So we carved our pumpkin & put it on the porch to greet visitors.
After a few weeks, our pumpkin, who Reese named Rotty, began to get a little mushy. Reese asked what will happen to it if we left it to rot. Hello, Science Project!
We got a tray for Rotty to sit on so he wouldn't rot directly onto the porch. We made a journal to record our daily findings. We got to work!
September 12, 2008
Friday, 6:00pm
"Rotty is turning soft like a sponge. Like a KinderChinder. It's got black mold. It's getting eaten by a bug & looks black and not so good."
Reese poked his finger into the mushy parts....
Each day, Mommy recorded Reese's observations. I drew the outline of Rotty & Reese colored in the mold spots & mushy parts.
September 13, 2008
Saturday, 6:00pm
"Where I stuck my finger it grew mold. The back is all fuzzy moldy. It has bugs. More mold is growing inside. I can't believe where I stuck my finger got mold!"
September 14, 2008
Sunday 7:15pm
"It's rotten. It looks kind of ashy. His mouth is getting all rotten. I see a spider on the pumpkin. There is more mold today. I see bugs. They must be looking for food in Rotty. He feels soft."
September 15, 2008
Monday, 6:30pm
"He's rotten & smells like a dirt pile. His face is all gooey. You can see where I stuck my finger in. Look at all the pumpkin juice! The back is falling & tipping over. I wish Rotty would stay a little bit longer. His color is black & orange."
September 17, 2008
Wednesday, 7:15pm
"He is rotten. He is smaller because he's going down. Inside there's a lot of mold! It smells like pumpkin to me...and dirt. I don't see any bugs today. There's a soft part on his head."
September 21, 2008
Sunday, 7:15pm
"He's so small! Not big & bumpy. You can still see where I put my finger. He's decomposing. Part is soft from decomposing, but part is hard because it dried up. There's a fly on him. He must eat the pumpkin. The back is sinking fast!"
September 22, 2008
Monday, 7:30pm
"He's not like that anymore...not full. He looks like rotten eggs. He's all brownish. Look inside...mold! He is small. I see a Junebug in there...it's laying in Rotty. I see a fruit fly inside...lots of fruit flies!"
September 26, 2008
Friday, 3:00pm
"He's not big & tall. He feels hairy. He's dry. It's called evaporate. Our guess was wrong. I thought he would turn into goo. We see fruit fly larva from Larva Land. No, really, they came from fruit flies."
Check out who's been eating our Rotty!
Even photo editing can make larva & pumpkin guts pretty :)
This was a GREAT experiment to do together. It was Reese's first chance at long term observation, and our record book helped record the changes each time we looked. I had to put a note on Rotty that said "Please excuse our science experiment!" because I was afraid our dear UPS lady would think we're nuts!
5 comments:
Oh my gosh! That is the best science experiment! And every time I scrolled down and saw another picture I just kept rolling laughing! That's disgusting! And yet sooo cool!! You're a good homeschool mom! (PS--I just took a quick moment to glance at an award I received on a friend's blog--there's always enough time to receive praise right?!, and then I thought I'd stop by yours and see what you guys have been doing! Dontcha feel honored?!!) :)
OMG!!! you sooo win... I would never never never in amilion years be able to do that. It grosses me out just looking at the pics.... YUCK!!!! Just YUCK!!!!
You go Girl!!!!
UGGHGH..
Great idea! We are going to have to try that one although - sigh - I don't know - sometimes you are a better woman than me....
:)
Holly
My kids really liked watching Rotty's progress. They are now begging me to do the same thing. Hhmm, I'm going to have to say NO on that one!:) Thanks for sharing!
Dana
Very gross, but such a neat experiment!
My kids would love this.
Your son has some great observation skills.
Thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Shannon @ Song of my Heart
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