Originally published October 3, 2021
Latest Update October 7, 2026
Written by Laura Bartolomeo
Get your students playing barred instruments with this Orff arrangement (and other ideas) for the Halloween song, Pass the Pumpkin. Halloween is the perfect backdrop for engaging learning activities in music class.
This is a great beat-passing game! Whoever has the pumpkin on the last beat of the song is OUT! Continue playing until there is a final winner. As students get out, they can go get sticks and play to the beat as the game progresses.
Learn more about how to teach beat passing games.
Jump to the * Orff Arrangement, Vocal Exploration Fun, or Student-Created Springtime Version
Pass the Pumpkin Orff Arrangement
Pass the Pumpkin VOCAL EXPLORATION
I saw this on The Children’s Voice Studio page and it’s genius. I’m not sure if it’s their original idea or not.
Vocal Exploration The pumpkin you are passing needs to be one that is like a container. Whoever has it at the end, instead of being out, they reach in and grab a vocal exploration card and make the sound, OR, they could pull the card and EVERYONE makes the sound.
The free vocal exploration cards are in the Free Resource Library in PDF format. Drop your email HERE to get the cards!
MORE Teaching Ideas for Pass the Pumpkin
🎃 I LOVE teaching about minor keys and this has such a great descending line with the last 5 notes-mi, re, do, ti, la. It’s so fun to play in D minor with a simple D bordun on BX and other instruments playing the last five notes on A, G, F, E, and D.
🎃 Take a fun poem for a B section and you’ve got a performance piece!
What if your school doesn’t allow Halloween-related activities?
There have been schools where I didn’t talk about Halloween, so just alter the lyrics. My new lyrics were: Pass the pumpkin all around, listen to that pumpkin sound. Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, pumpkin time is here!
To play the game, I either bought a small real pumpkin or used the stuffed one that I got from Goodwill.
Here’s a cute one from Amazon that is super soft and without a scary face.
As an Amazon Affiliate, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Pass the Pumpkin in 2/4
Pass the Pumpkin-Springtime Version
My mystery song (only the rhythm to go on) today was Pass the Pumpkin. When students figured out that it was Pass the Pumpkin, they were challenged to create a spring version of this fall song.
“Pass the twister all around. Listen to that whirling sound. Oo, oo, oo, oo. Tornado season is here.” Then I drew the tornado on the tennis ball and we played the game.
2 thoughts on “Pass the Pumpkin Game, Song, & Orff Arrangement”