Kindergartners win PIE pumpkin decorating contest
The PTO purchased pumpkins for every classroom at Pine Island Elementary School so the teachers and students could decorate theirs as a character from their favorite book.
The winner, which was chosen by Tonya Player, Pine Island Public Library associate for youth services, was made Wednesday afternoon in the cafeteria.
Kindergarten teacher Cathy Frahm and her students won first place for their pumpkin, which was painted black and had ears, arms and legs attached – for the book “Armadillo Tattletale” by Keith Graves.
Frahm said she asked each child what their favorite story was and wrote it down with a picture next to it, so the children would remember the book. The students then voted on the top five, top four and so on until they reached the top two, which was between “Armadillo Tattletale” and “Humpty Dumpty.”
“They can tell you the whole story,” Frahm said of “Armadillo Tattletale.”
She said the fable tells the tale of an armadillo whose huge ears slowly become smaller as he tells stories to those around him.
The students painted the pumpkin and cut the ears, arms and legs for the armadillo. Frahm said she glued the pieces onto the pumpkin to finish the design.
“It’s their project,” she said. “They had a great time. They loved it.”
Rob Mazzoli, Pine Island Elementary School principal, said the project tied in reading with creativity and fun.