More than 65 ideas for all ages! Pre-K thru School-Age! More art/crafts and poems and songs on  Page 2 !

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MAKE TISSUE PAPER JACK-O-LANTERNS

1. For each project, bend a wire coat hanger into a circular shape. You could also have each child bring a pre-shaped hanger from home.

2. Lay the hangers on a large sheet of orange tissue paper. Trace the hanger with glue--so that the glue runs onto the tissue paper.

3. Top each hanger with a second sheet of tissue paper. Allow the glue to dry and then use scissor to remove the excess paper--creating an orange circle.
Have children use paper scraps, markers, scissors and glue to add facial features to their Jack-o-lanterns.

4. Last, wrap the hooks of the hangers with green crepe paper streamers, securing the paper with tape to create a stem.

You can make smaller jack-o-lanterns by shaping a smaller circle and hook out of sturdy wire.

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HALLOWEEN TEA LIGHTS/Votive Candles #1

Material:
Tissue paper or streamers in Halloween colors
Scissors
Liquid starch
Small galss jar
Paintbrushes

Tear the tissue paper/streamers into tiny pieces.
Paint the liquid starch onto the jar; arrange pieces of paper so they completely cover the jar.
Add another coat of liquid starch on top.
Place the jar on something such as aluminum foil to dry.
Drop in a votive candle and let the mood-lighting begin!

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  VOTIVE CANDLES #2

 

Materials:
Baby food jars or jam jars, Scraps of tissue paper, Diluted paste or glue, Votive candles

Clean the jars well and let dry. You can use small jars...but check the size of the votive candle to make sure it will fit. Have the children  brush glue onto the jar and place different colors of tissue paper over the glue, overlapping so the entire jar is covered on the outside. When brushing the tissue with glue be sure to do so gently so it doesn't tear. If it tear, remove or leave wrinkled. The glue will appear to be white but will dry clear and when a candle is lit inside will give off a pretty color and design.

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TEA LIGHTS #3

Materials:
Canning jar, baby food jar or drinking glass
Orange and Black Paint (acrylic enamel or glass paint)
Sea Sponge, Votive or tea light candle, Paint Brush

1. Using the sea sponge, paint the jar by patting orange paint over the entire outside surface. A regular sponge will work but the effect will not be the same as the sea sponge.
2. Allow paint to dry; be sure to follow paint the manufacturer's instructions- if heat setting the paint is required.
3. Practice drawing a few faces on paper until you create a design you like and then  paint a face on the jar with black paint 4. Insert a tea light or votive candle into the glass jar or glass.

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  SCARY WITCHES HANDS/FINGERS

POPCORN GHOSTS
Material: cardboard ghost shapes, popped popcorn, glue with small container from which to dip popcorn, hole punch, string or thread, black construction paper eyes and mouth shapes

1. Cut shapes of ghosts from cardboard. Cereal box cardboard works well.
2. Make a hole at the top of the ghost. Put string or yarn in the hole for hanging.
3. have kids dip each piece of popped corn in glue and stick onto one of the ghost-shape sides. Completely cover the cardboard.
4. When the glue is dry, cover the other side of the cardboard.
5. Cut eye and mouth shapes from the black paper and glue on ghost.

Either hang the ghosts from the ceiling or bring in a small branch from outside. These would make great ornaments for a Halloween tree!

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MAKE BONEY KNOCKER HANGINGS

First make Play Clay (Recipes from Play Dough Category)

3/4 cp salt (175ml)
3/3 cup water (175 ml)
1 tsp. (ml) vegetable oil
2 cups (500 ml) flour
Large mixing bowl
1. Mix the salt, water, and vegetable oil in bowl.
2. Add the flour a little at a time--amd mix until it forms a ball.
3. Knead the ball of dough for about 10 minutes,
4. Store the clay in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

TO MAKE...

