Pumpkins are the star of autumn, and this Autumn Pumpkin Art Project is the perfect way to bring seasonal creativity into your classroom or homeschool. Designed for Grades 2–5, this complete art lesson plan blends drawing, painting, reading, writing, and reflection so students can learn across subjects while creating beautiful, display-ready pumpkin artwork.

If you’ve ever wanted an art lesson that feels both seasonal and standards-aligned, this is it. Students will explore the life cycle of a pumpkin, learn about pollination and harvest, and apply literacy skills through comprehension questions, opinion writing, and narrative storytelling. At the same time, they’ll build artistic confidence by following a clear, step-by-step drawing and painting tutorial with watercolor or tempera paint cakes.

This isn’t just a craft—it’s an interdisciplinary art resource that saves teachers prep time while offering students meaningful engagement. The included puzzles, KWL charts, critical thinking questions, and gallery walk activities make this lesson more than art—it’s a chance to connect science, literacy, and personal expression with creativity.

What This Art Resource Includes: (Non-Editable)

This Autumn Pumpkin Artwork Lesson Plan is packed with everything you need:

• Complete Lesson Plan – Step-by-step teacher instructions with objectives and standards.
• Mediums & Materials – Watercolor paints or tempera paint cakes, white card stock or thick paper, paintbrushes, and water.
• Lesson Hook: Picture Puzzle – Printable puzzle activity to spark predictions and curiosity.
• Participation Strategies – Think-Pair-Share and Whiteboard Splash prompts (What changes do you notice in autumn? What do you know about pumpkins?).
• How-to-Draw a Pumpkin – Step-by-step illustrated drawing guide.
• Step-by-Step Painting Tutorial (PowerPoint and PDF) – Visual and text instructions to guide students through creating a vibrant pumpkin artwork.
• Poster Sample – Full-color example of the finished project to inspire students.
• KWL Chart: Pumpkins – Scaffold student knowledge before and after learning.
• Pumpkin Life Cycle Reading Passage – Informational text covering sprouting, pollination, growth, and harvest.
• Narrative Reading: The Story of a Pumpkin – Story-style passage showing the pumpkin’s cycle from seed to harvest.
• Reading Comprehension Worksheets – Differentiated comprehension questions with full answer key provided.
• Sight Word List & Activities – High-frequency word list with teacher instructions for warmups, treasure hunts, tally charts, and extension games.
• Word Bank of Tricky Words – Student-friendly definitions for sprout, pollination, cycle, harvest.
• Writing Prompts –
  
  • Opinion writing (Are pumpkins better for food or decoration?)
  • Narrative writing (Imagine you are a pumpkin seed that grows into a pumpkin).

• Compare & Contrast T-Chart – Pumpkins vs. Other Plants activity with answer key.
• Art Reflections & SEL Activities – Multiple formats to encourage reflection:
  
  • Artist’s Statement (with example)
  • 3 Stars and a Wish
  • “The Message” reflection page
  • Artwork Reflection (learning goals & creative thinking)
  • Questions & Wonders log

• Creative Extensions –
  
  • Draw & Design a Pumpkin T-shirt
  • Symmetry practice sheets
  • Artwork Postcard activity
  • Emphasis Principle of Design project
  • Blank Line Art page
  • Pumpkin Zen Doodle Line Activity

• Assessment Rubric – Covers creativity, craftsmanship, responsibility, and effort.
• Critical Thinking Question Bank – Open-ended prompts for deeper discussion about artists, art-making, and meaning.
• Bulletin Board Display Sign – Ready-to-print header for showcasing student artwork.
• Gallery Walk Guide – Structured activity for sharing highlights and reflections as a group.