How do you get a prizewinning pumpkin to the fall festival? According to the kids, it might take three penguins, two grandmas, and one very grumpy uncle. And if somebody suggests tying the pumpkin down with spaghetti, well, you can probably guess how that journey is going to go!
The Great Pumpkin Catastrophe is a free fall Mad Libs printable where kids supply the missing words in a story about a runaway pumpkin. The two-page PDF includes the fill-in-the-blank story and a handy Word Helper Guide. Grab a pencil, pick someone who can read aloud with a straight face, and you’re ready for a little autumn fun.
How to Play Fall Mad Libs
Choose one person to be the storyteller. They get to see the pumpkin story while everyone else takes turns suggesting words. Go through the blanks in order, asking for the type of word in parentheses and writing down each answer. Keep the sentences a surprise until every blank is filled.
For example, when you need a plural noun, just ask, “Can you name something you might have more than one of?” If your child says “eyeballs,” write it down. Half the fun is that they have no idea whether those eyeballs are about to help lift a pumpkin or go flying down the street!
Now read the whole story aloud, including every wonderfully odd answer. Give the mayor your most official voice when you announce the award. If you’re playing with a group, let each pair fill in their own copy and compare the names their towns give the pumpkin grower at the end.
Word Helper Guide
The second page is especially handy for kids who have plenty of silly ideas but can’t quite remember what a plural noun is. You can give them the guide to look at while you keep the story page to yourself.
| Word prompt | What it means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| What’s an adjective? | A word that describes something. | happy, big, smelly |
| What’s a noun? | A person, place, or thing. | dog, park, cookie |
| What’s a plural noun? | More than one person, place, or thing. | dogs, parks, cookies |
| What’s a verb? | An action word. | run, jump, sing |
| What’s a verb ending in “ing”? | An action word that shows something is happening right now. | running, jumping, singing |
| What’s a past tense verb? | An action word that shows something has already happened. | ran, jumped, sang |
The Great Pumpkin Catastrophe
Here’s the full story so you can play right from your screen, too. If the kids are nearby, this is the part to keep to yourself until you’re ready for the big read-aloud!
Every fall, our town hosts the ______ (adjective) Pumpkin Festival, and this year I was determined to win the prize for the biggest pumpkin. After searching through rows of ______ (plural noun) at the ______ (place), I found one that was ______ (adjective) and as heavy as a ______ (noun)!
It took three ______ (plural noun), two ______ (plural noun), and one very ______ (adjective) ______ (family member) to load it onto our ______ (vehicle). We tied it down with some ______ (plural noun) and hoped it wouldn’t roll off.
But as we drove past ______ (street name), the pumpkin started ______ (verb ending in “ing”) and suddenly broke free! It rolled faster and faster, knocking over ______ (plural noun), scattering ______ (plural noun), and making everyone shout, “______ (exclamation)!”
People were ______ (verb ending in “ing”) out of the way while my best friend tried to ______ (verb) after it. The pumpkin finally crashed into the ______ (building), sending ______ (food) flying through the air like ______ (plural noun).
By the time it stopped, everyone in town was covered in ______ (sticky substance) and laughing so hard their ______ (plural body part) hurt. The mayor handed me a ______ (noun) and declared it “The Most ______ (adjective) Pumpkin Event in History.”
Now everyone calls me the ______ (funny nickname) of ______ (town name) — and next year, I think I’ll stick to growing ______ (plural noun) instead!
What Kids Learn While They Play
One thing I love about Mad Libs is that the sentence itself can help a grammar rule click. Read “It took three penguin” aloud and pause. Kids will often supply “penguins!” before you’ve even asked what needs to change. They get to hear why the story needs a plural noun, and their penguins still get the very important job of lifting the pumpkin.
Younger children can join in by naming a food, a vehicle, or something sticky while someone else does the writing. Older kids might enjoy choosing a more vivid verb or seeing who can deliver the finished story without laughing. And if you’re looking for fall Mad Libs for adults to play around the Thanksgiving table, use a familiar street name and a family nickname. Just wait until everyone hears who was in charge of loading the pumpkin!
Download the Free Fall Mad Libs Printable PDF
Download The Great Pumpkin Catastrophe below. Print one story page for each pair or team and keep the Word Helper Guide on hand for anyone who wants a peek. This free printable is for personal and classroom use.
More Mad Libs for Kids
Once the kids have heard their version, let them swap jobs and be the ones asking you for words. It’s surprisingly hard to come up with a sticky substance on the spot when a nine-year-old is looking at you expectantly! Explore more of our printable Mad Libs for a fresh story to surprise each other with.
- Back to School Mad Libs Printable Pack
- Easter Mad Libs Printable (The Case of the Missing Chocolate Bunny)
- Free Printable Halloween Mad Libs Game for Kids
- The Valentines Day Treasure Hunt Mad Libs Printable
- Christmas Mad Libs Printable – The Enchanted Gingerbread Mansion
More Autumn Printables
For a quieter activity after the read-aloud, try an I Spy fall game and see which tiny autumn pictures the kids spot first. Our autumn printables are handy to keep together for rainy afternoons, classroom activity tables, or that stretch before Thanksgiving dinner when everyone keeps asking how long the potatoes will take.
- Free Printable Autumn Collaborative Coloring Poster
- Free Printable Autumn Movement Cards for Kids
- Autumn Leaf Face Art With Free Printable Templates
- Fall Harvest Bingo Printable Game
More Autumn Crafts
If your kids have grown attached to their disastrous pumpkin, let them make a paper bag pumpkin and give it the funny nickname from their story. For more autumn craft ideas, try a paper bag hedgehog, make a rocking paper plate owl, or get the paints out for some autumn fingerprint art.
- Autumn Fingerprint Art Printable Pack: 5 Pictures to Make
- Paper Bag Fox Craft for Kids with Printable Template
- Torn Paper Autumn Leaf Craft
- Upcycled Glitter Autumn Leaf Craft (Fall Decor)
- Paper Cup Hopping Scarecrow Craft
- Rocking Paper Plate Owl Craft for Kids
Save this free fall Mad Libs printable to your autumn activities board on Pinterest so you can find it when pumpkin season rolls around again. And if your family comes up with a particularly ridiculous name for the mayor’s award, I’d love to hear it!