 

Materials: Play clay, drinking straws, pencils, paintbrushes, black and white acrylic paint, black shoe laces or elasticized thread

1. Work on a flour-dusted work surface a handful of clay for each child.
2. Knead the clay until it is warm and pliable.
3. Roll the clay into 3/4" (2cm) thick tubes--and then divide them into small bone sized pieces.
4. Shape the pieces to look like bones by rolling the middle to be thinned than the ends of the piece.
5. Press a pencil into each end of the roll to form indentations (see image)
6. Use a spatula to place the bones on a cookie sheet for drying.
7. Push a straw top into one end of the bone and pull it out to make a hole for threading the string through.
8. Allow 48 hours to dry--and then paint the dry bones with a light coat of white-gray acrylic paint.
9. Thread black string through the bones.. Tie each bone in place to form a string of bones to hang from a door or ceiling. (Image -but not project-from Todaysparent)

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MAKE A SHRUNKEN APPLE HEAD

 • Choose the largest, firmest apples you can find. The apples shrink a lot when they dry so you want to be sure that they are big enough to begin with. Firm apples will be easier to carve and will dry out much better.

 

• The first step in making your shrunken apple heads is to peel the apples. You can core them if you would like, although it is not necessary. Next, brush a mixture of lemon juice and salt onto the peeled apple. The lemon juice and salt mixture will help to keeping the apples from turning as brown as usually when they dry.

• Next, you will want to take a paring knife and carve out the basic features of a face from one side of the apple. Don't go into too much detail since when the apple dries any small details will be lost. Focus on creating large features like the eye sockets, a nose and a mouth. Example: To make a shrunken apple for a witch's head you would most likely carve a large nose, two deep holes for the eye sockets and a sneering hole for the mouth. Keep the shapes that you carve simple and larger than you think you need them to be since they will shrink as they dry.

  • Place the carved apples somewhere dry and out of the way. Turn them every couple of days in within about 2 weeks they will have shriveled up into ghoulish little faces. You can speed up the drying time if you would like by setting them on a cookie sheet in the oven on the lowest setting or by using a food dehydrator, although it will still take some time for them to dry and shrivel.

• YOU CAN MAKE A BODY by putting the heads on small bottles (shampoo, dish soap etc.) Make a dress out of a piece of fabric. You can even use a small paper clip to make glasses.

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EGG CARTON SPIDERS
Materials:
Cardboard egg carton
Pipe cleaners
Poster paint
Elastic thread
Something to poke small holes

1. Cut the egg cups out of a cardboard egg carton.
2. Cut pipe cleaners into 3 inch sections.
3. To make each spider, poke four pipe cleaners through each cup sideways. Bend the ends to look like eight spider legs.
4. Paint the spiders black or in any  creative way you want!
5. After the paint has dried, attach a length of elastic thread to the middle of each spider.
6. Hold the thread and bounce the spider up and down as you take it for a walk!

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COFFEE FILTER PUMPKINS
 
Using white coffee filters and a eye dropper...take red and yellow food coloring. Drop on the two colors to make orange.
For jack-o-lantern features, older children can cut and paste construction paper eyes, nose, mouth.
For young children, add features using permanent marker before they begin.

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BLOW ART MONSTERS
Sqirt of paint on a plain piece of black (optional) paper.
Cut a fat straw in half and have kids blow the paint. It will cause the paint to spread. Most will be roundish formations with pointy and squiggled edges.
After the paint dries, glue or paint on eyes and facial features.
Add other decoration of choice.

MONSTER BLOW ART will be similar to this image taken from the Art Category. (Contributed by Mona Kawra at Display Photos)-- however, add details to look more 'monsterish'... 

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WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE... by Maurice Sendak
Good for Halloween Time! Read the book...discuss it...and then challenge  children to come up with their own "Wild Things" Magical Monsters.

Put put a variety of paper plates, strips of paper, construction paper, markers, paints, yarn, Easter grass, Egg Carton bumps, etc. Let the fun begin!

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GHOST POPS

All you need is tootsie or blow pops, Kleenex, orange or purple colored yarn and a black marker.
Take your sucker and put a Kleenex over it.
Next tie the yarn on the sucker and make a face using the black marker. You're done.

This craft has been made by most every child at one time or another. You can take it up a notch by making it A GHOST TREAT NECKLACE! Just cut the yarn longer and wear..

