HealthSmart

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Wed, Oct 28, 2015 at 05:00 AM

First graders learn from birthing pumpkins

Guntersville Elementary School’s first graders spent the day having babies – pumpkin babies, that is.

“Pumpkin birthing” is a longstanding tradition at GES and filled the school with excitement Tuesday. Drs. Jill Roberts and Alicia Ewing were attending physicians “delivering” the pumpkin babies to children. Wrapped in a tiny blanket each baby was placed in the arms of a child.

Students then opened blankets to reveal if they had a girl or a boy, which was denoted by pink or blue caps, ribbons or pacifiers. It sounds like playtime but actually is a learning experience, says teacher Kim Bell.

“It’s a fun way to incorporate math and science,” she says. “We’ll also write about the babies so it will involve literacy too.” Students spent the afternoon weighing and measuring their babies, and checking to see if they float or sink in water.

“It’s a lot of fun,” says GES Principal JulieAnn McCulley. “It’s very exciting!”