Williams/Ledger students create fall holiday décor

Special to Leader-Press

Williams/Ledger Elementary students are adding new colors to their holiday decorations this year thanks to a hands-on arts and crafts project that aligns with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
Kindergarten students went to the science lab to investigate, experiment and create a one-of-a- kind pumpkins that visitors to the school would later try to purchase for their own holiday tables. 
Pumpkins were laid out and names were already labeled to allow a faster hands on experience as students entered the lab. The five and six year olds were required to follow specific directions, use positional words, and create a fall pumpkin complete with sparkles and glitter. The students used their sense of sight to make sure their pumpkins were covered in the polish solution.  Kindergarten teacher Barbara Kelly picked out some of the bigger pumpkins, so at least two coats were required. Students could then decide if they wanted to add more colors or use less and if they wanted to add glitter.
There were so many color choices that Carson Branson, 6, chose to use several.
“It was fun and I love all the colors in my pumpkin. I had blue, green, yellow and orange,” the kindergartener said. “I want my pumpkin to stay for a long, long time.”
Pumpkins were displayed at the annual fall festival and the students stopped by to show their amazing work and take photos of. Other parents that came to the festival asked how much the decorated pumpkins cost. 
“Students were overjoyed when they were able to take them home and share them with their family, making a school and family connection, promoting oral language, and a love for school,” Kelley said. 
The idea was taken from a Facebook past and the paint used on the pumpkins was diluted nail polish colors offering students a variety of color options at low to no cost. Glitter was applied while the solution was still wet.
 Paraprofessional Edith Natividad helped the young scholars with their projects.
“I had so much fun just by watching their young faces. They were all excited and so happy,” Natividad said. “They were so particular with what color they wanted. Each pumpkin had to be just perfect.”