STEM FAIR PROJECT
Project title: PONDER THE PUMPKIN, GRASSHOPPER
Class Project: Mr. Moffatt’s Third Graders
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
• Does the size of a pumpkin effect the number of seeds in the
pumpkin?
PROJECT OVERVIEW
• Pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. At this time of year you begin
to see pumpkins everywhere. As questions arose in the classroom, it
became apparent that we needed to do a formal investigation of some
of these magnificent orange orbs.
RESEARCH
• Pumpkins are:
– a kind of fruit that grow on a vine like other kinds of squash and have a
variety of textures, sizes and shapes.
– planted in the early spring and harvested in autumn (a life cycle of about 16
weeks).
– an important part of our American story. Native American Indians showed the
Pilgrims how to plant pumpkins.
– 90 percent water.
– not just for carving. They are a tremendous source of vitamin A (good for
your eyes, skin, teeth and bones) and vitamin C (helps fight infection)
VARIABLES
• Controlled variables: One variety of pumpkin was used.
• Independent variable: This was a bit tricky. Each pumpkin was a
different weight and size (no two pumpkins are alike).
• Dependent variable: The number of seeds inside each pumpkin.
HYPOTHESIS
• Eleven members our classroom predicted that the size of the pumpkin
would effect the amount of seeds inside while 16 class members
guessed that it would not change the amount.
MATERIALS
• Five pumpkins of various sizes.
• Scale
• Data collection apparatus
• Implements to open the pumkins
PROCEDURE
• Order the pumpkins from smallest to largest
• Weigh the pumpkins (function of size)
• Measure circumference of pumpkins (function of size)
• Open the pumpkins
• Count seeds using groups of ten
• Record data
DATA/OBSERVATIONS
Seed Count
Weight
Pumkin (in pounds)
Seed Count
1
4
400
2
8
400
3
15
620
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Seed Count
1
2
3
4
5
Weight
30
4
18
660
20
10
5
21
504
Weight
0
1
2
3
4
5
CONCLUSION
• From the data it can be seen that Pumpkin 1 and 2 had the same number of
seeds. Pumpkin 3 had 620 seeds and Pumpkin 4 had 660. That is just a 40
seed difference! Pumpkin 5 had 156 seeds less than Pumpkin 4. The
overall range of seed counts from least to greatest was 260 seeds. In a
previous study conducted by a class of 4th graders in 2010 there were
similar results. They tested six pumpkins. Pumpkin A (2 pounds) contained
500 seeds. Pumpkin B (5 pounds) contained 410, as did 6 pound Pumpkin C.
Pumpkin D (8 pounds) had 455 seeds. Pumpkin E (11 pounds) had 620
seeds. Twenty-two pound Pumpkin F contained 575 seeds. The range in that
study was 220 seeds. Further studies do need to be conducted, but it
seems evident that the size of the pumpkin is not a significant factor in the
number of seeds found therein.
WORKS CITED
• Farmer, Jacqueline. Pumpkins. Watertown: Charlesbridge, 2004.
• Fridell, Ron. Life Cycle of a Pumpkin. Chicago: Reed Educational & Professional Publishing, 2001.
• Gibbons, Gail. The Pumpkin Book. New York: Holiday House, 1999.
• King, Elizabeth. The Pumpkin Patch. New York: Puffin Books, 1990.
• Levenson, George. Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden. Berkley: Tricycle Press, 1999.
• Watts, Barrie. Watch It Grow: Pumpkin. North Mankato: Smart Apple Media, 2003.