Walk through any elementary school in the fall and you are bound to see students learning about pumpkins. Kids of all ages are fascinated by these versatile, edible members of the gourd family. Pumpkins are interesting and inexpensive and can be found in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, so they’re terrific for using in hands-on math and science lessons. This month’s column uses two picture books about pumpkins as well as some real pumpkins to engage students in the processes of scientific inquiry.