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Cortlandt's Furnace Woods Second-Graders Blend Learning With Halloween Fun

CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. -- Students in second-grade classes at the Furnace Woods School celebrated Halloween in a festive, yet very scientific, way -- with Pumpkin Math on Friday, Oct. 31.

Students in Pamela Stewart’s, Danielle Maccaronio’s and Christine Cunane’s second-grade classes at the Furnace Woods School celebrated Halloween in a festive, yet very scientific, way.

Students in Pamela Stewart’s, Danielle Maccaronio’s and Christine Cunane’s second-grade classes at the Furnace Woods School celebrated Halloween in a festive, yet very scientific, way.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Parent volunteers distributed pumpkins for the class.

Parent volunteers distributed pumpkins for the class.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Teachers created festive skeletons for Halloween.

Teachers created festive skeletons for Halloween.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Students try to figure out the weight of pumpkins.

Students try to figure out the weight of pumpkins.

Photo Credit: Contributed
As part of the class, students try to figure out if pumpkins will float.

As part of the class, students try to figure out if pumpkins will float.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Children and parents measure pumpkins.

Children and parents measure pumpkins.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Students measure pumpkins and take data on its weight.

Students measure pumpkins and take data on its weight.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Students work together collaboratively to figure out the pumpkin's weight and other data.

Students work together collaboratively to figure out the pumpkin's weight and other data.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Parent volunteers brought in pumpkins of various shapes and sizes, and each volunteer worked with a small group of children to gather data and answer a number of questions.

The students began with predictions, such as “Do you think your pumpkin will float?” and “How many pounds do you think your pumpkin weighs?” Later, they weighed and measured their pumpkins, checked the number of creases, the size and number of seeds and much more. 

Eventually each group carefully turned its pumpkin into a Halloween Jack-o-lantern and chose a name for it. Before getting down to a class party, students also entered their scientific data on a class chart.

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