The Tulare County Office of Educationís Network for a Healthy California program worked with local farmers to supply pumpkins to various schools throughout the county.

The pumpkins were delivered to Lincoln Elementary early Thursday morning, October 30th, in time for three Harvest Center rotations areas to be set up and decorated by Lincolnís Mike Espinola, HEART leader Lupe Hernandez, volunteer Ester Baum, and 2nd grade teacher Kim Shipley.

The three Harvest Center Rotations were guided throughout the day with the help over 40 volunteers including parents, family members, other Exeter schools students, and the Explorers (a volunteer program through police departments).

Every student in kindergarten through second grades was able to rotate with their teacher through the three stations, each pertaining to the harvesting and nutrition of pumpkins as well as other winter squash.

The first station involved an adult who read the story, From Seed to Pumpkin.

This story explained the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Also at this station, students from Kaweah High School distributed pumpkin seeds to the students to feel and taste.

At the Pumpkin Patch station, pumpkin facts were presented with brightly colored cards while students were engaged in a brief question and answer session.

After that, they were able to pick out their own pumpkin to take home, which is always a highlight of the day!

The final station displayed various varieties of winter squash ñ including a pumpkin. A volunteer read clues/facts about a particular squash.

The students then guessed which squash the clues matched. If students responded with the correct answer, they got to carry the squash for each of the students to touch the different textures.

During the rotations, the pumpkins were pulled in wagons to the studentís classroom for future classroom education and then a careful trip home at the end of the day.

This was an excellent opportunity for every student to learn about the importance of winter squash, nutrition, and the pumpkin harvest!

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