-Mark Twain
Watermelon is a warm season crop that thrives in long growing season.
More from Mark Twain on watermelon, from his Autobiography, Vol. 1:I know how a prize watermelon looks when it is sunning its fat rotundity among pumpkin vines and "simblins;"* I know how to tell when it's ripe without "plugging"** it; I know how inviting it looks when it is cooling itself in a tub of water under the bed, waiting; I know how it looks when it lies on the table in the sheltered great floor-space between house and kitchen, and the children gathered for the sacrifice and their mouths watering; I know the crackling sound it makes when the carving knife enters its end, and I can see the split fly along in front of the blade as the knife cleaves its way to the other end; I can see the halves fall apart and display the rich red meat and the black seeds, and the heart standing up, a luxury fit for the elect; I know how a boy looks, behind a yard long slice of that melon, and I know how he feels for I have been there. I know the watermelon which has been honestly come by and I know the taste of the watermelon which has been acquired by art. Both taste good, but the experienced know which tastes best.
*a type of squash
**sampling a section of the melon to test for flavor
Writing Prompts
- The Oklahoma State Legislature has declared watermelon Oklahoma's state vegetable. What do you think? Is it Fruit or Vegetable? Discuss why it should or should not be our state vegetable.
- Write instructions for selecting the best watermelon or other melon from the grocery store.
- Watermelon Facts
- Watch video harvest of the world's largest watermelon.
- And check out the bite-sized pepquino, the world's smallest watermelon.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging of a Watermelon
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging of a Cantaloupe
Watermelon, (Make a circle with your arms.)
Watermelon,
On the vine, (Curve hands and arms beside body.)
On the vine,
Sweet and red and juicy, (Rub your tummy.)
Sweet and red and juicy,
Please be mine! (Palms together as though pleading.)
Please be mine!
Watermelon, (Make a circle with your arms.)
Watermelon,
Thump, thump, thump, (Make a thumping movement with thumb and middle finger.)
Thump, thump, thump,
I think you are ready- (Point, resting finger on your temple.)
I think you are ready-
Big and plump! (Make a circle with your arms.)
Bug and plump!
Songs and Poems:
- Ants on the Melon (Virginia Hamilton Adair)
- Fiesta Melons (Sylvia Plath)
- Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle Received From a Friend Called Felicity (John Tobias)
- Watermelons (Charles Simic)
amounts per serving% daily value
calories25
calories from fat0
total fat0g0%
sodium0g0%
total carbohydrate6g2%
dietary fiber0g0%
sugars5g
protein0g
Vitamin A 8%
Vitamin C 10%
calcium 0%
iron 2%
Percent daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.