Happy September!

I hope your school year is off to a great start! By now, you’re probably getting into routines, learning your students’ many personalities, and finding some sort of rhythm in your classroom.

To help bring a little fall fun into your ELA classroom, I wanted to share this month’s free resource: Pumpkin Patch Writing​.

Keep reading to get this resource for FREE!

A Little About the Resource

As ELA teachers, we have so many different writing techniques and skills to cover throughout the year. I like to start the year off with narrative writing because it feels a little lower pressure than some of the other writing styles.

I love using this activity as a low-prep fall writing activity because it gives students a creative way to practice writing while still allowing me to see their skills early in the year.

How It Works

This activity includes 5 different types of pumpkins. I like to cut out each pumpkin and paste them to my whiteboard. When students enter the room, I welcome them to the pumpkin patch!

I tell students that they need to pick 5 pumpkins (one of each color). Each pumpkin gives them a different part of their story: character, setting, conflict, writing challenge, and grammar rule.

Once all students have picked their pumpkins, they return to their desks with a blank piece of paper (or Google Document). I tell students that they must write a narrative using the pumpkins they have picked from the patch. You can decide how long to make the narrative and any additional requirements you may be working on at that point in the school year.

Once students have successfully written their narratives, they can share out with a partner or with the class!

One of my favorite things about activities like this is that they give students a chance to be creative while still practicing important ELA skills. Especially at the beginning of the year, I love finding or creating activities that feel fun and seasonal but still fit my curriculum. At the end of the day, middle schoolers are still kids and even though they might not admit it, they love a seasonal activity. In fact, even just changing my daily slides to a fall background cover makes them incredibly happy!

Similar Resources

​​If your students enjoy this pumpkin patch writing activity, I have a few other fall and writing resources that you might enjoy using in your classroom this season!

​Undated September Interactive Journal: If you like digital activities, this interactive journal could be the resource for you! This journal allows students to start each class with a September-themed daily warm-up prompt. Every day of September features a unique prompt to stimulate your students’ minds, whether it’s a reflective question, a creative challenge, or even a riddle!

​Adjectives & Adverbs Sentence Make Over (everyday OR Halloween edition): If you are focusing on general writing skills, my Adjectives & Adverbs Sentence Make Over activity might be the activity for you! I ALWAYS keep these sheets on hand in my early-finisher bucket. Students take a boring paragraph and transform it into a descriptive piece of writing by adding adjectives and adverbs.

​Parts of Speech Mad Libs (everyday OR Halloween edition): If you are just starting out your grammar curriculum for the year, give your students a little refresher with a touch of creative writing by giving them a Parts of Speech Mad Lib. Choose between the everyday version or the Halloween version and have your students practice their parts of speech while filling out an entertaining story!

Thank you!

To get this free resource along with another free resource EVERY month, sign up to the Lovely Learning Library. Over at the Lovely Learning Library you will get tips, ideas, free resources, and a fun community of teachers!

I hope this activity brings a little fall fun into your ELA classroom this September! Remember, I’ll be sending out a new seasonal free resource every month, so keep an eye out for more classroom ideas and freebies coming your way. Please feel free to write back with any products you would like to see as either a freebie or a product line in my store!

Wishing you happy teaching this September!

Thank you for your support!

Miss B