Pumpkins everywhere

WASILLA -- There are a lot of things to look forward to when you are in third grade: learning to write in cursive; learning the multiplication tables; getting a new reading buddy. But for the students in Vanessa Powell's class, third grade means the Pumpkin Sale.

"It's a rite of passage from my classroom: If you've been in Mrs. Powell's class, you've done the Pumpkin Sale," said Powell who teaches third-grade at Wasilla's Snowshoe Elementary.

For the past four years, Powell's students have sold pumpkins in the fall. This year's shipment -- a whopping 120, in all shapes and sizes -- arrived Monday. The students handle everything, from unloading the truck to washing, weighing and pricing the pumpkins.

"They love the excitement of the sale," Powell said. "It's great for them because Alaska kids don't get a chance to see pumpkins en masse like this."

Powell buys the pumpkins from Fred Meyer, but this year Carrs donated one large variety pumpkin, the Great Pumpkin, as well. People can purchase a chance to win this pumpkin in a drawing that will be held Oct. 29.

Proceeds of the sale and the drawing go to pay the publishing costs for a collective book of the students' writings.

Throughout the sale, the students write poetry, observations or other forms of creative writing about -- you've guessed it -- pumpkins.

Powell uses daily prompts, such as "Seven Things I Can Do With a Pumpkin" or "If I Had a Magic Pumpkin" to get the students started.

At the end of the sale, each student chooses one piece to include in the book. They take it through all steps of the writing process -- writing, editing and rewriting. Each student draws a picture to accompany his or her story, as well. Powell assembles all the pages in a publishing kit and sends them off to be hard-bound. Each student receives one copy of the book, at no cost to the family.

The students look forward to the book almost as much as they do the pumpkin project.

"My sister did it when she was in third grade and she got a book, too. It's a lot of fun," said 8-year-old Jenna Ford.

Powell says the pumpkin sale combines everything she looks for in a project.

"It has a fund-raising aspect, a literacy aspect, and a community aspect," she said. "And," she adds, "It's just plain fun."