Cheap, Yet Creative Halloween Costume Ideas for a Group

Halloween for any school-age child is certainly a big event. It is also a major production for any adult that works in the school system. Pupils just adore it when their favorite teacher takes part in the fun. While some of these ideas are directed towards the academic community, they can surely be adjusted to fit any group. Here are top five, creative yet cheap group costume suggestions:

1. The Trees of Knowledge Costume. For this costume you will need to come together as a group before you do anything else. Decide which of you would want to be each component of knowledge. This is limited only by your own interpretation. For example, one can be the tree of mathematics. or the tree of poetry. Once that has been decided, the costume is simple. Have each participant dress in brown clothing from head to toe, such as brown corduroy pants and a brown turtleneck. Each of you should don a hat that you have modified with green leaves cut from large construction paper. Attach paper leaves with hot glue. Try your best to have a few leaves with what your "branch" of knowledge written on them. Students and parents will appreciate your creativity.

2. The Gifts of Learning Costume. This is a variation of the first costume. All this costume requires is a little paint and a big bow with some ribbon. Scope out your local warehouse store or appliance store and snag an empty box. The box should be big enough to fit around you. Cut out the top and the bottom. Wrap the box in some gift wrap and add a coordinating ribbon. Of course, a nice touch would be to dress in color coordinated pants and a turtleneck. Upon your head, tie a large ribbon that matches the ribbon used on your box. Across your box, write which gift of learning you are, such as tolerance, patience, etc. Simply hold the box up around you with your hands or have someone tape the box from the top, around your arms and down the other side. It is limitless and up to you and your group to decide.

3. The Months of the Year Costume. This costume is great for a group of 12 or less. Visit your favorite place to haul off a large enough box to fit around you. Cut out the top and bottom of the box. Pick a particular month and paint that calendar month on the front of your box. Add the numbers and the days and highlight special days for that month. Dress in pants and turtleneck that corresponds with your month. For example, for December, wear red or green pants and shirt or a combination of both. Walk holding the box or attach as above. Add a headband with cutouts that symbolize the month and the costume is complete. For example, if your month is July, wear a red headband with paper stars attached. Trims can be added by wrapping a pipe cleaner around the headband and stapling or gluing the trims. Keep it simple but have fun.

4. The Crayon Costume. This costume is perfect for a group. Purchase some large bolt paper, like that used for bulletin boards, in a color of your choice. Cut a large enough piece to wrap around you comfortably with some overlap. Once again, attach with string or tape from front to back and around your arm. Paper may be decorated with markers to closely resemble the wrapping on a crayon. Add a matching cone shaped hat made out of construction paper.

5. The 101 Dalmatian Costume. This costume is great because there can be many members in the group. Purchase a white or light tan sweat outfit or loose fitting pants and shirt. Cut black circles out of construction paper and fasten to your clothes with safety pins, if you wish to wear the clothes again. Otherwise, fabric glue the "spots" to the clothes. Buy a white woolly hat or cap and fasten black, construction paper ears. Accent with an old dog collar or pipe cleaners weaved together so that they are large enough to fit around your neck.

These costumes are quickly created and do not require much money or artistic talent to pull off. Personally, I have used these ideas or variations and have appeared at Halloween events with cheers from all.