10 Resources Every Teacher Needs For Halloween
23 October 2017
Halloween is one of the best times of year — for both children and adults alike. But if you’re already behind on the curriculum, are snowed under in paperwork, and don’t have any good activities prepared, then it can quickly pass by in a whirlwind of fake spiders and Pound Land masks.
This is a shame for a number of reasons. One, Halloween is an important part of our culture and has a fascinating history. Two, the holiday gives students a spooky break and an excuse to scare other teachers you don’t like. And three, it’s one of the only times of the year you can get away with dressing up like a cat and spending most your day carving pumpkins and eating chocolate apples.
Be prepared for All Hallows’ Eve and have some well-structured spooky fun with our list of practical and terrifying Halloween-themed teaching resources.
1. Learn about the history of Halloween
Halloween is one of the oldest and strangest holiday that’s celebrated in many places around the world on October 31st. But why? This PowerPoint presentation from tes explains all you need to know and can be used as a Halloween lesson or assembly.
2. Discover Halloween around the world
From the Day of the Dead in Mexico to All Saints Day in Germany, Halloween is celebrated in many different ways around the world. Explore its origins and the diverse ways people spend the holiday with this free, informative resource.
3. Sink your teeth into the vampire lesson plan
How many vampires are in the world? Or do they even really exist? These are the questions explored in this blood-thirsty, math-based lesson path. It offers a fun way for children to sink their teeth into social studies and learn how to use demographic data.
4. Light the way with a pumpkin lantern
What says Halloween more than a creepy glowing Jack-o’- lantern? With this great free resource from tes, you have an easy to follow a structure that can be printed out and filled in with your own instructions.
5. Bring Halloween crafts to life
You don’t need magic or which-craft to bring back the dead or conjure up a few spirits. You just need pasta, glue, and a few other things found in every classroom. Make everything from ghosts and giant spiders to bats and black cats with these low cost craft projects.
6. Attract the dead with the haunted classroom
The spirit of Halloween lingers in every old, dilapidated house or abandoned graveyard. Transform your classroom with fake cobwebs, spooky lighting, body part props, and eery background sounds and attract all things dead to your school.
7. Open up the world of pumpkins
A pumpkin is much more than a fruit (yes, it’s a fruit). It’s also a symbol used to ward off evil spirits and the subject of many weird and wonderful stories from Native America folklore. Uncover the strange world of pumpkins with these practical pumpkin-based lesson plans.
8. Explore the frightening in film
The short award-winning animation Ghostboy is a funny and heart-warming film that explores the idea that some things aren’t always what they seem. On this handy page you’ll also find a bunch of fun and creative ideas for exploring the theme further.
9. Rouse the strange and scary with educational games
Need a breather after chasing child-shaped ghosts around the classroom? Head to the British Council’s game section where they have a great selection of Halloween games for improving vocabulary, learning anatomy, and having some good ol’ horror-based fun.
10. Surprise students with the Halloween Quiz
Great for winding down after a busy lesson or even getting children in the mood for the holiday, this Halloween guessing game is fun, simple, and can be differentiated for children of all abilities. A bit like eye spy but for all things frightening and gruesome.
Need a minibus for your next school trip or excursion? Work with a company that specialises in minibuses for schools and contact our friendly team today.
Back to Blog listings