Halloween Activities
Science
DNA FrankensteinIn this activity, students create a class "Frankenstein"- which is basically all the student's traits collaborated together. Requires some pre-planning, but lesson has rave reviews!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Science-Class-DNA-Frankenstein-383264 |
The Biology of ZombiesIn this Untamed Science video, Rob explains how the Zombies we know from Hollywood horror films have a very real biological basis. It's all about the potions used by the witch doctors. In short, it all stems from the country of Haiti, where Zombies are ingrained in their cultural beliefs. Their mystery was finally unlocked by Wade Davis, an ethnobotanist in the early 1980's when he got his hands on a handful of "zombie potions".
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The Legend of VampiresDid you know that vampires may have come from eating a diet consisting of nothing but corn? Its true.
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Exploding Pumpkins - Steve SpanglerThis method is a favorite among chemistry teachers, who use the demo to illustrate the energy released when you break a triple bond in a molecule of acetylene.
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Halloween Science - Fluorescent ChlorophyllLooking for a fun Halloween science demo? Try this glowing experiment with chlorophyll and a black light. Chlorophyll is green under normal light, but fluoresces red under UV light.
http://inspirationlaboratories.com/halloween-science-fluorescent-chlorophyll/ |
English
Something Wicked This Way ComesBroken into Parts, with chapter sets for each part, Something Wicked This Way Comes can be taught weekly over a span of four to five weeks. Download the chapter set power points and make note taking easy by keeping track of important quotes with your students!
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/high-school-english-lessons/128039-teaching-something-wicked-this-way-comes/#imgn_0 |
21 Halloween Scary Short StoriesWhile the lessons are presented as for Middle School, there's no reason why the stories themselves couldn't be used for the high school realm. Stories come with activities and background information.
http://www.mrswatersenglish.com/2014/10/21-scary-halloween-short-stories-for-middle-school/ |
Creepy Facts with Writing PromptsThis 7-slide Power Point is sure to peak your middle or high school students' interests with its high creep factor. Each slide includes a random creepy fact, with an accompanying writing prompt. Some of the prompts are opinion-based while others get the creative juices flowing. These slides are the perfect way to start your English or Language Arts lesson; they're perfect for Halloween, to compliment a horror story, or for simply creeping your students out!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Creepy-Facts-with-Writing-Prompts-385637 |
Salem Witch TrialsUse Halloween to set the stage to teach The Crucible and learn about the Salem Witch Trials.
Website comes with lesson plan, guiding questions and resources. http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/salem-witch-trials.cfm |
World Languages
Dia De Los Muertos SkeletonsStudents use recycled milk jugs and paint to create Dia de los Muertos skeletons! Website includes detailed instructions to creating skeletons.
http://schools.stopwaste.org/share/middle-school/walters/1199-dia-de-los-muertos-at-walters-jr-high.html |
Joyeux HalloweenUsing Q-tips, make skeletons and review body parts!
http://sweetpetitecomptine.blogspot.com/2013/10/holiday-special-joyeux-halloween.html |
Math
Carve Fractal PumpkinsFractals and stars are two of the most beautiful and complicated-looking classes of geometric objects out there. We're going to explore these objects and how to carve them on a pumpkin.
http://mathcraft.wonderhowto.com/how-to/carve-fractals-and-stars-pumpkins-0131053/ |
Halloween OrigamiDemonstrate the connection between Origami, the art of paper folding, and math! Have students create their own Halloween Origami creatures and learn at the same time.
http://en.origami-club.com/halloween/ |
Halloween GraphingPlot the ordered pairs and connect them with line segments to create a Halloween-themed drawing!
http://www.cartesiancartoons.com/files/hbpuzzles/hb010.pdf http://www.cartesiancartoons.com/files/hbpuzzles/hb009.pdf http://www.cartesiancartoons.com/files/hbpuzzles/hb008.pdf |
Carve Polyhedral PumpkinsLearn step-by-step how to carve a pumpkin into a polyhedral shape!
http://mathcraft.wonderhowto.com/how-to/carve-polyhedral-pumpkins-0130984/ |
Social Studies
Government - Mystery of the Salem Witch TrialsStudents assume the roles of detectives as they investigate the occurrences during the Salem Witch Trials. They also assume the roles of lawyers and explore the principles of American democracy through the documents and laws that are meant to protect citizens from such unjust treatment in modern history.
http://civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/SalemWitchTrials.pdf |
History - National Geographic Salem Witch TrialsWatch the hour long documentary over the Salem Witch Trials.
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History - Salem Mock TrialExperience the horror of the Salem Witch Trials in this National Geographic Mock Trial.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/salem/ |
The History of HalloweenLearn the history of Halloween, watch quick video clips and explore interactive activities on this great, comprehensive site.
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween |
Geography - Halloween Around the WorldFrom Belgium to China, from Mexico to Ireland, see how countries from around the world celebrate Halloween in their own special way.
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Art/Music
Night on Bald Mountain - FantasiaIn the spirit of Halloween, watch the animators of Disney show their haunting interpretation of Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain.
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Francisco Goya - The Black PaintingsTake a peek into Francisco Goya's haunted mind in this virtual tour of his Black Paintings.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/romanticism/romanticism-in-spain/v/goya-saturn-devouring-one-of-his-sons http://eeweems.com/goya/black_paintings.html |
Halloween OrigamiHave your students study the Japanese art of Origami, or paper folding. Instructions and videos explain how to fold the paper to create monsters, pumpkins and more!
http://en.origami-club.com/halloween/ |
Time Fillers
Halloween Word SearchesThese two Halloween word searches are actually pretty difficult!
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