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TINY PUMPKINS
Supplies: Acorns, orange paint and green paint
 
Lay acorns on a sheet of newspaper.
Paint the bottom of the acorns with orange paint.
Let orange paint dry. To make pumpkin stems, paint the top of the acorns green.
Allow to dry thoroughly.
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CONDENSED MILK FINGER PAINT PUMPKINS
Materials:
Fingerpaint paper, orange food coloring, condensed milk

Draw a pumpkin shape on fingerpaint paper.
Mix the orange food coloring with the condensed milk.
Have children get creative and finger paint the pumpkin on their paper.
The finished results of this is great. The condensed mild gies the paint a shiny texture.
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SPOOKY SPIDERS
Supplies: black construction paper, cotton balls or cotton stuffing, black pipe cleaners, small bowl or saucer, stapler
Directions:
Using black construction paper, trace around a small bowl or saucer. (Cut out two circles per spider.)
Place stuffing or cotton balls on first circle.
Lay second circle on top of cotton stuffing and staple half-way around.
Insert 3-4" pipe cleaners on each side, then staple the second half of the circles together.
Bend pipe cleaners to make the "legs" of the spider.

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PLASTIC BAG GHOSTS

Materials:
White plastic trash bags
Black marker
Balloons
String
Scissors
Masking tape
Directions:
Blow up/inflate the balloons and cover each one with a trash bag. With the string, gather and tie each bag under the balloon to make a head. Using  markers, draw a spooky face on the trash bag. Be  creative and make your face scary or funny! 

Attach a piece of string to the top of your ghosts and display them  around your program room, yard or house. You can also use helium to have them 'float'.

 

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GLOWING GHOSTS
Materials:
Round, white balloons, cheesecloth cut to lengths of about a yard, and glow sticks. This sample used green, 4-inch glow sticks, found in party supply stores or on-line.

1. Activate a glow stick and insert it into a balloon.

2. Position the knot at the top of the balloon, and use an indelible black marker to draw the eyes and a mouth.

3. Drape the cheesecloth over the balloon, cut a small hole and push the knot through the fabric. Secure with string and hang in the breeze. Source: Readers Digest

YOU COULD ALSO... tie small glow sticks to string attached to helium balloons and let them sail over your house for spooky lights in the sky. Make sure to tie off the strings to something solid so they don 't get away!

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MAKE A PUMPKIN PAPER CHAIN
Take a strip of orange construction paper about 3 inches wide
fold into an accordion about 3 inches square.
When all folded-- cut the shape of a pumpkin leaving the side with the fold NOT cut.
When you open you will have a chain of pumpkins.

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MAKING 'TREAT BAGS' for a party goodies...
Supplies: Small brown paper bags, Halloween stickers, markers, treats (candy, pencils, erasers, bubble gum, etc.)
 
Decorate paper bags in Halloween theme using  art supplies.
Put treats inside bags.
Fold the top of the bag down and tape shut with a Halloween sticker.

#2 Idea...TRICK OR TREAT BAG

All you'll need is 1 white gift bag that is big enough to fit all the collected Halloween goodies. (Check out a dollar store; they usually have them)
Put out an assortment of decorations such as: shapes cut out from orange and black construction paper, markers, stickers, yarn, etc.

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MACARONI SKELETON

• Need: Black construction paper (approximately 6" x 11.5")
• Glue that will dry clear
• Lima beans (head, thorax, hips)
• Short, small macaroni in a tube (spine)
• Thin twisted macaroni (arms, legs)
• Elbow noodles (ribs)
• Small shells (joints)
• Spaghetti (fingers, toes)
• Black permanent marker

Directions:
1. Build a sample skeleton for the children to copy from. Review the key features with them.
2. Guide children to  build their skeleton working from the head down (i.e., head, neck/trunk, ribs, etc.), gluing the macaroni and beans to the paper as they go.
3. When they glue and macaroni has set, have them draw a smile and eyes on the "head".
TIPS:
As preparation for this project, study the human skeleton. Talk about symmetry between the two sides of the body, and how many ribs, fingers and toes we have. (Also good at Halloween!)
Source: Kaboose.com

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Q-TIP SKELETONS
Basic Directions
Materials for each basic project:1 sheet black construction paper, 5 full length Q-tips, 6 Q-tips cut in half, white glue
 
Make a skeleton head
Glue and place Q-tips in the following order...
•Place one whole swab vertically from the neck down (forms spine)
•Five half swabs on either side of the spine make the ribs...
•Two more whole swabs then make the legs, with the other half swabs for the feet.
•Add the other two whole swabs for the arms.

