Halloween Activities
The Halloween activities and lesson plans will provide you with great resources for this very popular and super spooky holiday! Ideas within these Halloween pages include: bats, spiders, jack-o-lanterns, halloween puzzles, halloween classroom activities and everything else to make your classroom frightfully fun!
Your creativity can help other teachers. Submit your Halloween activity today. Don't forget to include additional resources-documents, web sites, or a photo.
This indicates resources located on The Teacher's Corner.
Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31st. Though it has roots in religion, it is currently a secular holiday.Halloween occurs on:
October 31st
Check our October Events Calendar for more important dates
- Halloween Crosswords Grades Any
These Halloween crosswords were created entirely using our popular free crossword maker. Download these PDF's by clicking on them or make your own in seconds!
*Note: All of these halloween crosswords use the same word/clue lists. Download the Halloween crossword KEYS. Make your own at the link above. - Halloween Word Searches Grades Any
These Halloween word searches were created in their entirety using our free word search maker. You can download these premade word searches or make your own in seconds.
Keys: Key 1, Key 2, Key 3, Key 4
- Graveyard Cupcake Grades Any
A fun and creative treat for either you or your students..
1. Make your favorite flavor of cupcake.
2. Use green frosting to represent grass.
3. Using dark colored frosting, decorate another small cookie for the "RIP" sign and place it in the back side of the cupcake.
4. Purchase "body parts" from your local craft store and place them in the cupcake.
5. To avoid the cupcake moving around on the plate, you can use a small piece of double-sided tape.
ENJOY!
Submitted by: Jennifer - Halloween Coloring Pages
Several printable pages of spiders, goblins, bats and jack-o-lanterns. Great for coloring! A few examples are shown below:
- Halloween Pumpkin Art Grades Any
No scissors needed! Provide students with a large black sheet of construction paper. (They may need to use chalk to create their basic pumpkin shape.) They then tear pieces of orange, yellow and green paper to create their pumpkin.
Submitted by: Jennifer - "Batty About Reading" Grades Any
A great idea to integrate Reading and Halloween. I had my students write about a book they had read. Some wrote summaries while others wrote about their favorite part. Next they transferred their story onto a bat pattern. My bulletin board said 'Batty about Reading'.
Submitted by: Michael ngaftc@email-removed
- Body Activities Grades Any
A fun way to use body parts & Halloween across the curriculum. Halloween conjures up images of monsters and body parts. Besides the obvious applications to health, I use body parts for many activities across the curriculum. I have the children cut up magazines pictures, separating body and face parts. We use them for categorizing, data gathering, statistics, whatever. Many of my students are second language learners and body bingo is another way to reinforce vocabulary. We play Frankenstein by creating faces and bodies from unrelated parts of different pictures. You can have them try to match sizes to emphasize proportion or just at random for the fun of it. They are also the ultimate in jigsaw puzzles and really can be a challenge to problem solving skills. Get those old magazines out and use your imagination. Most of all, have fun!
Submitted by: Kathy Pullman, Fernangeles ES, Sun Valley, CA kpullm1@email-removed - Halloween Books & "Spookies" Grades Any
Looking for that perfect Halloween book. We have a few ideas listed here along with a tasty treat.
Books: (You can purchase these directly from amazon.com)
Halloween Mice
Halloween Parade (The Kids in Ms. Coleman's Class, No. 9)
The Biggest Pumpkin Ever
Pumpkin Patch
Lesson/Theme: Read a Halloween story, then let kids make "spookies"
Ingredients: plain sugar cookies raisins/peanuts/chocolate chips/Reese's pieces marshmallow creme.
Have each child spread marshmallow creme on a cookie.
Then let her make a face using the candies mentioned above.
Submitted by: Unknown - Halloween Bulletin Boards Grades Various
Be sure to check out our October Bulletin Board ideas for Halloween related ideas. - Cheesecloth Ghosts Grades K-2
A fun and creative way to make some great classroom Halloween decorations: cheesecloth ghosts!
Submitted by: Marie Hlavin HlavinM@email-removed, a kindergarten teacher. This tip was published in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Email list. - Epitaphs for Halloween Grades 4+
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!" A fun and creative Halloween activity.
Submitted by: Sandy simerly@email-removed - Ghost Riddles Grades Any
Share these Halloween riddles with your students.
Submitted by: Wanda Day whday@email-removed - Halloween Card Grades K-1
Sponge paint a ghost on the front of black paper. Add white glitter. Let children dictate a message to parents and have them sign it.
Submitted by: Joyscrapper@email-removed - Halloween Center Grades 4+
In October we study the skeletal system in health. Standing in the spooky Halloween Center in the middle of spider webs and insects is a skeleton (5'tall-3D). Each student labels the bones of the body with slips (post-it notes) referring to a large poster on the wall. Next they make their own skeleton (cut out) using paper fasteners. Finally the students take a quiz using common and correct names for each bone. Many like to go one step further and design their own skeleton using QTips and glue on black construction paper....just for fun.
