October is one of my favorite times to bring seasonal themes into the dance classroom. Fall dance lesson plans can go beyond traditional steps and combinations, creating opportunities for teamwork, creativity, and fun. One of the lessons I look forward to most every year is our pumpkin building project, where elementary school dancers use their bodies to create the shape of a jack-o-lantern.
I’ve been teaching this lesson in the school system for the past few years, and it’s become a highlight of the fall season for both my students and me. The kids love the challenge of using their bodies in creative ways, and I love watching them light up when they see the final pumpkin come together. It’s one of those lessons where the room feels full of joy, laughter, and teamwork — and I always walk away feeling just as inspired as they are.
Why a Pumpkin Lesson Plan Works in the Dance Classroom
Children thrive when lessons feel connected to the world around them. In October, pumpkins are everywhere — in classrooms, at home, and in seasonal decorations. Bringing this theme into dance helps students see how movement can relate to everyday life and celebrations.
This lesson plan uses the image of a jack-o-lantern as inspiration for creative movement. Instead of drawing or carving, students use their bodies to create shapes, levels, and lines that come together to form a giant pumpkin. By the end, the whole class works as one unit to design their final creation.
For my students, this has always been both fun and empowering. They love that they aren’t just dancing for themselves, but contributing to something bigger. It’s the kind of project where every child feels important because every single dancer helps “build” the pumpkin.
Focus on Teamwork and Collaboration
One of the biggest strengths of this lesson is the way it encourages teamwork. Many students are used to working individually in dance class, but the pumpkin project shifts the focus toward group effort.
- Partner work: Before the full pumpkin is created, dancers practice working in pairs. They experiment with shapes that mirror or connect, preparing them for larger group formations.
- Small group collaboration: Students practice in trios or quartets, learning how to combine shapes into mini-designs.
- Whole class unity: The final step is combining every dancer’s contribution into the full jack-o-lantern shape. This not only looks exciting but also builds a strong sense of community.
Every time I’ve taught this, I’ve seen students who might normally stay quiet in class step up and take on leadership roles. Others discover how much fun it is to work with a partner or group. By the time we create the pumpkin, the class feels closer and more connected.
Building Dance Concepts: Shapes, Levels, and Space
The pumpkin project isn’t just seasonal fun — it’s rooted in technique and dance education standards.
- Body Shapes: Students learn to make curved, round, angular, and stretched shapes with their bodies, all of which become building blocks for the final pumpkin design.
- Levels: The project encourages the use of high, medium, and low levels, so the final pumpkin isn’t flat but dynamic and three-dimensional.
- Spatial Awareness: Dancers must be aware of where they are in relation to others, finding the right place to contribute to the group design.
Watching the students experiment with levels is always one of my favorite parts. They’ll try lying down, standing tall, or bending into funny shapes, and suddenly the pumpkin starts to feel alive. Their creativity always amazes me.
A Five-Lesson Structure
This pumpkin building lesson plan works best when spread out over five classes (each lasting 45 minutes to an hour). That gives students enough time to explore concepts, rehearse teamwork, and refine their final presentation.
- Lesson 1: Introduce the pumpkin project and explore body shapes.
- Lesson 2: Practice levels and simple formations.
- Lesson 3: Add partner and small group collaborations.
- Lesson 4: Rehearse the full pumpkin design as a class.
- Lesson 5: Put it all together — create the pumpkin and reflect on the process.
Every lesson includes a warm-up, technique practice, and creative work time. The pacing keeps the kids engaged while building excitement for the final reveal.
Why Students (and Teachers) Love It
Elementary dancers love lessons that let them be creative. When I tell them we are going to “make a pumpkin with our bodies,” their eyes widen with curiosity and excitement. By the time we finish, the sense of pride in the room is huge — they know they’ve accomplished something special.
As a teacher, I enjoy it just as much as they do. It’s rewarding to watch them develop skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and spatial awareness while also having fun. It’s the kind of lesson that makes teaching in October feel magical.
Free Downloadable Lesson Plan
I’ve put together a free downloadable PDF with the complete five-lesson structure, including warm-ups, technique activities, work time breakdowns, and national standards for dance education. This resource is designed to help you bring the pumpkin building project to life in your own classroom.
Bringing Fall Into Your Classroom
If you’re looking for fall dance lesson plans that combine fun with foundational skills, the pumpkin building project is a perfect choice. It connects movement to the season, strengthens teamwork, and leaves your students with a memorable final creation.
Whether you teach in a school, studio, or after-school program, this lesson plan can be adapted to fit your dancers’ ages and skill levels. Most importantly, it makes learning exciting — and isn’t that what October should be all about?
For me, it’s become a yearly tradition that I look forward to. Each group of students brings something new to the project, and each pumpkin we’ve created has been different — but the joy is always the same.
So this October, let your class build a pumpkin together. Celebrate teamwork, creativity, and the season in the most dance-filled way possible.
If you’re looking for even more ways to bring the seasons and celebrations into your classroom, there are plenty of creative options. For younger students, these top ways to keep preschool dancers engaged this fall offer simple activities that build focus and excitement. As the year moves forward, you can also connect movement to cultural traditions, like celebrating Kwanzaa through dance, which helps students explore history and community through movement. And when December comes around, try a dance class lesson plan for holidays around the world to keep your classroom festive, diverse, and engaging.
Happy Dancing!
Taylor B.
