Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time for some fun halloween activities to infuse some seasonal fun into your home education day! For many families in the UK, autumn is a time for cozy evenings, pumpkin or turnip carving, and spooky decorations.
As home educators, we can take advantage of the excitement Halloween brings and channel it into creative, engaging learning experiences. Here are some Halloween-themed activities that will keep your children entertained and learning at the same time!
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1. Spooky Science Experiments
Halloween is an excellent opportunity to add a little “mad scientist” fun to your science lessons! Why not try some hands-on experiments:
- Pumpkin Volcano: Take a small pumpkin, carve out the top, and scoop out the seeds. Fill the hollow with vinegar and a few drops of food colouring, then add baking soda and watch the “volcanic” reaction! Discuss the chemistry behind acids and bases while enjoying the spooky effect.
- Glow-in-the-Dark Slime: Create a simple slime recipe with glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution, then add glow-in-the-dark powder to give it a creepy Halloween twist. This can lead to discussions about states of matter, non-Newtonian fluids, or even the science of luminescence.
And if you don’t want to have to gather the supplies yourself then you can invest in a Glow In the Dark Slime making kit:
2. Halloween-Themed Creative Writing
Incorporating a bit of creative writing into your Halloween fun is a great way to develop your children’s language skills. Encourage them to write spooky stories or even scripts for a Halloween play. Some ideas include:
- Ghost Story Prompt: “You hear strange noises coming from the attic late at night. You decide to investigate…” Let your child’s imagination take over from here, and encourage them to use descriptive language, dialogue, and narrative structure.
WARNING THIS VIDEO IS A BIT CREEPY FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN – PREWATCHING IS ADVISED
- Character Profiles: Have your children create profiles for classic Halloween characters like witches, ghosts, or vampires. They can write about the character’s backstory, personality traits, and even design their costumes or homes.
This activity can tie into broader language arts lessons about storytelling, grammar, and vocabulary, all while being centered around a fun Halloween theme. If you want some more guidance on how to write a spooky story check out this activity writing book:
3. History of Halloween
Delve into the origins of Halloween and how it has evolved, especially here in the UK and Ireland. Many people associate Halloween with American culture, but it actually has ancient roots in the British Isles, stemming from the Celtic festival of Samhain.
- Research the History of Samhain: Explore how this ancient festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Discuss how the customs of Samhain, such as lighting bonfires and wearing costumes, eventually influenced modern-day Halloween celebrations.
- Compare Halloween Traditions: Use this opportunity to compare how Halloween is celebrated in different parts of the world. How do traditions in the UK and Ireland differ from those in the USA and Canada, Mainland Europe, or even Mexico’s Día de los Muertos?
This activity not only covers history but can tie in geography and cultural studies as well. If you want to learn about more celebrations and festivals that take place in different parts of the wordl then check out this book:
4. Halloween Maths
For some seasonal maths practice, try these fun Halloween-themed activities:
- Pumpkin Maths: Use a real pumpkin to practice estimation, measurement, and weight comparisons. Ask your children to estimate how many seeds are inside the pumpkin, then count them after carving. They can also measure the pumpkin’s circumference and compare it with others. If you want a picture book to go along with this activity then check out How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?
- Halloween Shape Hunt: For younger children, create a scavenger hunt around the house or garden where they have to find Halloween-themed objects that match specific shapes (e.g., a round pumpkin, a triangular bat wing). This reinforces shape recognition and classification.
These activities bring maths to life in a fun, festive way and help reinforce concepts like estimation, measurement, and geometry.
5. Halloween Arts and Crafts
Get creative with some hands-on projects that will also help your children develop fine motor skills, patience, and creativity.
- Pumpkin Painting: For younger children (or if you want to skip the mess of carving), try pumpkin painting! You can decorate pumpkins with spooky designs, or even use them to paint by dipping the pumpkin in paint and pressing it onto paper to create a print.
- DIY Halloween Decorations: Help your children make their own decorations like spooky bunting, paper ghosts, or bat mobiles. If you prefer to buy some crafts then check out these wooden halloween themed decorations by Perry’s Wood Craft in the UK. I paired them with this story collection A World Full of Spooky Stories for a fun evening for the kids.
Perhaps you don’t want to get out the paints or decorate the house but you still want some fun Halloween themed activites for the kids to pick up and do. Then these colouring and puzzle books by Meg Learner might be right up your street. My kids love them and I just leave them somewhere handy close to colouring pens and pencils.
6. Nature Walks and Autumn Exploration
In the UK, October is a beautiful time to get outside and explore the autumn landscape. A nature walk can be both educational and inspiring, especially when you use it as an opportunity to gather materials for your Halloween projects.
