Little Pumpkin Homework Packet Level K • Self-Contained ELA
Little Pumpkin Homework
Name:
Date:
1
Night 1: Read & Annotate
Touch each dot to read. Then follow the color code!
Read 3 times: ★ ★ ★
The Big Orange Pumpkin
Follow the dots
I see a big pumpkin.
● ● ● ● ●
It sits in the patch.
● ● ● ● ●
It grows on a vine.
● ● ● ● ●
We can pick it up.
● ● ● ● ●
It is round and orange!
● ● ● ● ●
Crayon Annotation Mission
Yellow Circle
Find and circle the word the
Orange Box
Draw a box around the word pumpkin
★
Star Choice
Draw a star next to your favorite line
Check-In: What did we find in the patch?
🎃 A pumpkin
🍎 An apple
🌻 A flower
Self-Contained ELA • Level K Page 1 of 4 • Monday / Night 1
Level K • Self-Contained ELA
Little Pumpkin Homework
Name:
2
Night 2: Story Comprehension
Circle the right picture answer for each question.
Comprehension
1. What color is the pumpkin?
Orange
Blue
Purple
2. What does the pumpkin grow on?
🌿 A green vine
🌲 A tall pine tree
🚗 A big car
3. What shape is the pumpkin?
🟠 Round
📐 Triangle
4. Draw the big orange pumpkin sitting in the patch:
Self-Contained ELA • Level K Page 2 of 4 • Tuesday / Night 2
Level K • Self-Contained ELA
Little Pumpkin Homework
Name:
3
Night 3: Phonics & Word Power
Practice sight words and letter sounds from our story.
Word Skills
Part 1: Trace the Story Sight Words
Word 1
see
Say: "I see it"
Word 2
big
Say: "A big pumpkin"
Word 3
in
Say: "In the patch"
Part 2: Rhyme Connect
Draw a line to match the words that rhyme (end with the same sound):
pick
vine
round
line
kick
sound
Part 3: Tap the Sounds (Elkonin Boxes)
Say the word slowly. Write 1 letter in each sound box:
🐘 "big"
🪴 "pot"
Self-Contained ELA • Level K Page 3 of 4 • Wednesday / Night 3
Level K • Self-Contained ELA
Little Pumpkin Homework
Name:
4
Night 4: My Pumpkin Writing
Draw your favorite pumpkin in the patch and complete your sentence.
Drawing & Writing
Prompt: Draw a big orange pumpkin on a green vine in the patch.
3 Colors Details
Complete the Sentence:
Word Bank: orange vine patch
The pumpkin is
It sits in the
Student Self-Check:
How did this week feel?
😄 Easy 🙂 Just Right 🤔 Needed Help
Self-Contained ELA • Level K Page 4 of 4 • Thursday / Night 4
Pumpkin Secrets Homework Packet Level 2 • Self-Contained ELA
Pumpkin Secrets Homework
Name:
Date:
1
Night 1: Read & Annotate
Read the passage carefully, then complete the active reading marks.
Fluency Stars: ★ ★ ★
From Tiny Seed to Giant Pumpkin
Passage #1
[1] In the warm spring soil, a farmer plants a tiny flat seed. Warm sunlight and gentle rain help a green sprout push upward. Soon, long fuzzy vines stretch across the wide muddy field. Bright yellow blossoms open wide, inviting friendly bees to carry golden pollen.
[2] When the yellow flower drops off, a small green bump begins to swell. Day after day, it drinks water through its thick curly stem. As crisp autumn arrives, the heavy pumpkin turns a brilliant bright orange. Now, excited families visit the busy patch to harvest their favorite pumpkin!
Active Reading Annotation Guide
▢ Blue Box
Put a box around 2 action verbs showing how the pumpkin grows.
Green Line
Underline 3 things that help the plant grow (water, sun, etc.).
Orange Circle
Circle the word blossoms and write its meaning below.
🎃
Text Clue Quick Check:
What does the word blossom mean in paragraph 1?
Answer: A bright
Self-Contained ELA • Level 2 Page 1 of 4 • Monday / Night 1
Level 2 • Self-Contained ELA
Pumpkin Secrets Homework
Name:
2
Night 2: Comprehension & Text Clues
Use clues from the story to answer each question.
Text Clues
1. Why do bright yellow blossoms open wide on the pumpkin vines?
A To invite friendly bees to visit and carry pollen.
B To hide from the warm sunlight under the dirt.
