Five Little Pumpkins

I absolutely love Halloween and everything it has to offer us. I have attached the classic Halloween poem, The 5 Little Pumpkins with added yoga movement, of course. You can add your own creativity. This specific layout is for children ages 3-9 years old and can be done in a classroom setting.

Download Poem and Color Page

Five Little Pumpkins

With Yoga Movement

Age Group: 3 to 12 years old or Pre-K to 5^th grade

Related Book: Five Little Pumpkins by Dan Yaccarino

(You can share a book of your choice relating to Halloween or not share a book at all.)

Spooktacular Handout: Five Little Pumpkins Color Page

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Warm-up/Breathing:

A fun way for kids to practice their breath is the Jack-o-Lantern posture. Children love to make spooky faces, and this pose actually exercises their facial muscles! Start in Easy pose (criss cross applesauce), breathing in and out through your nose. Next interlace your hands above your head and pretend to be a Jack-o-Lantern as you make a ghoulish smile. This can be done in the students desk chair as well.

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

(Chair Pose – Extend both arms out in-front of you and squat down as far as you can, as if you were sitting in a chair.)

The first one said, “Oh my it’s getting late.

(Stand in Mountain pose, pointing to your wrist pretending you are wearing a watch)

The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”

(Chest opener with arms interlocked behind the back looking up at the witches in the air.)

The third on said, “But we don’t care”

(Standing Spinal Twist – Extend both arms out to either side and twist at the waist from side to side.)

The fourth one said, “Let’s run, let’s run.”

(Run in Place)

The fifth one said, “Isn’t Halloween fun.”

(Squat down (Garland pose) hands in prayer mudra and jump throwing arms up in the air with excitement)

Then Woooooooooo went the wind

And OUT went the lights

(Swaying Tree – Standing tall, stretch right arm down the side of your right leg and reach with your left arm straight above the head. Bend to the right side. Switch sides.)

And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

If you are in a classroom atmosphere (no space) have the student sit in their chair and rest their head on their arm and relax. If you have room (on a yoga mat) have the student rest in Child’s Pose.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! 

Formally...

My name is Casey Schmidt and I LOVE teaching yoga to kids. It isn't a career or a job, it is a journey with many fun and adventurous paths thus far. I am the proud owner of Peaceful Hearts Yoga, formally Once Upon a Pose, Yoga for Kids.

While I am grateful for all the wonderful adventures with Once Upon a Pose, Yoga for Kids, I have decided to change the name to Peaceful Hearts Yoga. There was an issue presented to me a couple months ago; thus requiring the change. At first I was sad and thought what bad luck. That evening, I was reading a book to my daughter when it hit me. "Maybe good luck and bad luck are all mixed up - you never know what will happen next." This is a quote from beautiful book Zen Shorts.

With that being said, I was going to move forward with a positive attitude. I was on a quest for a name that comes from the heart. I wanted something that when you read or said it, you thought of peace, love, gratitude, happiness...everything I believe in and promote.

What is important to have every day? A peaceful heart. A peaceful heart is not only what you start with and end with in yoga, but it is what you should start and end with everyday. And that is how Peaceful Hearts Yoga came to be.

Philosophy:
"Great compassion makes a peaceful heart. A peaceful heart makes a peaceful person. A peaceful person makes a peaceful family. A peaceful family makes a peaceful community. A peaceful community makes a peaceful nation. A peaceful nation makes a peaceful world." Maha Ghosananda

In today's society, many children are moving at a faster pace; thus putting stress on their young bodies and spirit. Peaceful Hearts Yoga believes that in the mist of all the hustle and bustle, if a child has a peaceful heart, he/she will be able to remain calm and step forward with confidence.

"If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry real war against war, we shall have to begin with children." M. Gandhi

Let a peaceful heart be contagious, contact me today and start spreading peace through yoga.

Namaste ~

Special Note: Although the name has changed, I am still 100% committed to sharing the amazing gift of yoga with the youth in the community and spreading awareness of healthily choices on and off the mat.