Girlguiding Moulsham District - Pumpkin Spotting Challenge Pack 2021

Girlguiding
Moulsham District

Pumpkin Spotting
 Challenge Pack
 2021

Challenge Guidance:

Rainbows complete any 3 challenges and
take part in the Spotting Challenge!

Brownies complete any 5 challenges and
take part in the Spotting Challenge!

Guides and any other members complete
any 7 challenges and take part in the
Spotting Challenge!

All participants must take part in the
Spotting Challenge to earn their badge!

Have Fun!  

Challenges:

 Decorate a pumpkin - This doesn't have to be a
real pumpkin, you can decorate the template
provided. You could choose to carve your pumpkin or
why not try painting it for a change!

 Complete one of the pumpkin themed puzzles in
the resource section.

 Get cooking! Make something tasty using pumpkins!
See attached recipes for a few ideas.

 Make your own alternative pumpkin! You could use
Lego to build one, paper plates, paper mache,
playdough or anything else you can think of!

 Sing one of the themed pumpkin songs from the
resources.

 Decorate a pebble by drawing on it with a pumpkin
picture and leave it for someone to find when you are
out on a walk.

 Make a pumpkin themed pizza! Spread tomato
puree on a pizza base and then use different toppings
to create a pumpkin face on it!

 Make a pumpkin stained glass window – you can
purchase pre-made kits for this or use card, sticky
back plastic and tissue paper to create your own
masterpiece! (See resources for some links to inspire
you )

 Get creative with some pumpkin seeds! What can
you make? Maybe thread them to make a bracelet or
get imaginative with a piece of artwork.

 Apple pumpkin printing! Cut an apple in half and use
it to dip in paint and print pumpkin shapes onto a
piece of paper. Decorate all your prints by drawing
funny pumpkin faces on them!

 Write your own acrostic pumpkin poem.

 Use a different fruit or vegetable instead of a
Pumpkin. Maybe you could carve a face into a melon
or even a pepper.... you could make a whole pepper
pumpkin family!

 Decorate a biscuit or cupcake with a pumpkin face!

 Create an origami pumpkin (link in resources!)

 Write a story or newspaper article about an
imaginary pumpkin! Remember to give them a name
and see how creative you can get with their
adventures!

 Share some pumpkin themed jokes from the
resources and make someone smile!

 play a pumpkin themed game such as a pumpkin
relay, pass the pumpkin or a pumpkin themed beetle
game, more details in the resources!

 Make a pumpkin volcano. Hollow out a pumpkin and
then add some ingredients to make you volcano erupt!
See full details in the resources.

Badge Information:

Badges cost £1 each plus postage.

Badges can be ordered between the dates
of Friday 8th October 2021 and Friday 5th
November 2021.

Please order by sending a PM to the page
and not via commenting on a post. Thank
you.

Payment is by BACS or PayPal only and full
details of how to make payment can also be
found on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Girlguiding-
Moulsham-District-Pumpkin-Spotting-
Challenge-112507760602926/

Challenge Resources:
 Pumpkin recipes:

 Pumpkin Pie

 Ingredients:

 750g/1lb 10oz pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled,
 deseeded and cut into chunks
 350g sweet shortcrust pastry
 plain flour, for dusting
 140g caster sugar
 ½ tsp salt
 ½ tsp fresh nutmeg, grated
 1 tsp cinnamon
 2 eggs, beaten
 25g butter, melted
 175ml milk
 1 tbsp icing sugar

 Method

 STEP 1

 Place the pumpkin in a large saucepan, cover with water and
 bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 15 mins or
 until tender. Drain pumpkin; let cool.

 STEP 2

 Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roll out the pastry on a
 lightly floured surface and use it to line a 22cm loose-
 bottomed tart tin. Chill for 15 mins. Line the pastry with

baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 mins.
 Remove the beans and paper, and cook for a further 10 mins
 until the base is pale golden and biscuity. Remove from the
 oven and allow to cool slightly.

 STEP 3

 Increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Push the cooled
 pumpkin through a sieve into a large bowl. In a separate
 bowl, combine the sugar, salt, nutmeg and half the
 cinnamon. Mix in the beaten eggs, melted butter and milk,
 then add to the pumpkin purée and stir to combine. Pour
 into the tart shell and cook for 10 mins, then reduce the
 temperature to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Continue to bake for
 35-40 mins until the filling has just set.

 STEP 4

 Leave to cool, then remove the pie from the tin. Mix the
 remaining cinnamon with the icing sugar and dust over the
 pie. Serve chilled.