Challenge kids to design their own creative skeletons!
Having the skeletons engaged in movement (As the two images show) make a fun project! Cut off cotton tips and various lengths and create! Images Sources: crafts-for-all-seasons and busybeekids

 

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CHEESE CLOTH GHOST
Material:
Cheese cloth
Liqid starch... or... 2 cups white glue (I personally prefer the starch-Barb)
16 oz plastic cups
 
1. If using glue, dilute the white glue with 1/2 to 3/4 cups of water. (You should use about 3 parts glue to one part water) If using liquid starch-just use as is and dip. 
2. Have children dip a piece of cheese cloth into the liquid starch or diluted glue-- and then drape the wet cheese cloth over the 16 oz cups. 
3. The "ghosts" should dry for about two days.
4. Carefully remove the cup from the hardened cheese cloth. Children can decorate their ghosts. 
5. Hang the completed ghosts from the ceiling.

You can also make larger versions by draping cheesse cloth over a blown-up balloon. When dry--carefully pull cloth of off balloon and glue on eyes. Slip a string through the top and float from the ceiling!
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PUFFY PAINT COBWEBS

Mix equal parts of flour, salt, and water in a large bowl. 

Pour the mixture into squeeze bottles.

Give each child a black paper plate or a piece of black construction paper. 

Have children squeeze the white puffy paint onto the black paper. 

There are also three other puffy paint recipes in the Painting Recipes Category!

When the paint dries, it will look like glittery cobwebs. You can add a plastic or black pom-pom spider to the art.

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SPOOKY SPIDERWEB MARBLE PAINTING...Nice to hang and display...
 
1.  Give children BLACK construction paper and WHITE thick tempera paint in shallow dishes.
2.  Put paper in a box with sides at least 2" high.
3. Either put a small puddle of paint in the center and corners of the paper and drop a marble or two in the box...OR dip a marble in the the dish of white paint and use a spoon to scoop it out and onto the paper.
3. Hold the box tilting it gently back and forth as the marble moves across. If using the 'dipping the marble method' and there is no more paint, dip the marble again.
4. Continue until children see a white spider web!

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HALLOWEEN/AUTUMN CANDLE HOLDERS...

 Anchor pillar candles in a bed of candy corn or black and orange jelly beans for seasonal touches. Mix in with fall follage, ghourds and pumpkins! This can also be done on a smaller level using baby food jar and tea lights. Set the tea lights on a bed of candy corn.

You can also place small votive candle holders in larger holders. Next  fill the outer votives with freshly squeezed BLOOD (2 teaspoons corn syrup mixed with 3 teaspoons water and several drops red food coloring). Center smaller votives in this...

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HALLOWEEN OPEN ART TABLE
Just set out Halloween themed materials, and see what the kids come up with!

Choose from:
Black, orange, and yellow construction paper, cardboard pumpkin-pattern templates, pieces of foam/felt, markers, glitter, seasonal stickers, yarn, large and small paper plates, crafts sticks, thick orange, black, and white tempera paint in shallow dishes, shallow boxes and lids, orange and black pom-poms, pasta shapes, scissors, and glue, etc. Nature treasures from outdoors could also be provided--such as straw, twigs, and seeds.

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HAUNTED GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Who says gingerbread houses are only for Christmas?
 
Ingredients: Graham crackers, store bought or homemade frosting (try to find orange and black or pre-dye), Halloween candy and sprinkles (candy corn, black licorice, orange, purple and black variety) Make bats, ghosts, tombstones, and other ghouls out of icing, fondant, or gum paste.

 

Build your gingerbread house cute or spooky. Anything that's a little off-kilter or asymmetrical works great!

PUTTING THE HOUSE TOGETHER...
Help kids assemble their house using frosting to glue the graham crackers together into a house. Do this by placing one graham cracker flat on the table, squeeze a little frosting around all edges. (You may need an extra pair of hands.)
Place one cracker on each side standing up. It now looks like a box without a top.

Carefully squeeze more frosting on all outside corners from top to bottom and around the bottom of the box. Let it stand for a short while to let frosting harden a little. This will make working with the roof a little easier.
 
Now squeeze frosting on two of the top edges of the box and place the last two graham crackers in a V shape on as the roof. It looks like a triangle on a box now from the side. It may overhang if you can get the frosting to hold for you.
Squeeze frosting along the top of the roof where crackers join. Let stand again until frosting hardens a little.

