Curriculum

Our classes run for 5 weeks with 2 classes per week.

Week One – Class 1

  • Carving safety (pumpkin and tool handling, precautions) – 30 mins
  • Lesson: Following stencil holes order – 5 mins
  • Lesson: Pumpkin carving saw techniques – 15 mins
  • Students choose their pre-gutted stencil-transferred pumpkin (Jack O’ Lantern already started for quick win) – 15 mins
  • Students carve holes of their 1st cartoon Jack O’ Lantern – 55 mins
  • Congratulate each student on their individual effort.

Week One – Class 2

  • Safety review – 15 mins
  • Lesson review:  Pumpkin carving saw techniques – 5 mins
  • Lesson: Following stencils skinned regions – 5 mins
  • Lesson: Basic pumpkin skinning techniques using clay modelling ribbon tools – 15 mins
  • Students complete sawing and skinning their Jack O’ Lantern – 80 mins
  • Congratulate each student on their 1st Jack O’ Lantern!

Week Two – Class 3

  • Team building celebration of first week event – 15 mins
  • Explain the meaning of a growth vs. fixed mindset – 10 mins
  • Safety review – 15 mins
  • Lesson review: Pumpkin carving saw techniques – 5 mins
  • Students choose their pre-gutted stencil-transferred pumpkin – 15 mins
  • Students carve holes of their 2nd cartoon Jack O’ Lantern – 60 mins
  • Congratulate each student on their individual effort.

Week Two – Class 4

  • Safety review 15 mins
  • Lesson: Fixing mistakes using toothpicks – 10 mins
  • Lesson review: Basic pumpkin skinning techniques – 10 mins
  • Students complete skinning their 2nd cartoon Jack O’ Lantern – 85 mins
  • Congratulate each student on their effort with their 2nd Jack O’ Lantern!

Week Three – Class 5

  • Team building celebration of second week event – 15 mins
  • Prepare students for event TV appearance, there is no performance, it’s only practice – 10 mins
  • Safety review – 15 mins
  • Lesson review: Pumpkin carving saw techniques – 5 mins
  • Students choose their pre-gutted stencil-transferred pumpkin 15 mins
  • Students carve holes of their 1st portrait pumpkin – 60 mins
  • Congratulate each student on their individual effort.

Week Three – Class 6

  • Safety review – 15 mins
  • Lesson: Following stencil shaded regions – 10 mins
  • Lesson: Advanced sculpting techniques with ribbon tools – 15 mins
  • Students complete sculpting their 1st portrait pumpkin – 80 mins
  • Congratulate each student on their effort with their third Jack O’ Lantern!

Week Four – Class 7

  • Team building celebration of third week event – 15 mins
  • Lesson: Portrait stencil creation using computer software – 30 mins
  • Students create 1-2 stencils for future classes – 75 mins
  • Praise students for effort making stencils.

Week Four – Class 8

  • Safety review – 15 mins
  • Chasing goals and the difference between mistakes and samples with A.I. learning video example – 10 mins
  • Lesson: Tracing stencil with pinning and transfer paper techniques – 20 mins
  • Students trace their stencil onto a fresh pumpkin – 75 mins
  • Praise each student for effort transferring stencils to pumpkin.

Week Five – Class 9

  • Team building celebration of fourth week event – 15 mins
  • Safety review – 15 mins
  • Lesson: Cutting lid and gutting pumpkin – 5 mins
  • Lesson review: Pumpkin carving saw techniques – 5 mins
  • Students gut their previous pumpkin (lid pre-cut) – 20 mins
  • Students carve holes of their 2nd portrait pumpkin – 60 mins
  • Congratulate each student on their individual effort.

Week Five – Class 10

  • Lesson: Pumpkin lighting and photography – 10 mins
  • Safety review – 15 mins
  • Lesson review: Advanced sculpting techniques – 5 mins
  • Students sculpt their 2nd pumpkin portrait of their own design – 90 mins
  • Students take home their own created stencil pattern, fresh pumpkin and tools to finish at home for Halloween.
  • Congratulate each student on their individual effort and progress, remind them what it means to have a growth mindset.