Submitted by: Cynthia A.Myers camyers31@email-removed - Halloween Co-ordinate Graphing Grades 3+
Put student's graphing skills to work with this pumpkin coordinate activity.
Submitted by: Nancy lefebure@email-removed
- Halloween Ghosts Grades K-1
Who can get enough ghosts at Halloween?
1. Squeeze glue on wax paper in a ghost shape-some children may have to fill in a pattern you make.
2. Add googly eyes, white glitter and let dry for a few days. You can hang them on the ceiling.
Submitted by: Joyscrapper@email-removed - Halloween Journal & Activity Pages
FREE printable Halloween journal & activity pages...over 50 to chose from! (PDF format) - Halloween Make-Up Grades Any
Looking for creative make-up suggestions? Here they are. Check out this recipe to great Halloween Make-up!
Submitted by: Ceci57@email-removed - Halloween Nutrition Grades Any
This is a fun and nutritious snake idea - good for any grade level!
You need:
* Sliced bread ( I use whole wheat)
* shredded carrots (food processor makes this easy!)
* softened cream cheese
* raisins (chocolate chips?)
* a spreading knife
* pumpkin shaped cookie cutter
* napkins
Instructions:- Wash hands
- Take one slice of bread and put on napkin
- Use cookie cutter to make a piece of "pumpkin bread"
- Spread one side of bread with cream cheese
- Cover cream cheese with carrot shavings and pat down
- Use raisins to make your pumpkin face.
- EAT!
- Halloween Songs Grades Any
Gather around and sing some fun Halloween songs. The tunes will sound familiar...have fun!
Submitted by: Teachlal@email-removed - Halloween Story Starter Ideas Grades 3+
A great story starter lesson.
- Students are to complete the story: One Halloween my friends and I were going trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. Down the street from us was an old deserted house that everyone thought was haunted. My mother said, "Don't you dare go near that house!" Naturally, her warning made us even more curious. We went to the house and rang the bell. There was no answer. We tried the door. It was unlocked, so we entered the house. The door slammed behind us and...
- Students are to complete the story. They may also generate Halloween words before writing or be given a list of words to include during or after the story is written. The stories may be shared with other classes and prizes awarded for the most creative endings. You may want to require a minimum length for the story depending on the age and abilities of the students.
- Students generate a class list of Halloween words. They write a Halloween story using the words. Stories are shared and students see how everyone used different approaches using the same basic vocabulary.
Submitted by: Gloria Pelter spelter@email-removed
- Halloween Writing Web Grades 3+
I put up a large yarn spider web on a bulletin board. Inside the web I put 4x6 cards with writing ideas. For example-write a menu for Road Kill Kafe; write a recipe for Witches' Brew; Creature Feature-devise a devious plot for a play or TV show, write the script, act it out; Monsters in the News-you are a reporter sent to cover a riot in Ghoulsville-write the story and illustrate; Monster House-design a monster house and write the copy to sell the real estate; Write a Position Wanted newspaper ad selling yourself for a job-list all qualifications and the horrible position you are looking for. There lots more that you can think of to add. I post their finished products around the perimeter of the board.
Submitted by: Pris Dwyer - Hanging Ghost Grades 1-3
A cute ghost activity made of a balloon and material. - Make a ghost by blowing up a large balloon and place a white sheet or other white fabric over it.
- Use a black permanent marker to make face features or cut the eyes and mouth out of black felt or construction paper and attach those.
- Use white string to hang the ghost.
Submitted by: Txtchr@email-removed
- Halloween Writing Prompts Grades 3+
An independent center idea that will inspire your writers.
Scary Halloween movies are...
The best trick I ever played on Halloween was...
If i could make a magic brew, it would...
Halloween should not be banned because...
Halloween has been canceled because...
In the year 2025, Halloween will be...
If I could trick-or-treat on the internet, I would go to...
Submitted by: Jacqui tal4ever@email-removed (Idea adapted from The Mailbox Magazine.) - Jack-o-Lantern Jar Grades Any
A creative decoration that doesn't involve pumpkin guts! Use a large glass jar, the big fat pickle jars are best for this.- Paint the jar orange with poster paint, then add eyes and other features using black electrical tape.
- Put a candle in it and you have a pretty jack-o-lantern to set in the window.
- Language Arts & Halloween Grades 2+
As a way to integrate English into my Halloween activities, I teach adjectives using a pumpkin.
I bring in a real pumpkin and place it on a high stool in the front of my classroom so all the children can see it. I then ask them to tell me what it looks like.
As they rattle of responses, I write their describing words directly onto the pumpkin using permanent black marker.
The students then write their own sentences describing their big, round, orange pumpkin!
Submitted by: - Lit Halloween Characters Grades Any
A fun and easy classroom decoration for Halloween.
- Cut black cats, witches and/or ghosts out of poster board.
- Paint features on characters, and cut out small holes for the eyes.
- Line the figures up against a wall, then use a strand of orange or white twinkling lights for the eyes.
