Pumpkin Run

On Sunday, October 25, 2015 was Crestview Elementary School's annual Pumpkin Run sponsored by the PTO. The students and alumni participated in a half mile run around the neighborhood blocked off by police and finished around the track. Every student brought a pumpkin and exchanged it for another one after the run. There was no cost to this event.

The pavilion or cafeteria will be decorated for this event, depending on the weather. Before the run, as the students arrive, there will be an obstacle course set up in the gymnasium, cornhole, hula hoops and games outside. Next, there is a new event which will be the teacher fun run. The theme for the teacher run is “superheroes.” Teachers will dress accordingly if participating. This is a silly race like the sugardale hot dogs would do at a baseball game. Finally, the students will run. After their run, the students will pick a pumpkin out of the pumpkin patch and enjoy the refreshments.

I sent this email out to staff two weeks before the event to get volunteers to paint pumpkins or help on that day:

This year the Pumpkin Run starts at 3:00 p.m. and lasts until approximately 4:30 p.m. I would like to get a count of how many teachers will be joining us this year to help in areas such as the obstacle course, games, refreshments, the pumpkin patch, teacher run, set up or clean up. Please email me back if you are interested in helping out on the day of this event. Also, I have about 20 volunteers to paint pumpkins. Please remember this will take place after school tomorrow Tuesday, October 20th in the art room, and pumpkins will be provided by the PTO to paint.

This is a fun event for everyone! This year we had about 125 students participate, and we are hoping for more next year! I hope to see many of the staff at the Pumpkin Run! If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help, please let me know.

Variations:

Every teacher who participated in the teacher fun run got a special entrance out my back gym door onto the track.

Medals can be awarded to the top runner at each grade level.

Silly string could be used at the finish line.

Teaching Suggestions/Tips:

I pass out flyers to the school a few weeks before the event, promote it on the morning announcements and during P.E. class to get the students excited for the event.

A big pumpkin is donated where the students get to guess the weight of the pumpkin a few days before the run.

The staff gets together after school to paint pumpkins in the art room a few days before the event!

Adaptations for Students with Disabilities:

The surface was smooth so students in a wheelchair and gate trainers were able to participate on a shorter route.

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