10 Fun and educational Halloween classroom videos and activities
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to engage your students than with fun and educational Halloween-themed activities? Whether you’re a teacher looking for Halloween teaching inspiration or lesson plans, we’ve got you covered. There are plenty of ways to plan for a classroom Halloween celebration. Use these Halloween ideas for the classroom to teach students standardized-testing vocabulary words, literature, and history while still celebrating. Let’s explore educational Halloween videos and activities that are sure to captivate and educate your students.
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10 Fun and educational Halloween classroom videos and activities
Get ready for your classroom to get spooky with these Halloween classroom ideas! Incorporating educational Halloween videos and activities into your lessons adds an element of excitement and engagement. It transforms the classroom into a place of creativity and learning, where students eagerly explore the history of Halloween, delve into classic spooky literature, expand their vocabulary, and more.
We’ve got you covered with fun Halloween classroom activities to share with your students. Keep reading to explore a list of ideas to help you organize lesson plans and ghost-ify your classroom this year!
1. Teach the origin of Halloween
Start your Halloween lesson with a deep dive into the history of this spooky holiday. Educational Halloween videos can help you transport your students to ancient traditions and their origins. Discuss the evolution of Halloween from its roots to the modern-day celebration, shedding light on its cultural significance and how it differs around the world.
In this Flocabulary lesson, students will learn the origin of Halloween and how the holiday became what it is today. Watch the Halloween video with students and assign them the lesson so they can complete the vocabulary and reading comprehension activities. This is perfect for your Halloween lesson plans!
2. The story of Frankenstein
Keep students on the edge of their seats with the most classic monster story of all. In this adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein faces the monster he has created. Watch with students a synopsis of Frankenstein and its vocabulary words. Pair this Video Text with a Skill to create a Flocabulary Mix*!
Add this lesson to your English Language Arts (ELA) Halloween ideas for classrooms!
*Flocabulary Mix and Break it Down are available to users with a school or district Flocabulary Plus subscription.
3. What is Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead?
In this lesson, students learn about Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This hip-hop-infused lesson is inspired by the student winner’s lyrics from the Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 Contest.
Explore with students the origins of the holiday and its cultural significance in this fun, vibrant, and catchy video.
4. Teach SAT vocabulary related to phobias
Enhance your students’ vocabulary skills with Halloween-themed vocabulary activities. Create word lists related to Halloween by using the vocabulary words listed in the Teacher Resources section in all of these lessons.
Do you or your students have any phobias? Listen to this rap about extreme fears, scary stories, and dark haunted houses, while brushing up on high school vocabulary. Use these Halloween classroom ideas to teach students words they are likely to encounter on the SAT.
5. Grade 3 vocabulary words: Candy
The main character in this video loves sweets so much, she dreams about them! This song includes third-grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests. Tie this vocabulary video to how students feel when trick-or-treating during Halloween. Use Vocab Game in the lesson to have students build a beat by answering correct questions about the words. Consider creating a bulletin board with vocabulary words using these lessons.
6. Grade 4 vocabulary words: Superstitions
In this song what superstitions are and why some believe in them. This lesson includes fourth-grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests such as: analyze, appropriate, century, focus, impact, peer, plentiful, recent, source, and terror. Challenge your students to use these words in sentences or short stories. Engage them in word games like Halloween-themed crossword puzzles or word searches to reinforce their vocabulary.
7. Grade 5 vocabulary words: Dracula Junior
If you’re looking for Halloween stories to share with students, use this one about the son of Dracula. Watch Dracula Junior with students while they learn 10 new vocabulary terms. This hip-hop song includes fifth-grade vocabulary words that students are likely to encounter on state tests. Give students a mix of spooky literature, vocabulary, and hip-hop all in one lesson with this Halloween classroom idea! Use the Vocab Cards to have students write or draw examples of vocabulary words.
8. Building suspense in writing
To stick to the theme of Edgar Allen Poe, students can learn techniques he uses to create suspense in “The Tell-Tale Heart” in this hip-hop video. Students learn techniques for creating suspense in their creative writing, including point of view, imagery, dramatic irony, and more. Have students create their own suspenseful poem using Lyric Lab within the lesson as their Halloween writing assignment.
9. Edgar Allen Poe’s dark tale, ‘The Cask of Amontillado’
Introduce your students to the eerie world of classic spooky literature and poetry. Explore the works of Edgar Allan Poe to engage your students in discussions about themes, symbolism, and the impact of these literary giants on popular culture.
The father of modern mystery, Edgar Allen Poe, is known for his dark and macabre stories. Watch a summary of ‘The Cask of Amontillado,’ a tale of pride and revenge. Students will follow the plot points and learn how Poe used irony and suspense to build a macabre mood.
10. Edgar Allen Poe’s dark tale, ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’
We bring you Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Pit and the Pendulum” in one terrifying rap song. The lyrics summarize the plot of Poe’s classic tale of torture. Use this Halloween classroom activity for Grades 8 to 12.
Celebrate Halloween with Flocabulary
We hope you and your students enjoy these ideas and activities! As you prepare this year’s Halloween lesson plans, infuse a little Flocab magic using these Halloween songs and resources. With Flocabulary, every lesson is an opportunity to bring the curriculum to life and reinforce core knowledge and skills. Your students will be spellbound by the enriching and entertaining journey through the world of Halloween, making this holiday a delightful blend of fun and learning in your classroom. Whether you teach elementary, middle school, or high school, you can engage all learners across any K-12 subject with our hip-hop video lessons!
New to Flocabulary? Teachers can sign up for a trial to access our hip-hop infused lesson videos and assessment activities. Administrators can get in touch with us to learn more about unlocking the full power of Flocabulary through Flocabulary Plus.