Books that have rhyme always seem to be so engaging for my students. They hang onto every word, using the rhyme to guess what word will come next. It is always so fun to read these books and hear them call out their guesses. This week we are spotlighting a sweet, rhyming book called The Ugly Pumpkin. It has a heartwarming message of acceptance that students and teachers will love. It is also a great text to integrate lessons across many subjects. - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
SUMMARY
The Ugly Pumpkin is a heartwarming story about a squash that thinks he is a pumpkin. He looks different than all the other pumpkins and is teased for the way he looks. No one will pick him up from the patch, he is kicked, and trees throw apples at him. As a result, he considers himself to be the ugly pumpkin and feels very lonely.
One day, the ugly pumpkin found his way into a garden and realized he was a squash! He found a group that looked just like him and he fit right in! In this happy ending, the former ugly pumpkin enjoys a feast with his new family.
Students will love this rhyming story about a pumpkin that doesn’t know he is actually a squash.
USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
Teachers can capitalize on the rhyming component of this book by teaching a variety of lessons with rhyme. This can include reading comprehension and writing. It is also a really good example of a book that has a lesson or message. Check out the list below for even more lesson ideas to use with The Ugly Pumpkin.
- Practice synthesizing as you read the book. Their opinions of the ugly pumpkin will change just like his own opinions changed.
- Discuss the impact rhyme has on the story.
- Engage in descriptive writing about pumpkins and fall.
- Have students write about the message of the story to practice informational writing.
- Teach students how colons and quotation marks are used.
- Group nouns from the book by category.
- Discuss bullying versus teasing.
- Teach the importance of acceptance.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30 writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This is definitely a book you’ll want to share with your class.
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will also love these similar books:
- The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams
- Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
- Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
- The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
