Halloween Party Games for the Classroom

Everyone in the US knows that Halloween ranks right up there with Christmas, as one of the kid's favorite holidays. As adults, we forget that it isn't all about the candy, the macabre ghoulish part of it is also one of the best parts. With that, it is always fun to have a spooktacular Halloween class party with a lot of fun games and activities, with candy for prizes. Here are a couple ideas for you to try...

Setting the stage:

Be sure to play some spooky Halloween music to create ambiance. You can usually get a spooky soundtrack tape or CD for pretty cheap. You can also dim the lights, but make sure it is light enough to see. Flashlights with orange cellophane on them are fun too. If you don't mind cleaning up the mess, bring in some garbage bags full of fallen leaves and dump them into piles for the kids to kick around. You can create cobwebs by stretching some cotton batting out, which is pretty inexpensive at your local craft store. Make some bats to hang from the ceiling by balling up some black construction paper and wrapping it with electrical tape, and attaching some black wings cut from paper. You can have the kids help make these beforehand, and they can take them home after the party.

Pumpkin Bowling:

Find some of those cheap plastic trick-or-treat pumpkins and stack them as high as you like, in a pyramid. Get some of those little softball sized pumpkins at your grocery store or farmers market, and let the kids go bowling! For prizes, you can put some candy into the pumpkin heads, and the bowler can keep any that falls out when they knock the pyramid over.

Make a Mummy:

Kids of all ages like to play this one. Bring in a LOT of toilet paper. Divide the kids into teams of two, and get them started with a Ready, Set, Go. The first team that is all the way wrapped up wins. Watch the teams for second, third place. Once the kids are all done, maybe give a prize to the best mummy, even if they weren't the fastest. Let them play around a bit, moaning and doing their mummy thing, then have them break out of their wrappings with a "ROAR", and start the game again so the other child can also be wrapped.

Gross Out:

Set up a table with bowls of "mystery" for the kids to reach into. For example, cooked spaghetti noodles with black olives and vegetable oil, for wormy guts, adding small plastic bugs can make it even wierder... green jello (you can add some food coloring to make it black), with grapes and gummy worms for "eye of newt", Pumpkin guts with hot dogs for corpse finger stew, etc. Know your audience beforehand though... this one is best for older kids. Be sure to provide towels for them to clean their hands with when they are done.

Halloween Musical Chairs:

This classic game can be made right for the season by playing "Monster Mash" or "Thriller" music, and having the kids do their best Zombie walk while going 'round the chairs. You will definitely see some creative zombies.

Story Time:

Make a circle, and start a ghost story. After a few minutes, have the person to the right continue where you left of. Keep going around until everyone has a turn. If anyone wants to pass their turn, let them. Maybe make some rules beforehand, so the story doesn't get too out of control. This is another "Know your audience" games, probably best for older kids.

This is also an opportune time to remind kids of the importance of Trick-or-Treat safety, such as "Stranger Danger", wearing safety reflectors, letting their parents check their treat bags before they dive in, staying in groups, etc.

A good prize to give out during the games, or for their favor bags, is those incandescent glow sticks, if you can find a good deal on them.