Elementary Students Create Storybook Pumpkins

In a project led by teachers Catherine Holzman and Rachel Naraine, Buchanan-Verplanck and Furnace Woods elementary students decorated pumpkins as their favorite storybook character. The colorful, creative designs will decorate the school hallways through the end of this week and help students and staff get into the Halloween spirit!

"We are always thinking of ways to integrate literacy into our students' lives and decorating pumpkins as their favorite book characters seems like a wonderful means to do this," Holzman said.

This optional, at-home project asked students to take a pumpkin — either a real pumpkin or one made of plastic or foam — and transform into a beloved character from a favorite book using recyclable and/or craft materials.

"These amazing pumpkins have even inspired a few more students to participate," Holzman said. "Next year, we may ask the teachers to join us and show off their favorite characters, too."

Here are more examples of their creations: