Jumping Pumpkins Lesson Plan
Pre-K & Kindergarten PE Halloween Theme
Jumping Pumpkins 🎃
30-Minute Active Locomotor & Body Control Lesson Plan
Duration30 Minutes
GradesPre-K & Kinder
EquipmentNone (Zero Prep)
SpaceGym or Grass
Movement & Motor Skills
- • Two-Foot Jumping: Take off and land on both feet softly with bent "marshmallow" knees.
- • Locomotor Variations: Transition between jumping, galloping, crawling, and tiptoeing.
- • Spatial Awareness: Move forward safely while maintaining personal space bubbles.
Listening & Self-Regulation
- • Instant Freeze: Halt full-body momentum immediately when the leader turns around.
- • Honest Reset: Cooperatively return to the pumpkin patch line if caught wobbling.
- • Leadership & Waiting: The King/Queen practices patience and clear turn timing.
Court Layout & Setup (Zero Equipment)
Distance: 30–40 ft between lines
Yellow Line 🎃 The Pumpkin Patch All students line up shoulder-to-shoulder
Jump Forward Freeze on Turn
Keep 1 arm-length between pumpkins
Yellow Line 👑 Pumpkin Castle King/Queen stands facing away, then spins
Pacing Guide: Part 1 • Warm-Up & Skill Prep (10 Min)
Minutes 0:00 – 10:00
1 Pumpkin Patch Warm-Up 0–5 Min
Imaginative full-body warm-up story to awaken muscles:
🌱 Tiny Seeds: Crouch into a tight ball, hugging knees (5 sec hold).
🌿 Growing Vines: Reach arms high to the sky, wiggling fingers side-to-side.
🎃 Rolling Pumpkins: Sit down, hug shins, gentle rocking back & forth.
💨 Autumn Wind: Light jog in place, then freeze when the wind stops!
2 Jump & Freeze Training 5–10 Min
Teach the two core mechanical keys before playing:
🦘 "Marshmallow Landings": Bend knees, swing arms forward, land quietly on two feet without stomping.
🗿 "Stone Statue Freeze": Lock body completely still. Practice blinking eyes only—no wobbling hips or giggling feet!
🧪 Rapid Practice: Call "Pumpkins jump!" (3 hops forward) then "FREEZE!" Test balance on 2 feet.
Pre-K & Kindergarten Management Tip: Normalize getting caught right away! Tell students: "Going back to the patch is part of the fun! Pumpkins bounce back with a big smile." Celebrate children who reset honestly.
Jumping Pumpkins • Pre-K & K PE Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2 • Setup & Foundations
Main Activity & Variations Guide
Minutes 10:00 – 30:00
How to Run "Jumping Pumpkins" (Minutes 10–22 • 12 Min)
Round 1 Teacher-Led, then Student Leaders
1 King Turns Away
Leader faces the wall/castle. All pumpkins on start line wait quietly.
2 Pumpkins Jump!
While back is turned, pumpkins jump forward toward the castle.
3 Spin & Freeze
Leader turns around. Pumpkins instantly freeze like statues!
4 Crown the Winner
First pumpkin to reach and tap the line becomes new King/Queen!
Rule 1 (The Wobble Rule): If a player moves their arms, legs, or takes an extra hop after the leader turns, they jog back to the starting line.
Rule 2 (Leader Patience): The King/Queen must wait until every caught pumpkin returns to the yellow line before turning their back again.
Rule 3 (Gentle Tag): Reaching the castle is a gentle two-foot landing or line-touch—no diving or crashing into the leader.
Themed Movement Variations (Minutes 22–26 • 4 Min)
Switch movement each round!
🐱 Spooky Cat Crawl
Bear crawl on hands and feet. Freeze with arched back like a frightened Halloween cat.
🐎 Galloping Goblins
Step forward and slide back foot. Keep same lead foot all the way to the castle.
👻 Ghostly Gliders
Stealth tiptoe walks with floaty arms. Tests ankle stability and quiet motor control.
🦀 Crab-O'-Lantern Walk
Hands and feet on floor, tummy facing ceiling. Incredible core and shoulder engagement!
🦩 One-Foot Witch Hops
Single-leg hops (kindergarten challenge). Switch legs after each freeze command.
🦇 Flapping Bat Strut
High-knee marching with wing-flapping arms. Freeze upside down (touch toes).
Pre-K Adaptations (Support)
- Halfway line: Shorten distance to 15–20 feet so success comes faster.
- "Giant step back": Instead of restarting all the way, take 2 big steps back.
- Teacher Co-Leader: Stand beside the student leader to model turning and freezing.
Kindergarten Extensions (Challenge)
- Vine Poses: Must freeze in a creative shape (e.g. tree pose, one leg up).
- Double Royalty: Two leaders watch simultaneously to spot sneaky wobblers!
- Speed Turns: King/Queen can turn around quickly after only 2 seconds.
Cool-Down: Melting Pumpkins 26–30 Min
Have students sit in a circle. Inhale deep pumpkin breath (arms expand wide like a giant pumpkin). Exhale slowly with a "ssss" sound as they melt flat onto the gym floor like candle wax. Repeat 3 times.
Debrief Prompt: "Who can show me what good listening ears look like when the King turns around?"
Formative Teacher Checklist
Lands on two feet with bent knees (shock absorption)
Halts momentum immediately without crashing
Accepts resets with positive attitude and honesty
Maintains safe personal distance from peers
Jumping Pumpkins • Pre-K & K PE Lesson Plan Page 2 of 2 • Gameplay, Variations & Cool-Down
