What to watch: Spookley The Square Pumpkin
Where to find it: Netflix
Run time: 47 min
Best for ages: 2 and up
Why We Recommend Spookley the Square Pumpkin
Spookley the Square Pumpkin is a movie on Netflix that is based on a children's book of the same name. This is a great Halloween watch for younger kids or those that shy away from scarier content. It is about a young pumpkin in a patch that is teased by the other pumpkins for being square. Because he looks different, they try to exclude him from the Jack-o-lympics, the competition that determines the "pick of the patch." After Jack, the scarecrow running the competition, decides that Spookley can compete, we get to see him muster up the confidence to try the challenges that were designed for round pumpkins. We also witness how the bully pumpkin faces consequences for cheating his way through the challenges. The real action happens after the competition is over. A storm hits the pumpkin patch, causing a fire. The other pumpkins are blown away by the wind but since Spookley isn't round, he is able to hold his ground and use his unique shape to ultimately save the patch. His difference became his superpower!
Pumpkin Craft Activities
There are a few fun options here for activities inspired by Spookley depending on how old your child is. For 2 and 3-year-olds, this is a great opportunity to explore basic shapes. Download our free Halloween printable below for a fun activity for this age group.
My daughter, Everly, is 4, so I thought it would be a good time to introduce her to 3D shapes...after all, Spookley is not just a square, he's a cube!
Estimated activity time: 20 minutes
Materials needed:
Orange construction paper
White paper or index card
Black marker or crayon
Green pipe cleaner
Tape
Glue stick
Scissors
Ruler
Prep work: Prep the eyes by drawing two circles or ovals on a white sheet of paper. Ask your child to cut them out. It's ok if this is a skill they are still mastering and their eyes end up looking a bit more abstract—they will be proud of the finished product no matter what. Once they are cut, have your child draw the pupils with their crayon or marker.
For the remaining steps, follow along with this video tutorial.
Lesson on Bullying
I love doing crafts with Everly after she watches a show or movie because it presents a great opportunity for conversation about the themes she just saw. There was an important lesson in Spookley that I wanted to reinforce with her: we should not judge others based on physical differences. These are some of the questions that I asked her to guide our conversation on bullying.
How did the round pumpkins act when they saw Spookley?
Why do you think they acted this way?
How did the teasing make Spookley feel?
What would it be like if everyone looked exactly the same?
Can you think of anything about you that makes you look different than some of your friends?
How would you feel if someone teased you about this?
What can you say to someone if they tease you?
What is something you can do to help if you see someone teasing someone else?
Lesson on 3D Shapes
Since we were building a cube together, I also gave Everly a very basic explanation of 3D shapes.
2D shapes are flat, which means we can only measure their width and their height.
3D shapes are not flat because we can also measure their depth.
3D squares are called cubes.
3D triangles are called cones or pyramids.
3D circles are called spheres.
Share the fun you are having with us on Social Media! Tag us @curiouscouchpotatoes when you try any of our activities.
Jeanette's Educational Insights:
Everyone has special gifts, what a wonderful message. Envision a future and begin now. Teaching inclusion begins at the beginning with our little ones. It’s ok to be different, and it’s ok to embrace others who are different. All of us have had some experience of being nervous about what others will think of us. For our little ones, this comes quite early when they start school or daycare. It can be twofold, the parent's anxiety that their child will be treated with warm acceptance and the child’s anxiety about meeting new friends. So it is important to nurture acceptance within our children and pride in who they are as an individual. It’s is also important to instill coping skills for our kids as they emerge into new environments. Spookley is a great way to nurture these concepts.
I love that this craft has two levels, depending on your child’s development. Keep in mind that each child will develop at their own rate, and choose accordingly. Age is not the determining factor, it’s all about readiness. 3D shapes require the child to know there are “faces” you cannot see, moving into abstraction. Shapes are everywhere and finding them in the world around us will help develop their understanding. So take opportunities to help them find circles, triangles, squares, etc. and then cubes, cones, pyramids, spheres. Have fun with it!