1-2-3 Come Do Some Halloween Craftivities With Me

When parents would ask "When does your Halloween party start?" I'd answer with a big smile, "When the children get here, and it lasts all day!"  The day before, I'd let my students know that we'd be doing all of our math, reading, writing and center activities as usual, but they'd all have a Halloween theme, so we could "party" all day.

They were then pleased and happy about this, and I wasn't constantly being asked: "When does the party start?" which interrupted everyone's focus.  They also remained calm, on-task and weren't all fidgety waiting.

In the 10 years I taught Y5's this day was never a crazy day, instead, it was one of my personal favorites, because I had lots of volunteers eager to help out.  We proceeded as normal, with only part of our lights on, to add just the right amount of ambiance.  (This also seemed to relax my students.)

They wrote with their "spooky pencil pal" which was quick and super -inexpensive to make. (Directions in the Halloween packet.)

In the afternoon, our snack time would be extra special (cider, fruit, veggies, with some sweets & treats, which parents provided) and to practice and review a variety of standards, we'd play educational games.

I think one of the Y5's favorite parts of the day, were the super-fun centers.  Parents would come in to help, so I could plug in a few more craftivities.  What took me a bit of time to design and set up, they usually completed in just a few minutes, but that was OK as we had much to accomplish. They were enjoying themselves and learning at the same time.

I share my party day ideas in a Halloween packet, but wanted to dream up a few new ones, as this was one of the first units I did, way before I had all of the cool software programs, fonts, and clip art that I use now, but perhaps you'll find a few things you and your kiddos will enjoy.  

These cute dangling ghosts are a quick, easy and fun little something to do on Halloween party day, or as a nice activity to transition to after reading some Halloween-themed stories.

I was "pinspired" by a Family Magazine holiday craft photo.  They did not provide a pattern, so I made up my own.

Cutting on a spiral provides wonderful scissor cutting practice, which helps strengthen little finger muscles. 

There's an easy ghost pattern with no arms for younger students, and to help out your left handed kiddo's, I've included flipped patterns for them.

Older students can write on the spiral and complete one of these prompts: "Things that are creepy to me are . . ." or "Things that I'm a bit afraid of are . . ."

As you can see by the photo, these look awesome dangling from the ceiling, where they'll twirl and swirl. 

Click on the link to view/download the Spooky Spirals Halloween ghost writing prompt craftivity.

Another Halloween craft that I found several versions of on Pinterest, was a photo of a child in a pumpkin. 

These too, did not offer a pattern, so I provide one in my Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater craftivity packet. 

There's a blank pumpkin, one that says: "Happy Halloween from your little pumpkin" as well as one with the nursery rhyme written on it that I revamped.

"Teacher, teacher pumpkin eater.  Had a student couldn't reach her.  Put _________ in a pumpkin shell and there she taught her very well." (Female and male options.)  I've included a poster of the original Nursery Rhyme. 

Midnight Magic, is also a quick, easy and fun little ghost craftivity, perfect for Halloween party day because it's super-simple and has that "Oh Wow!" factor.  

This art is called crayon resist, as the wax in the crayons resist the watercolors. I've taken a picture of the 3 steps of how it looks.

Using a white crayon, (press hard) trace the simple ghost pattern onto squares of white paper.  Children will not see the ghost 'til they "wash" their paper with the "magical colors of midnight".  To their utter delight, a ghost will appear as they are painting. 

Although an all-black wash is effective, I think the ones where children used purple, blue and black turned out better.  I did a ghost, but any simple shape (pumpkins, candy corn, or bat) would do.

I've also done these with children's names.   Click on the link to view/download the Midnight Magic Halloween watercolor craftivity.

In the Halloween Crayon Resist packet, I've included 5 coloring pages for kiddos to choose from, along with directions of how to set things up. 

Finally, another quick painting craftivity, is Alphie Andy the candy corn alphabet cup. I used styrofoam cups, orange and yellow acrylic paint and a black ink pen to make these fun "I Spy a Letter!" game "twirlers".

Students can add a face to the top white section, or leave it plain. First graders can write their own letters on the top of the cups, but I'd do this for younger kiddos.  (I did a class set while watching TV.  Takes a minute or two per cup.)

It's not at all difficult, but little ones have a tendency to write large, so they won't be able to fit all of the letters around the rim.   When you make yours, look at my photo.  Letters need to be close, with a small space.

Remember the cup is upside down when you write the letters on the rim.  Add a second cup so you have a sturdier surface to write on.

You can keep this simple and just make cups with the uppercase letters on them, or "double up" and add an additional cup with the lowercase letters.  This way, you can review more than one standard.  When you call out a letter, students twirl their uppercase letter cup til their arrow lines up with that letter; then they twirl the lowercase letter cup, so that letter matches up with the uppercase one.

Students literally take 2 minutes to paint a yellow and orange stripe on their cup. (Make sure they write their name on the bottom.) Set aside to dry. Add an arrow, insert cup(s) and play "I Spy!"  It's a quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess.  Children hold up their cup when they've found the correct letter and have the arrow pointing to it.  Click on the link to view/download Alphie Andy, the Candy Corn Alphabet Assessment Cup craft.