Submitted by: Txtchr@email-removed - Our class is full of Pumpkin Personality Door Art Grades Any
Cover the door with black butcher paper. Write in glitter glue pen or letter cut outs. Cut out orange pumpkins and write each child's name on one. Tape them to the black paper on the door. Tape up some scarecrows the kids drew also.
Submitted by: Angela Kennedy 4th grade teacher Three Rivers Elementary ANDEKEN@email-removed - Paper Plate Witches Grades Any
- Sponge paint paper plates either green or yellow
- Cut out witch hats, eyes, nose and mouth. Let children glue them on.
- Use black or orange Halloween grass for hair and staple hat on top.
- Fold a black napkin into a triangle and glue to the bottom for a witch cape.
Submitted by: Joyscrapper@email-removed - Potent Potions Center Grades 3+
Halloween is a perfect time to throw a little creative chemistry into your writing plans!
Think of something you would like to change, cause to happen, or cure with a special potion. Your task is to write a label for your potion that includes its name, ingredients, purpose, directions for use, and any other information that might be useful, such as a warning label or price.
Choose a baby food jar from the shelf, add some water, and use the food coloring to create your special potion. When you have completed the label, you can glue this to your jar (special potion ).
{ I have students bring me baby food jars for some extra bonus reward. My students have a blast with this one. }
Submitted by: Walene Bennett walene@email-removed - Halloween Word Scramble
Create your own or use our word list. - Pumpkin Adjectives Grades 3+
As a way to integrate English into my Halloween activities, I teach adjectives using a pumpkin. I bring in a real pumpkin and place it on a high stool in the front of my classroom so all the children can see it. I then ask them to tell me what it looks like. As they rattle of responses, I write their describing words directly onto the pumpkin using permanent black marker. The students then write their own sentences describing their big, round, orange pumpkin! - Pumpkin Craft Grades Any
Have each student bring in 2 pairs of panty hose and some batting (or lots of cotton balls - I also think newspaper might work, but I haven't tried it)- Cut off the panty part.
- Lay the stockings in a cross pattern with the toes out and staple in the middle.
- Stuff each leg.
- Bring the legs into the middle and grasp with a rubber band.
- Paint the stuffed stockings with orange paint. Paint the gathered part with brown paint.
- Put on a happy face.
- Smokin' Pumpkin House Grades Any
A fun and spooky halloween activity for your pumpkins.
Submitted by: Txtchr@email-removed - Spider Activities Grades Any
Here are some great activities dealing with spiders. The Friendship Web is a fun game that can be used to develop oral language for classes. Pin the Legs on the Spider allows students to practice everything from colors to math facts.
Submitted by: Tami tami_worsham@email-removed - Spiffy Ghosts Grades 2+
Supplies:- Form for head (2" styrofoam ball),
- Base (2 x 4" styrofoam block),
- Body support (12" long, 1/4" wood dowel),
- 1 Cup of fabric stiffener,
- 5 string to shape neck,
- Black permanent marker to decorate face,
- 12 x 12" sheet of wax paper,
- 12 x 12" sheet of cardboard
- 1/2 yd. piece of cheese cloth,
- 4 Sheets of white tissue paper,
- Straight pins
Procedure
- Connect dowel to foam ball and base. Place wax paper on cardboard and place form on wax paper.
- Dip cheese cloth into stiffener.
- Drape cheese cloth over form--insert crumpled tissue under cloth to shape ghost.
- Insert pins at ends of cloth. Tie string around neck. Let dry.
- Add face, remove pins & tissue. I Remove stiff ghost from base.
- Spooky Bags Grades Any
Put various items in bags for the students to feel. Don't let them look in the bag. To make it more Halloweeny, bags could be labeled as "spooky" things; intestines for macaroni, cobwebs for cotton, toenails for artificial nails, maggots for rice, etc. Then have them list as many words as they can to describe the texture of the item. Great for increasing their vocabulary or getting them to a more varied vocabulary in their writing.
Submitted by: Julie Scarpellino, jandj@email-removed - Spooky Ghost Grades Any
- Fill a 20-oz plastic bottle with water and drape with plastic wrap. Blow up a small balloon and tie a knot and then tape the balloon to the bottle top to form a head.
- Form tinfoil into arms and attach to bottle neck with tape.
- Saturate a square yard of white fabric (or cheese cloth) with liquid fabric stiffener and drape over the bottle/balloon/foil-arms.
- When fabric is dry & stiffened, prick the balloon with a pin to pop.
- Now remove the balloon and tin foil.
- Paint the face. You can also drape faux spider-webbing over the ghost and add spiders for a great effect.
- Halloween Venn Diagrams Grades Any
Put a twist on Halloween stories! Reading some scary stories and comparing them via a 3 way venn diagram.
Submitted by: Eileen ERWN@email-removed - We are Batty for our Books!
This is a fun bulletin board idea.
Submitted by: Angela Kennedy 4th grade teacher Three Rivers Elementary ANDEKEN@email-removed - Additional Halloween Resources - Our list of links to additional Halloween resources on the web
Also see our other October Lesson Plans, Thematic Units and Activities
EMAIL us your favorite Halloween activity.
