Spooky English Language Learning Activities for Halloween!

Miss Marilena
Nov 3, 2024
5 min read

Hello and welcome back to another post full of ideas and free handouts! This season of Halloween was another great hit in our English class. I have noticed that my students learn easier when I introduce something new in the context of a holiday or through a game. That's why I believe the best thing to do for you is to put everything we did the last three years for our Halloween party lessons in one post. Here is everything I prepare for my English learners for our Halloween party. If you are a teacher or a student you can find these ideas, handouts and presentation helpful for your own teaching or learning. And if you find these kind of posts and handouts useful, don't forget to register in my email list and never miss another post from me.

1. Spooky Ghost experiment

Let's kick off the Halloween party with a 'Spooky Ghost Experiment.' This experiment is fun and easy. A few hours before the party I take some baking soda and a few drops of water and I form some balls with my hands. Then I shape those balls into ghosts and put them in the freezer on a parchment paper lined tray. Before the lesson starts I take them out and add with a black marker two eyes and a mouth so it really looks like a ghost. I also prepare some vinegar mixed with a bit of red food colouring in a small bowl. I bought some drippers off of Amazon but a spoon can work too. Once the experiment begins I ask the kids what do they think will happen to the ghosts? Will they change colour because of the 'bloody' vinegar? Will they melt? Will they fuzz? Will they get bigger? I use basic vocabulary with younger students and many many gestures. It's always fun to see everyone's expression when the ghosts come into contact with the vinegar! They are always awed and shocked.

Level: Easy

Loved it! 100% Amazing and easy Halloween themed craft.

Duration: It will only take 10 minutes maximum to complete from start to finish during your lesson with some minimum prep effort.

2. Creepy Halloween Cooking

This Halloween whip up some 'Creepy Halloween Cooking' where students get to practice their cooking skills but also their English vocabulary. Through the years we have explored many different recipes. We have made cakes, cupcakes, cookies and many more. It's safe to say that cooking is always a great hit with kids.

Even if sometimes things don't turn out as expected kids always have fun and laugh about it. For example last Halloween our cupcake recipe asked for sugar and some of my students confused sugar with salt (I always have extra ingredients on the desk for word recognition practice). Needless to say our cupcakes turn out really really salty!!! Not the best flavor to be honest...

Kids have no problem making mistakes as long as the process is great fun and guided. It's important to have recipes printed for them and talk them through the steps. Guiding kids through cooking not only makes them feel safe but also practices their English skills in a natural way.

Level: Difficult

Loved it! Amazing, kids love it and we end up with snacks and treats

Duration: takes a bit of time to prep, takes 15 minutes to mix in class and 30 minutes to fully cook your recipes. Pro Tip: have some of your recipes pre-cooked the day before for backup or for limited time

3. Pumpkin Decoration

This is such a cute detail you can make ahead of Halloween for your class or at home. Using small round pumpkins and some black markers we draw faces on them and learn vocabulary such as pumpkins, trick or treat or spooky night. Pumpkins also make great conversation starter for teens who are ready to learn all about the old Halloween scary movies that they haven't watched yet and probably shouldn't. 😂 If you like this post so far don't forget to put your email in my email list and I promise to send you only things you will love!

Level: Easy

Loved it! Kids love to decorate pumpkins

Duration: takes maximum five minutes from your lesson

4. Mystery Word Masquerade

All this new Halloween vocabulary can seem difficult at the beginning. That's why I'm always using my easy vocabulary presentation and then my Halloween handout. They are the perfect combination for vocabulary building and speaking practice. You can get my handout for free by clicking on the icon below. You can also use this video presentation in your class for introducing Halloween themed vocabulary.

Level: Easy

Loved it! They love love love presentations that look like games

Duration: takes around 15 minutes for both presentation and handout

5. Haunted House Vocabulary Search

Do you want to surprise your students with an amazing haunted activity? Make this easy vocabulary activity and you won't regret it. All you need is an empty file and a black A4 paper. On the file write as many Halloween themed words as possible and draw things such as bats, castles, witches and pumpkins. You can also make your own DIY easy torch by cutting out some black paper and a yellow paper circle. When you enter the torch under the file and on the black paper, Halloween themed words are revealed. This activity has always been a hit with m students. After finding all the words they can write them in their classwork or just talk with you about them.

6. Spooky Crafts

Make your own paper Halloween puppets with this easy craft. The idea is to have a long rectangle strip of paper where you draw a pumpkin on it or a Frankenstein monster. The trick is to fold your paper in a way that the top piece and the bottom piece touch in the middle leaving hidden the middle part. Once you draw a pumpkin or a monster you open the piece of paper and trace a huge mouth with a tongue inside. Once you colour and decorate your craft it's a ready to use paper Halloween puppet! Enjoy!

In conclusion,

a Halloween themed lesson can provide many opportunities for engaging and immersive learning for both teachers and parents who try to teach English to their kids. By infusing lessons with creative Halloween-themed activities, teachers can spark students' passion for language learning, making teaching an enchanting adventure that goes beyond the ordinary classroom experience.

So, grab your broomsticks, put on your wizard hats, and embark on this thrilling language-learning journey with me this Halloween season! If you liked this post don't forget to register in my email list so you never miss a post from me again. I will see you in the next one. Toodaloo!!!

🎃Happy Halloween🎃

Did you know that I have my own English books? My new book 'Ollie needs a new body' helps students practice face and body vocabulary, have got and can in a fun and engaging way!