encourage them to say the words in and out as they demonstrate the concepts.

Using Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater in Preschool Lesson Plans: Pumpkin Snacks

There are several delicious pumpkin snacks that you can serve your students as part of a Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater theme. Here are some ideas:

-roasted pumpkin seeds
-pumpkin pie
-pumpkin cake
-pumpkin muffins
-sugar cookies shaped like pumpkins and frosted with orange icing

Using Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater in Preschool Lesson Plans: Orange

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater's wife in the pumpkin shell: Give your students each a sheet of white paper with a pumpkin shape drawn on it. Let them cut out the pumpkin shapes and then finger paint them with orange finger paint. (To add to the sensory effect, put some orange flavored Kool-Aid mix in the orange finger paint.) When the finger paint has dried, help your students cut a square in the center of each pumpkin. Give each of your preschool students a large sheet of black or blue construction paper and instruct them to glue the orange pumpkin on in. Then have them cut photos of women out of old magazines and glue one in each pumpkin window.

Using Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater in Preschool Lesson Plans: Gourds

Explain to your preschool students that pumpkins are gourds. Discuss characteristics of gourds. Let your students look at pictures of gourds. Set out a collection of several pictures from old magazines. The pictures should be of gourds and things that are not gourds such as corn, bananas and green beans. Make a chart with the word Gourd on one half and the words Not Gourds on the other half. Let your students work together to glue the pictures of gourds and the pictures of not gourds on the correct sides of the chart.