What’s with all the costumes?
Discuss with your children: On Halloween they will see people in costumes. The costumes are simply PEOPLE dressed-up to pretend to be something else (much like when our own children play dress-up). Make a dress-up area where children can practice trying on different clothes/costumes. Pretend play is a wonderful way to get young children used to the idea of costumes. If your children witness a costume that makes them afraid, remind them that it is only a costume and that the people are just playing dress-up. If at all possible, join in family friendly Halloween events where the possibility of witnessing costumes that are frightening to young children will be minimized.
Counting Colored Ghosts – Colored Ghosts Printable
Materials needed: One Counting Color Ghosts.pdf (link above) for each child, and crayons or markers.
Print one copy of the Counting Color Ghosts.pdf for each child. Read one line of the text to the children and color one row of ghosts together as a class. Tell the children to look at the number and the color to determine just how many ghosts they should color in.
For younger children, do the ghosts together as a small group activity.
For older children: See if the older children can complete some of the rows independently. The larger numbers may present a challenge for some students. Older children could also complete the pages together as a small group activity.
Extension Activity #1 – Have the children use small colored counters to add up the number of all the colored ghosts in the rows.
Extension Activity #2 – Using counters, ask the children to place one counter on each of ghosts in the rows. Have the children remove one counter for each of the COLORED ghosts in the row (= to the number indicated by the text). Next, have the children count the number of ghosts that are NOT colored in that row. (For ex.: if there are 5 ghosts in each row, the child will place 5 counters on each of the ghosts. There is ONE colored ghost in that row so the child will remove ONE counter. How many counters remain in the row? 5-1=4 – Have the children write or stamp the subtraction problem on a separate piece of paper, if desired.)
How to Draw a Jack-o-Lantern: Draw_a_Jack_o_Lantern
Materials needed: One Draw a Jack o lantern.pdf for each child, white paper, pencils, and/or orange/green/black crayons or markers.
Print one copy of the Draw a Jack o lantern.pdf (link above) for each child. Give each child a plain white sheet of paper. Read the instructions to the children (they can follow along on their own instruction sheet.) 1. Draw an oval 2. Draw a small square at the top for a stem. 3. Color the oval orange and the stem green. 4. Make triangles for the eyes and the nose. 5. Make a mouth for your pumpkin. Have the children use their crayons to complete their own jack-o-lantern!
Extension: Make a class booklet! Take pictures of the children while drawing the jack-o-lanterns and make a simple book. The children will enjoy looking to find their own!
Witch, Witch, Broom
For a game that young children love, play “Duck, Duck, Goose” but substitute the words “Witch, Witch, Broom.” Have the children sit in a circle (best played outdoors, but can be played indoors if space permits.) One child is selected to start the game. Have that child walk around the outside of the circle GENTLY tapping each child’s head and saying, “Witch.” When desired, the child taps another child’s head and yells, “BROOM!” The children must run around the circle and try to be the first to claim the empty spot in the circle and sit down. The child left standing will then continue the game. *We ask our children to CHOOSE another child (by saying, “BROOM!”) after ONE time around the circle to allow all the children to have a turn.
For additional suggestions for math, literacy, science, art, and power points for Halloween, see the Fall Thematic at The Preschool Toolbox!