Squeeze/put small amounts or frosting on candy. Place candy on the house to decorate. You can use the frosting to add things like doors and windows. Just use your imagination.
Embellish with Halloween craft items.
Image by "EdibleArt" on Flickr.com

AN EASIER GINGERBREAD HOUSE...

Need: Single serving milk cartons, empty and washed
White frosting/icing store bought or recipe
Graham Cracker Squares
Decorations, candies, sprinkles or other Halloween treats
 
Prepare white icing/frosting if you are not using store bought.
Each person should have their own single serving milk carton.
Place your carton on a sheet of waxed paper on top of heavy cardboard or a paper plate.
Attach graham cracker squares to sides of carton by spreading icing/frosting on carton and pressing cracker firmly onto carton.

Do the same for the roof using two graham cracker squares. For area between sides and roof - cut a graham cracker in half on diagonal to form a triangle and attach the same way.

Once you have your sides and roof attached use icing/frosting to attach decorations and candies to your house. You can pipe icing/frosting into the cracks with a cake decorator or with a plastic bag filled with icing/frosting.

Use your imagination to create windows and doors with different shaped and colored candies. Add other elements as you wish.

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GHOST DECORATIONS
Materials:
White paper napkins or tissues
Yarn or string
Black paper or a black felt-tip pen
Glue

1. Start with the ghost's head, by making a ball with one napkin or tissue.
2. Place the ball in the center of an opened-out napkin tissue, and then close your hand tightly around the "head".
3. Tie a piece of yarn around the napkin / tissue under the "head". Be sure that the length of yarn is long enough to hang the ghost.
4) To make the eyes, cut out 2 small triangles of black paper and glue them on the ghosts head or  draw them with the felt-tip pen) to make the eyes. You can also add a mouth and a nose...
5. Hang the small ghosts around the room.

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FOOTPRINT GHOST (Feet in Paint)
Materials: black construction paper,  black marker, white poster paint, a large ice cream bucket lid or flat container, sponge paintbrush, and  bare FEET!

1. To make the footprint ghost, put a piece of dark paper down on the floor. Spread white paint in a thin layer on the ice cream lid or flat container.
2. Have children put their foot in it. Make sure the entire bottom of their foot is covered in paint.

3. Use the sponge paintbrush to spread more paint on the child's foot if you need to.
Have  child step on the dark paper. Again, make sure that the entire foot makes a mark on the paper.
4. After paint dries, have kids put two eyes and a mouth on the ghost with a black marker.

If you fold the construction paper in half beforehand, you can make wonderful
Halloween cards...

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FOOTPRINT BATS
 Material:
Construction paper in Halloween 'bat' colors

Trace child's foot on three pieces of paper the same color.
Cut them out.
With one footprint, cut off the toes in a curved shape.
Next glue the other two footprints on each side of the footprint with no toes.
When dry--glue two googly eyes or white paper circles (eyes) on the bats head.
To hang bats up, either use clothespins or glue magnets on the back and display them on a refrigerator.

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FOOTPRINT WITCHES

Trace and cut feet out of black paper. The toes are the bottom of the witches dress and the heel is the head. Glue this to a sheet of construction paper for the background.
Glue on Q-tips for arm and legs.
Draw a face... and add a pointed witch's hat.

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HALLOWEEN PAINTED HANDPRINTS
Create Halloween art projects that parents can keep to remember their child's little hands!

HANDPRINT GHOSTS
Paint child's hand with white tempera paint.
Have
child place their hand (with fingers close together and pointing down) on a sheet of black paper. Do this once or several times to have scary ghosts floating through the air. When  paint dries, add eyes and a mouth using black permanent marker, google eyes or bits of black paper.

HANDPRINT BAT
Paint both hands black with washable paint.  Have child put their thumbs together with the fingers spread out. Carefully place them on the paper. (For a younger child you may want to do one hand at a time.)

HANDPRINT SPIDER
1. Have children make a fist. Paint the palm side of the fist paint black and have child stamp their painted fist onto a piece of white paper.
2. Open the fist up. Paint all the fingers black but NOT the thumbs!
3. To make the legs--have child put their finger prints on either side of the fist print.

Variation: Paint the spiders individually; laminate them or make them using fun foam. Cut out the spiders--tape a string to the back-- and hang them from the string.
Idea and image: cereschildcare...

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HANDPRINT SPIDER AND GHOST TOGETHER...