 Pumpkin Soup

 Ingredients:

 1 large onion, chopped
 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
 2 garlic cloves
 1 bay leaf
 25g/1oz unsalted butter
 2 tbsp olive oil

 1 medium pumpkin (prepared weight about 850g/1lb 14oz)
 deseeded and roughly chopped
 1 medium-sized floury potato, such as Maris Piper, roughly
 chopped
 1 litre/1¾ pint vegetable or chicken stock, a little extra may
 be needed
 100ml/3½fl oz double cream
 3 tbsp pumpkin seeds
 salt and freshly ground black pepper

 Method:
1. Put the onion, carrots, garlic bay leaf, butter and half the
 olive oil into a large pan. Cook over a low–medium heat for
 about 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender but not
 coloured.
2. Add the squash and potato, mix to combine and cook for a
 further 2–3 minutes. Pour in the stock, season well and
 bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, half
 cover the pan with a lid and continue to cook for about 40
 minutes until the squash is really tender when tested with
 the point of a knife.
3. Pick out the bay leaf and blend the soup until smooth using a
 stick blender.
4. Add the cream and a little more stock if the soup is on the
 thick side, taste for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper
 as required.
5. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over a
 medium heat and add the pumpkin seeds and fry quickly
 until the seeds start to pop. Remove from the pan.
6. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with a swirl of cream
 and the toasted pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin Pie s'mores

 Ingredients:

 16 ginger nut biscuits
 8 marshmallows (vegetarian brand, if required)
 8 tsp canned pumpkin purée
 ¼ tsp cinnamon

 Method

 STEP 1

 Preheat the grill to high and line a baking sheet with
 parchment. Put 8 ginger nuts on the tray and top with a
 marshmallow. Grill until the marshmallow is turning brown
 and melty.

 STEP 2

 Mix the pumpkin puree with the cinnamon and put a tsp on
 each of the remaining ginger nuts.

 STEP 3

 Sandwich both together until oozing.

 Pumpkin Puree

 Ingredients:

 750g pumpkin or butternut squash

 Method:

STEP 1

To steam the pumpkin, peel and seed it, then cut into evenly
sized cubes. Put the cubes in a steamer or colander set over
a pan of simmering water and cook for 10 mins. Test with
the point of a knife and cook for a further 5 mins if not
cooked through. Mash and leave to cool. Alternatively, to
microwave the pumpkin, cut it in half (no need to peel it or
cut out the seeds) and sit cut-side up in the microwave.
Cook for 20 mins, then check the flesh is soft by poking it
with a fork. Keep cooking if you’d like it softer. Scoop the
flesh into a bowl, then mash and leave to cool. Pumpkin
Puree:

 Pumpkin songs:
Five Little Pumpkins:
Five Little Pumpkins sitting on a gate (hold your hands up)
The first one said, “Oh my! It’s getting late!” (put your
hands on your cheeks)
The second one said, “There’s a chill in the air.” (hug
yourself)
The third one said, “But we don’t care.” (shrug your
shoulders)
The fourth one said, “We’re ready for some fun.” (jump)
The fifth one said, “Let’s run, run, run.” (run in place)
So, “Woo” went the wind, and (clap your hands) out went the
lights.
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

I'm a Little Pumpkin:
(tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little pumpkin
Orange and round.

Here is my stem,
I grew in the ground.

When I get all cut up,
Don't you shout!

Just open me up
And scoop me out!

Have You Ever Seen a Pumpkin:
(tune of "Have You Ever Seen a Lassie")

Have you ever seen a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,
Have you ever seen a pumpkin, that grows on a vine?
A round one, a tall one, a fat one, a small one.
Have you ever seen a pumpkin, that grows on a vine?

 Pumpkin stained glass window:
Explore these links for some inspiration for your creations:
https://www.craftsonsea.co.uk/stained-glass-pumpkin-
suncatcher/

https://www.woojr.com/tissue-paper-halloween-
suncatchers/

 Origami pumpkin links:
Easier link…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bke6pA6Xkbs

A bit more tricky!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsSOarssEhQ

 Pumpkin jokes:

Why was Cinderella bad at football?

Because she had a pumpkin for a coach!

What does a Pumpkin Pirate wear over its eye?

A pumpkin patch!

What’s a pumpkin’s favourite drink?

Orange Squash!

What do you get if you eat too much pumpkin pie?

Autumn-y ache!