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting. Have to go check my apple-crisp bars.  The cinnamon scent is wafting through the house and smells delicious.  Wishing you a warm-fuzzy kind of day.    

"Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis

Hi Ho it’s pumpkin time don’t ya know! At least that’s what my Y5’s tell me when I ask them what month it is.  They come up with the cutest things! 

NURSERY RHYME TIME: 

I like to teach several Nursery Rhymes each month so I do Little Miss Muffet, Jack Be Nimble, and Peter-Peter Pumpkin Eater  this month..  Did you know there really was a Miss Muffet?  Her dad was a doctor and he supposedly crushed up spiders and made a medicinal concoction to give his patients that was high in protein.  Maybe she was afraid of spiders because of that. Yuk!  I choose a student to play Miss Muffet and we act out the rhyme with a black spider puppet named “Inky”.  For Jack Be Nimble I make a pretend candle out of a paper towel tube, stuff it with some red, yellow and orange tissue paper “flames” and we take turns jumping over the candle stick.  I also make my students promise to NEVER ever play with candles, matches, lighters or fire!  It’s a nice lead-in to our fire safety week.  Finally we have fun with the Pumpkin shell skill sheet. Click on the link to print a copy.  I’ve also included answer keys to save you time.

PUMPKIN CRAFTS:

 If you’re looking for Pumpkin Crafts to do with your students check out my Arts/Crafts and Activities part of the blog for some great pumpkin fun. I’ve also got an entire book devoted to Pumpkin crafts,  and an entire unit on Pumpkins.  Click on the links.   A few of my favorites are “Peekin’ in a Pumpkin” and a  “Keepsake Pumpkin Bowl”.  They are really simple and the pumpkin bowls make a dynamite bulletin board. 

                  To make a “Peekin’ Pumpkin”,

• Paint two paper plates orange.
• Before hand cut a circle out of the center of one of the paper plates. 
• This is a great project to do when you carve your class pumpkin. 
• Wash and save the seeds and give some to each child. 
• Have them swirl some paint mixed with Elmer’s glue on the non cut plate with a piece of yarn.
• Arrange the yarn  and pumpkin seeds on the plate to look like “pumpkin guts”.
• When the plates are dry staple them together. Staple the cut out “window” plate on top of the “pumpkin gut” plate so that it is inverted and 3-dimensional.
• Insert a green rectangular strip of construction paper, punch a hole in it and tie a piece of yarn from it. 
• Students can make a Jack-O-Lantern face on the back of their pumpkin with a black marker, or glue various shapes of black construction paper to make the face.  You could also leave the pumpkin plain. 
• Suspend your pumpkins from the ceiling and watch them twirl in the breeze.

                   To make a "Keepsake Pumpkin Bowl"

• Have students paint a bowl orange.
• Trace and cut out a construction paper circle and glue it to the back of the bowl.  Children can make a Jack-O-Lantern face on the back or leave it plain.
• Paint each student’s hand green and press it on a lighter shade of green construction paper, trim around the edges. 
• Punch a hole in the leaf and the bowl and attach with a green pipe cleaner.  Twirl the pipe cleaner around a pencil to look like the vine on a pipe cleaner.  A bit of curling ribbon adds pizzazz.
• You can mount your pumpkins on a pumpkin patch bulletin board or suspend them from the ceiling. 
• If you put them on a b. board, twist pieces of green tissue paper to make a vine and attach them to that.  Make a field out of brown crumpled up paper or grocery bags. Burlap also looks nice as a different background. Blue paper for the sky on top finishes off the background.  Title:

Mr./Mrs. _____________’s Pumpkin Patch.

We Keep Growing In Knowledge Everyday!

Need more? Fall Fun also has some great arts and crafts activities in it.

                                                                                     COSTUMES:

I don’t know about your students, but mine are “all about the costumes!” and what they will be wearing to the party!  I designed a homework assignment around that topic where they DRAW a picture of what they will be for Halloween.  They bring it back and share it with the class.  This is a great substitute for regular Show and Tell that day and gives everyone a chance to practice their verbal skills.  This page also goes in their Keepsake Memory Book.  Click on the link to print a copy to do with your class.  What Will You Be For Halloween?

 I’ve even made up a song that we sing “Will You Wear A Costume?” along with several other fun October songs my students enjoy singing. . Click on the link to print them. 

October Songs Two of their favorites are The Farmer In October.  and Let's Go Trick or Treating. They both go to the tune of The Farmer in The Dell. This farmer picks a pumpkin, who picks some apples.  The trick or treaters see a cat, rat, ghost, monster, etc. you get the idea. Of course it's Halloween! 

I just finished a great activity booklet with a teacher's edition that matches the song Let's Go Trick or Treating. It's 28 pages long. Click on the link to check it out. It's perfect for Halloween Party Day! And if your school doesn't celebrate Halloween and you do a Harvest Time thing, the matching booklet The Farmer in October is for you!

