Halloween is for everyone…yes EVERYONE! Our upper grade students our still kids at heart and thus, I am a huge advocate for having class parties and days in the school year that are simply just for fun.
Besides those special days, there are still so many opportunities to add some spooky fun to your classroom this Halloween season. In this blog post, we will dive into my three favorite ways to sprinkle Halloween into our weekly schedule. From games to Fun Friday activities, you’re sure to find something your students will enjoy!
Halloween Math Morning Work Games
My goal this year is to bring joy back into the classroom, and one of the ways I do that is through morning games. When my students walk in, their “morning work” or “bell ringer” is to play one of our math games. These games are meant to be fun and engaging! It has quickly become one of our favorite parts of the day, and I absolutely love seeing my students’ faces light up when they see their favorite math games on the schedule.
That got me thinking…what if I add some Halloween fun to these games? Cue my NEWEST resource…Halloween Bell Ringers! Now, when my students walk in, they play one of these Halloween-themed games, and I turn on some festive music. They ABSOLUTELY LOVE it!!! And I can honestly say that their math facts are improving because we have been playing fluency games everyday for a little over a month.
This resource includes 8 Halloween-themed math games that target skills such as math facts, prime and composite numbers, and fractions.
Spooky Digital Escape Rooms
I personally LOVE escape rooms, so why not incorporate them into our learning? Although I use some academic escape rooms, I mainly use them as a Fun Friday option, as a team building activity, or during our class parties.
Every puzzle is a logic puzzle that strengthens teamwork, encourages critical thinking, and requires math or literacy skills. My students simply love these escape rooms.
Simply click the image below or browse through our collection of escape rooms. You may want to check out this Holidays Around the World Bundle, too.
This product includes BOTH a self-correcting Google Form and a Google Slides version.
Halloween Literacy Centers
I am just starting to work on a new nonfiction resource that will include 5 differentiated passages about Halloween and its traditions. This is an easy way to not only differentiate your literacy centers but also to add some Halloween fun to your nonfiction unit. Topics include why we wear costumes, how candy corn is made, and the history of Halloween.
Each passage contains four levels. The red packet is intervention (2nd grade reading level), the orange is for students that may need a little extra support (3rd grade reading level), the green is for students who can consistently comprehend a passage independently (4th grade reading level), and the blue is for students who may need a bit of a challenge (5th grade reading level).
There are several different ways to use these passages:
- Small Group Lesson: I typically introduce a new reading skill during our daily read aloud. (I use a picture book to introduce a new skill.) Then, I teach a mini-lesson in small groups. I use these passages to teach kids how to annotate, summarize, infer the meaning of new words, and so on…They can also be used for fluency practice! Check out this reel if your students would benefit from targeted phonics and fluency instruction.
- Jigsaw: This resource could also be used as a group activity where each student in a group of 4 or 5 reads a different passage. The group members then share what they learned with each other. As a group, they create a presentation (video, website, poster, etc.).
- Independent Work: This resource could also simply be an independent activity or an assignment during centers.
The point is there is a lot of flexibility within this resource. In fact, I made sure to include a variety of differentiated activities, so that you can have the freedom to shorten or extend the unit. From extension activities to writing prompts to assessments, this resource has it all!
In a festive mood yet? I know I am! With a little help from these resources and a bit of spooky background music, you and your students are sure to celebrate Halloween for the entire month rather than just one day.
Primary grade teachers, I have not forgotten about you…Next time, we will explore some ideas for our younger learners! Until then, check out this post about combining phonics and fluency into your Halloween centers.
I can’t wait to hear all about your Halloween successes. Make sure to join my email list and follow me on Instagram @learningnprogress. Until we meet again, remember to keep learning!