As Halloween approaches each autumn I often bring in a large pumpkin. After briefly describing the origins of this “holiday” I discuss the current manifestations that take place in American culture such as costumes and trick or treating. But what really gets their attention is when I give a narrated demonstration of how to carve a jack ‘o lantern. Necessary items: one (1) pumpkin, one carving knife, newspaper to put the seeds on, and a sense of humor as you carve a wicked grin on the big orange gourd. Since I can’t light a candle in the classroom they just get an explanation of how the glow from within the pumpkin will draw in neighborhood kids on 31 October.