On Halloween Party Day I take a picture of each one of my students just before our parade when they are all decked out.  I make a class book with their photographs in a spin off of Brown Bear What Do You See?  It’s one of my students’ favorite “Look At” Books. I keep every year’s books in a basket during October.  To make one, use any Halloween Clip Art for the cover with your name in the title: Mr./Mrs. _________________’s Class What Do You See On Halloween?  The inside verse reads: “Kitty Cat Kelli what do you see?” “ I see Princess Marah that’s what I see.”  “Princess Marah what do you see?”  “I see Police Man Jeffrey looking at me.” Continue ‘til you’ve gone through all of the children wearing their costumes.  The last page is: “Costumed children what’s all the fuss?”  “We see our teacher ________________ looking at us!” “ Teacher _____________________ what do you see that’s really keen”  “I see my students yelling Happy Halloween!” 

TELLING JOKES: 

My students are less shy now.  I thought a great way to encourage verbal expression, as well as reinforce listening and recall, would be to tell them a daily knock-knock joke. I bought a spooky Halloween prop that looks like a door with a knocker on it.  When I tell a joke I let a child clank the knocker and a creepy voice spookily laughs.  It’s great fun.  They also get to press the doorbell which is also rather eerie.  Then I say the knock-knock joke and they repeat it twice so they’ve got it so they can tell it at home.  I send a copy of the jokes home so that parents can help prompt.    If you want to join in the howling Halloween humor, click on the link for a copy of the  Knock-Knocks.

MAGIC PLAY-DOUGH FUN!

 I’m now teaching secondary colors and read the cute book Mouse Paint.  A fun thing I do is give my Y5’s some “Magic Play-dough”.  They know that Yellow and Red makes Orange.  I do it as a math equation Yellow + Red = Orange.   I give them a little “lumpin” of yellow, they squeeze it to make a pumpkin!  I simply make up a batch of yellow Play-Dough, roll it into a small ball for each of my students,  make a hole with my finger, insert 2 drops of red food coloring,  cover the hole back up, and then put a ball in an individual snack baggie for each child along with the “magic poem”  On the bag I put a sticker that says” Squeeze your “lumpkin” to make a pumpkin!” click on the links for the “Magic Poem” and “Stickers”.  To make them into stickers, put a sheet of Avery mailing labels in your printer (30 labels on a sheet) and click print.)

FALL FUN FREEBIES: 

Finally, “TRY IT! YOU’LL LIKE IT!” here’s your chance to try a few “pumpkin pages” from some of my brand new books. I just finished some more ABC activities and want to give you a chance to give them a try so click on the links and have some pumpkin fun. 

All of my units have a slider included. They are a wonderful way to add a bit of art in your day or include as a center. Depending on what you want to review, you can make a letter, shape or number slider. Pictured here is an uppercase letter slider. “P” is for Pumpkin of course!   Free Pumpkin Slider

Free Pumpkin Upper and Lowercase Trace and Match comes from two alphabet collections. Each book has 31 pages. Students TRACE the uppercase/lowercase letter then CIRCLE the matching lower/uppercase letter underneath. For an additional activity and cutting practice, children can CUT the cards apart and sequence them. These are great for a substitute to plug in, something to do when students are done early, a great review, nice to send home as a practice skill sheet for parents to work one-on-one with their child when you need a homework lesson, or use them as an assessment tool. Uppercase Trace and Match Book,  Lowercase Trace and Match Book.

The Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Helper Strip Book has strips for September – June. +  a collection of “What’s Missing?” skill sheets. Here’s what I do with them:

• Cut one into strips, glue together and laminate. Display on the board as a sample for your students.
• Keep a sheet whole and laminate it to use as a seasonal poster.
• Students can look at their strips when they are doing ABC skill sheets.
• Children can refer to their strip and point to the letters when they spell their name, word wall words, spelling words etc.
• Use them to point to letters as you sing the ABC song.
• Use the strips to play "I Spy a Letter." Give them a paper clip. Call out a letter and have them put the paper clip on the letter and raise their hand. That child gets to pick a letter to spy.
• When you’re done using the strip, or after your students have made their strip,  have them use their fine motor skills to twirl it around their pencil so that they can easily transport and save their monthly strips.  When they need to look at them, they simply unscroll them to review their alphabet.  My students have nick-named their strips "ABC Twirlies"    Free Pumpkin Alphabet Strip Helpers

Finally, Monthly Skill Sheets TRACE, SNIP, & GLUE Matching Upper and Lowercase Letters,  is a great book that has your students exercising fine motor cutting skills by snipping “stems” and adding them to a themed object like a pumpkin! I suggest running them off on two different shades of colored copy paper, snipping off the bottom and giving ½ your students orange tops and green bottoms and ½ green tops and orange bottoms so that the “stems” stand out. Free Pumpkin Trace Snip & Glue Skill Sheets.

Whatever activities you decide to do, I hope these help you have a pumpkin-licious good time with your own little punkins! 

                   Happy

             Pumpkin

                 Month!