- Leaf Rubbings: Collect different leaves during your walk and make leaf rubbings when you get home. Discuss the types of trees and the changing seasons, and connect this to your science lessons.
- Create a Nature Table: Use your nature walk findings—leaves, conkers, acorns, and pinecones—to create a seasonal nature table. Incorporate this into discussions about the autumn harvest and its connection to festivals like Samhain and Halloween. Or perhaps you can use the nature finds in some nature art:
7. Halloween Reading
For a more relaxed activity, consider reading some Halloween-themed books with your children.
For Younger Children:
For Older Children:
Some of these would be perfect for reading aloud and then watching the movie afterwards.
8. Halloween Movies
These movies are perfect for cozy autumn nights with the family, bringing in a mix of fun, spooky, and heartfelt moments to complement your Halloween celebrations! Even better is when you can read the book and then watch the movie together.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
A classic family favorite, Hocus Pocus tells the story of three comedic witches brought back to life in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts. With its spooky but light-hearted tone, it’s perfect for younger viewers and offers plenty of laughs and magic.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This Tim Burton classic is a fantastic mix of Halloween and Christmas, making it a perfect choice for the autumn season. The stop-motion animation, quirky characters, and catchy songs are sure to keep the whole family entertained.
Coco (2017)
Although it’s centered around Mexico’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Coco is a beautiful, heartwarming story about family, traditions, and remembering loved ones. The vibrant colors and themes of life and death make it a meaningful and visually stunning movie for Halloween season.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Hotel Transylvania and its sequels are great for younger kids who want something spooky but not scary. These animated films follow a group of classic monsters, including Dracula and Frankenstein, who run a hotel for their fellow creatures. It’s full of humor and light-hearted fun.
The Witches (1990 or 2020)
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved novel, The Witches follows the story of a young boy who discovers a secret society of witches plotting to turn children into mice. Whether you choose the original 1990 version or the 2020 adaptation, this film offers a spooky but fun adventure that is perfect for family Halloween viewing.
Coraline (2009)
Based on the Neil Gaiman book, Coraline is an animated fantasy about a girl who discovers a parallel world that seems perfect—until it reveals a more sinister side. This movie has a spooky atmosphere but is suitable for older children who enjoy a darker tone without being too frightening.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
This British claymation film features the much-loved duo, Wallace and Gromit, as they face a giant vegetable-eating “Were-Rabbit.” It’s a hilarious and charming film that’s great for all ages, with a very British sense of humor.
The Addams Family (1991 or 2019)
This movie brings to life the delightfully weird and gothic Addams Family. It’s perfect for older children and families who enjoy a mix of dark humor and spooky fun. The quirky characters and bizarre adventures will be a hit during Halloween.
The more recent The Addams Family movie (2019) is an animated reboot of the iconic, spooky-yet-lovable family. In this version, the Addams family—Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Uncle Fester—find themselves adjusting to life in a modern, cookie-cutter town after years of isolation in their gloomy mansion. The film stays true to the quirky, macabre humor fans expect, but adds contemporary themes like fitting in, family bonds, and embracing differences.
Frankenweenie (2012)
Another Tim Burton animated film, Frankenweenie tells the story of a boy who brings his beloved dog back to life. It’s a great mix of touching, spooky, and funny, with nods to classic horror films.
ParaNorman (2012)
This stop-motion film follows Norman, a boy who can see and talk to ghosts, as he tries to save his town from a curse. It’s a great mix of adventure, comedy, and spooky elements, perfect for families with children around 8 and older.
9. Halloween Games
Here are some fun Halloween-themed board games that are perfect for family game nights during the spooky season:
Cauldron Quest is a cooperative game where players work together to create a magic potion before the evil wizard takes over the kingdom. The game’s focus on teamwork and its magical theme make it a fun and less scary choice for younger players.
The Attic Monster is a spooky-themed family board game where players must work together to search a haunted attic for treasures while avoiding the mischievous monster lurking in the shadows. With its cooperative gameplay and simple mechanics, it’s a fun, engaging game perfect for younger players and families looking for lighthearted Halloween excitement.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a fast-paced, social deduction game where players take on secret roles (villagers, werewolves, etc.) and must work together to identify the werewolves before it’s too late. This is perfect for older kids and adults who enjoy a bit of mystery and deception.
Final Thoughts
Halloween offers a fantastic opportunity to bring some seasonal excitement into your home education, while also creating memorable, educational experiences. Whether you’re delving into spooky science, exploring the history of Samhain, or creating Halloween art, these activities provide fun and enriching ways to engage your children in learning. So, why not embrace the spirit of the season and add a little Halloween magic to your homeschool?
Happy Halloween!
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