Middle School Halloween Activities

Middle school Halloween activities do not need to be boring. We can still celebrate this fun day with middle school students. Don’t get me wrong, Halloween costumes can be fun. The opportunity to be someone you are not – be it sparkly fairy, evil vampire queen, or something totally different has a pull that few can resist.

But as fun as costumes can be, they often offer little in the way of educational opportunities. Yet with the draw of Halloween being so universally strong, it would be a pity to pass up the opportunity to tap into this holiday’s energy.

While you may have your own ideas and activities to use with your students, I want to introduce you to three middle school Halloween activities that I have created that have been used with great success on this spooktacular occasion.

Halloween Non-Fiction Article

The ability to read and internalize nonfiction is an important skill and one that is significantly emphasized in many standards. And while nonfiction often gets a bad rap as dull or dry, there is no reason it has to be this way.

This Halloween Non-Fiction Article and related activities look at the history of Halloween and some current and historical traditions for this popular holiday. It is a great way to use nonfiction in a fun and timely manner. Find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

Halloween Creative Writing

Creative writing is another enjoyable way to tap into the educational opportunities Halloween offers. While asking your students to do something like writing a ghost story or a spooky tale, this print-and-go option not only provides students with a choice-filled framework to get them going but also gives you two different grading rubrics to use as you assess student work. Use this Halloween Creative Writing Assignment to keep students focused during this exciting season. Find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

Halloween Digital Escape Room

Escape rooms are a popular activity these days. This Halloween Digital Escape Room not only taps into the natural draw of Halloween, but it also pulls students in through the use of game playing and technology—a trifecta to be sure. By having students work independently or with their peers to solve ten Halloween-focused challenges and escape the haunted house, students are practicing multiple language arts skills while playing a fun and engaging game. Find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

Halloween Stores Podcast Lesson

Teachers are provided with an engaging listening comprehension lesson based on a podcast segment about how Halloween-specific stores are profitable even though they are only open for a few months of the year. Podcasts are a great medium to share and use with students. Find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

Additional Halloween Resources

Watch the Thriller music video (depending on the age of your students)
Learn how to do the Thriller Dance
Play Halloween Bingo
Have students complete some adult colouring sheets

Not allowed to celebrate Halloween at your school?

You can still bring mystery and excitement into your classroom with these non-fiction articles.

The Loch Ness Monster – Find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart –Find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

Halloween in school can easily descend into candy – and costume-fueled chaos. By encouraging fun activities that have a specific educational bent to them, you can channel the positive, natural engagement that this holiday offers into something other than a headache and wasted day.

Whether you decide to use these sorts of activities on just the holiday itself or for several days leading up to the holiday, don’t miss this great educational opportunity with these middle school Halloween activities.

Looking for a week of middle school Halloween activities?

This engaging Halloween Unit contains 5 different lesson activities that will help reinforce your students’ reading and writing skills. Students will learn about the historical background of Halloween traditions and prepare for a Halloween discussion about current Halloween customs. Find this resource on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.

Lesson 1: History of Halloween Video & Readings
Lesson 2: Halloween Opinion Writing
Lesson 3: Halloween Opinion Fishbowl Discussion & Paragraph Assignment
Lesson 4: Halloween Around the World Reading
Lesson 5: Halloween Creative Writing Assignment