 Pumpkin games:
Pumpkin Relay:
Split into equal teams and hold a Pumpkin Relay Race!
Choose one of the following ideas or try them all :

*A traditional relay using a small pumpkin per team as the
baton.
*Each team has a wheelbarrow and a pumpkin. The pumpkin
starts on the floor and has to be put in the wheelbarrow by
the first runner who pushes it to the next person. The
pumpkin has to be taken out of the wheelbarrow and passed
to the next team member at the changeover who then puts
it back in the wheelbarrow and off they go to the next team
member!
*Using cardboard pumpkins create a ‘Pumpkin Patch’ at one
end of the room. Team members take it in turns to run and
‘pick’ a pumpkin and bring back to their wheelbarrow (or
other container) First team to collect all their pumpkins
wins!

Pass the Pumpkin:
Two ways to play depending on how much prep time you
have!

*Pass a small pumpkin round as normal and when the music
stops the player gets to choose a prize from a bucket/bag.

*Hollow out your pumpkin and place the prizes inside to pass
round!

 Pumpkin Beetle Game:
 Roll a one to start and get your pumpkin outline!
 Roll a two to get your pumpkins stalk
 Roll a three and a four to get your pumpkins eyes
 Roll a five to get your pumpkins nose
 Roll a six to get your pumpkins mouth!

 Pumpkin Volcano:
Have some pumpkin fun with an Autumn twist on this well-
known science experiment!

*Cut the top off a pumpkin and then hollow it out (keep the
top for later!)
*Fill the pumpkin about half way with vinegar
*To make the eruption even more fun add a squirt of
washing up liquid and a few drops of food colouring
*Mix all the liquids with a spoon
*Add a couple of tablespoons of Baking Powder and watch
your pumpkin volcano erupt! (Sit the top back on loosely if
you wish.)

This can be very messy so you may want to do this activity
outside or on a tray. Try experimenting with the amount of
vinegar and baking powder and see what happens! 

Follow these links to see this experiment in action:

https://thestemlaboratory.com/pumpkin-volcano/

https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/pumpkin-cano-sensory-
science-activity/

 Pumpkin Template
Colour and decorate the pumpkin to display in your window
ready to be spotted!

 Pumpkin Puzzles:
See if you can find the 10 pumpkin related words!

 P UM P K I N V B R X C E ZH G
 V U C T B H Q A KMQ U K Y Y X
 V U A R SQ K UQ C A G K UU E
 D C R G L U H T P U L S E ED S
 Y L V A I L M U P U R C HM G A
 N H I R GN KM A K J D V DO M
 TQN T H Z ON T C I B S PH F
 SQ G R T R I D C VN B I BA V
 S P DWM Z PM H C Z X T X R G
 N B XW P H P AM V B PW H V R
 N K D D Y S F T AMO K A L E V
 CM X X T VW J U S T F B F S H
 S S R P P F FN T Y R L J I TW
 J D F QQ P S T A L K F G E G C
 I X O Y H F S L K A BWW LN Z
 P I C K V R I X K N P T L DO J

PUMPKIN AUTUMN FIELD HARVEST LIGHT

PICK SEEDS STALK CARVING PATCH

Can you find your way through the maze to pick the pumpkin
in the middle?

 

 Pumpkin Spotting Sign
Display this in your window to show you are taking part in
the challenge! 

 Girlguiding Moulsham District
 Pumpkin Spotting Challenge!

 We are excited to
 be joining In the fun.
 Sharing Halloween
 decorations with
 everyone!
 Keep a count of how many
 Pumpkins you’ve seen,
 And have a fun, safe and
 Happy Halloween!

 Pumpkin Spotting Sheet
Record how many pumpkins you spot on our Pumpkin Spotting
Sheet!

 Tick a box every time you spot a Pumpkin!
 Remember this is all for fun so don’t worry about how many you find 

 First 5 Spotted!

 Well done!

 Amazing Spotting!

 See anymore?

 Star Spotter

 Awesome!

 Super Spotter!

 Keep looking!

 Great job!

 Champion Spotter 

How many pumpkins did you manage to spot?

 Pumpkin Spotting Certificate
To celebrate you taking part in the Girlguiding Moulsham
District Guiding Pumpkin Spotting Challenge you can print
out your certificate below! Well done 

 This is to certify that

 ……………………………………………

 Took part in the Girlguiding
 Moulsham District Pumpkin
 Spotting Challenge and is a
 Champion Pumpkin Spotter!

 Congratulations 

 October 2021