Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Oct 2, 2023
Looking for some engaging Halloween activities for Upper Elementary? I have got you covered! This spooky holiday has so many great learning opportunities that build upon the excitement and enthusiasm students are already feeling about the holiday. As teachers, we can take advantage of this built in engagement by incorporating these topics into our existing curriculum.
Looking for a COMPLETE bundle of Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary? Click on the image or button below to download the complete bundle – it comes with three different Halloween themed unit, perfect for upper elementary learners!
Once October arrives, my search for age-appropriate yet challenging Halloween activities begins. While the “Five Little Pumpkins” song holds its charm, it doesn’t quite align with the Upper Elementary crowd.
Every resource spotlighted in this post has undergone classroom testing with this age group. Rest assured, they’re bound to inject a dash of spooky excitement into your curriculum.
Check out additional Halloween activities for upper elementary by checking out these posts on Halloween worksheets and Halloween STEM Challenges!
Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary – Monster Slime
Looking for a fun Halloween Science Activity? Look no further! In this engaging lab, students learn all about polymers while practicing the scientific method.
The best thing about this slime lab is that it relatively low prep, and requires simple ingredients that you can quickly grab at the grocery store on your way into work. The kids really enjoy mixing up their own slime, and it is a great introductory science activity. When done, you can even package up their slime in small jars, and send them home as a fun Halloween treat.
The resource comes with full instructions, material list, and a multi-page lab booklet for students to fill out.
Interested in trying this activity out with your own learners? Click here or on the image below to go directly to my TPT shop and download a copy for your classroom.
Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary – Halloween STEM Challenge
STEM challenges are great ways to tie some spooky fun into your regular classroom curriculum. For this activity, we start by reading aloud and discussing Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds. I will admit that this is pretty much my favorite Halloween read aloud. Aaron Reynolds writes in a way that is super appealing to younger learners, and this funny story does not disappoint. If you can’t get your hands on a copy of the picture book, don’t despair – there is a fantastic version on YouTube.
After going over the story with the kids, I set them to work on their STEM challenge. Using only craft sticks, yarn, scissors, and tape, student groups must construct a fence to contain their creepy carrot.
You can give the kids a carrot shape cut out of paper to contain inside their fence if you like, but I usually give each group a real carrot from the grocery store – it definitely ups the engagement!
As is the case with any good STEM challenge, I ask the kids to do some pre-planning of their fence designs, reflect on their completed projects, and brainstorm ways they can improve their designs in the future. When done, they present their completed projects to the class. This activity is always a highlight, and much loved by the kids.
A complete S.T.E.M. notebook is included with this resource. Students can use this notebook along with ANY S.T.E.M. challenge you use all year!
It includes a variety of planning and refection pages, and is a great way to add some literacy to your S.T.E.M. activity.
Interested in picking up a copy of this activity to try with your own learners? Click here or on the image below to go directly to my TPT shop and snag your own copy.
Read more about this activity, and other STEM activities for Halloween, by checking out our post featuring a whole pile of different Halloween STEM activities!
Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary – Frankenstein Interviews
The Halloween season is a great time for creative writing. Monsters, superstitions, and holiday traditions make for great writing prompts that will get even your most reluctant writers anxious to get their thoughts out on paper.
This interview activity is one of my favorites. For this activity, students must pretend to interview Frankenstein, and write paragraphs about his daily life, hopes and dreams, and common misunderstandings.
This activity is a great way to get students thinking creatively, and a fantastic opportunity for paragraph writing practice. The package comes with full student instructions, graphic organizers, and writing templates. Completed projects make great take home activities to share with mom and dad!
Another huge bonus of this activity is that it requires absolutely no prep. You can simply print it out and be good to go. Also, it keeps the kids quiet and focused for an extended period of time. Lets be honest- things can get a little crazy around Halloween, and sometimes it can be really nice to have an activity to keep them quietly working in their seats.
Interested in trying this activity out with your own class? Click here or on the image below to download a copy of the resource.
Looking for more engaging writing activities? Check out our complete guide to Halloween writing resources!
Interested in trying out ALL THREE activities?
You can snag all three activities at a reduced price by downloading the complete activity bundle. It contains all three of these resources. Click here or on the image below to grab the complete bundle (and save some money!)
I hope these activities help save you some time and help make your Halloween lesson planning a little easier.
Interested in reading more about Halloween Activities you can use in your classroom?
Check out these related blog posts!
Spooky Short Stories for Middle School
More Spooky Short Stories for Middle School
Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary
Halloween Close Reading Activities for Middle School
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