C To scare away birds flying over the farm field.
2. Cause & Effect: Match each Cause with its Effect
Draw a line between the matching pairs:
Cause 1: Sunlight and gentle rain soak into the soil.
Cause 2: Crisp autumn weather arrives at the farm.
Effect A: The heavy green pumpkin turns bright orange.
Effect B: A tiny green sprout pushes upward.
3. Written Response with Text Evidence
What happens to the small green bump after the flower drops off?
Sentence Stem Helper:
"After the flower drops off, the bump begins to swell because..."
Pumpkin Science Homework Packet Level 4 • Self-Contained ELA
Pumpkin Science Homework
Name:
Date:
1
Night 1: Read & Annotate
Read the informational passage carefully and mark key evidence.
Fluency Tracker: ★ ★ ★
The Amazing Science of Pumpkins
Informational Text
¶ 1 Although commonly called vegetables in the kitchen, botanists classify pumpkins as fruits because they develop from flowering blossoms and contain internal seeds. Originating thousands of years ago in the Americas, these resilient plants belong to the gourd family. They produce heavy, round fruit supported by trailing vines and broad green leaves.
¶ 2 The anatomical structure of a pumpkin is uniquely adapted for survival and reproduction. The tough outer rind, called the exocarp, serves as a protective armor that defends the fruit against hungry insects and rot. Inside, moist fibrous pulp holds hundreds of nutrient-rich seeds. Each seed is shielded by a hard outer coat, allowing it to stay dormant until moist spring soil triggers germination.
¶ 3 Pumpkins also provide important agricultural benefits to our ecosystem. Sprawling, umbrella-like leaves act as natural living mulch, shading the ground to trap soil moisture and prevent invasive weeds. Furthermore, pumpkin flowers produce sweet golden nectar that nourishes vital pollinator populations like honeybees and bumblebees.
Active Reading Annotation Protocol
[ ] Brackets
Put brackets around two pumpkin parts described in ¶ 2.
Underline
Underline why botanists classify pumpkins as fruits in ¶ 1.
★ Margin Star
Place a star next to the sentence describing how pumpkin leaves protect soil in ¶ 3.
Active Note: 6-Word Main Idea Summary
In 6 words or less, summarize why pumpkins are botanically fruits:
Self-Contained ELA • Level 4 Page 1 of 4 • Monday / Night 1
Level 4 • Self-Contained ELA
Pumpkin Science Homework
Name:
2
Night 2: Evidence & Comprehension
Answer each question by directly referencing evidence from the text.
Text Evidence
1. According to Paragraph 1, why do scientists classify pumpkins as fruits?
A Because they grow high on trees and taste sweet in baked pies.
B Because they develop from flowering blossoms and contain internal seeds.
C Because they require cold winter weather to grow roots under the ground.
2. Compare Pumpkin Structures: Rind vs. Seeds
Write one key fact from Paragraph 2 under each category:
Pumpkin Central Idea Assessment Level 4 • Self-Contained ELA
Pumpkin Central Idea Assessment
Name:
Date:
Reading Assessment: Central Idea & Evidence
Read the passage below once to yourself, then answer the two written questions.
Total Points: / 10
The Built-In Armor of Pumpkins
Informational Text
Pumpkins have evolved remarkable physical defenses that protect their seeds from harsh conditions until spring arrives. On the outside, a tough ribbed rind covered in a waxy layer shields the fruit from freezing autumn frosts, hungry insects, and rot. Inside the dense pulp, hundreds of flat seeds are encased in hard outer hulls that guard them against moisture loss and fungal infections. Because of these strong protective adaptations, pumpkin seeds can survive the bitterly cold winter underground and sprout successfully once warm spring sunshine returns.
1 Question 1: Central Idea (4 Points)
Written Response
What is the central idea of this passage? In your own words, explain the main point the author wants readers to understand:
Sentence Starter Helper: "The central idea of this passage is that pumpkins..."
2 Question 2: Supporting Text Evidence (6 Points)
Written Response
Write two specific pieces of evidence from the text that directly support the central idea:
Evidence Detail #1 (How does the rind protect?):
Evidence Detail #2 (How are the seeds protected?):
Student Assessment Checklist:
Check off each item before turning in your paper:
Identified central idea Gave 2 exact details Used complete sentences
Self-Contained ELA • Level 4 Assessment Standards: RI.4.2 (Central Idea & Key Details)