 

Use a full sheet of orange paper.
Paint one white, upside-down handprint for a ghost. When dry-using a black marker-add two black eyes and mouth.

Make two black handprints palm to palm (no thumbs) to make a spider. When the spider is dry-- paint two white dots for eyes. When eys are dry- make two black dots inside the white dots for eyeballs.

Make a black line up to the top of the paper to form a web coming down to the spider.
Optional: Write 'Trick or Treat!'

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COOKIE MONSTERPIECE...

A craft and snack in one!
Have a table set up with plenty of sugar cookies cut out in different Halloween shapes. Put out a variety of frosting, candy corn, chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc. Great for pre-school through grade school. Photo Source: pinchmyself

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Lots more on Page 2 of Art & Crafts!

• Also...be sure to check out Halloween Snacks-many are artsy/crafty!
• Easy Costumes and Make Up
• Halloween Decorating (Check here for fun home craft ideas)
• Decorating a Mad Science Lab
• Purple People Eater Theme
• Halloween Games (More than 60!)
• Autumn/Fall Pumpkin Theme

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 Poems and Songs are towards the bottom of page...

GHOST WIND SOCKS

Materials:
White card stock or poster board
Black permanent marker
Stapler
Glue
White crepe paper streamers, String, yarn, or twine

1. Draw a ghost face on the white poster board using the black marker.
2. Roll the poster board into a tube shape and staple the overlapping ends together securely.
3. Cut long strips out of the crepe streamers. Glue or staple them all around the bottom of the wind sock.
4. Cut a piece of string about 2 1/2 feet long and staple the ends to opposite sides of the top of the wind sock to hang.

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HALLOWEEN NOISE SHAKER (Also makes a great DOORKNOB HANGER)
Materials: For each shaker need two paper plates, dry beans, orange paint, paper scraps, yarn, scissors, glue

1. Paint the back of each plate orange.
2. When paint is dry--create facial features out of paper scraps (black or brown would be good) and glue onto the plate.
3. Around the outer edge of plates, staple them together--leaving an opening at the top. Drop in a handful of beans (enough to make a sound).
4. If desired, insert a green rectangle stem into the top opening and staple the pumpkin closed.
5. With a hold punch. punch a hole on each side or the STEM. Thread and tie the yarn.
6. The jack-o-lantern can be hung from a doorknob or used to shake as a musical instrument.

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PAPER PLATE GHOSTS
Materials:
White Paper Plates
White Streamers
Black Marker
Hole Punch
String

•Draw a 'ghost face' on the paper plate. Tape white streamers to the back of the paper plate. Make them long enough so  they look like a ghost. 
•Punch a hole in the top of the plate; tie on string.
•Hang the ghosts from the ceiling, windows or outdoor trees (if not raining).

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BULLETIN BOARD IDEA...

Cut out ghost shapes of different kinds and have children decorate them with scraps of white material, cotton balls, tissue paper, etc.
Paste a picture of each child's face on the ghost and hang them on a bulletin board with the heading: What A "BOOtiful" Class!

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OPEN ART PUMPKIN TABLE...

 Provide each child with a pumpkin. Put out a variety or paints and decorating supplies. Instruct children to be their most creative and personalize their pumpkin! If this is an activity for a party-it can also double as a party favor!

The pumpkins on the chair are  a small portion of pumpkins created by Notre Dame Prep Academy in Pontiac, Mi. They were done as a service project and given to an Assisted Living Home to brighten up the residents' dining room.

The second was created by Bria-age 5-- at an Autumn Birthday party. The last (two pumpkins) was an activity at a school-age program in Conway, S.C. (First two images by KidActivities.net)

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SPAGHETTI COBWEBS 
Materials:
Cold Cooked Spaghetti noodles 
White glue
Wax paper
 
Have children dip spaghetti into the glue and arrange the pieces onto wax paper.
When the spaghetti dries, carefully peel the "cobweb" off of the wax paper. 
Hang from the ceiling or on a window.

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CREATE A MONSTER... Materials: Glue, construction paper, scissors, old magazines (and anything with pictures in it), crayons/markers

Cut out facial features, hair, arms and legs from old magazines, newspapers and/or junk mail. (Have body parts cut out before the project begins. You can do this yourself-or have a 'group-cut' previous to this)

Once all random parts are assembled -- put them out and challenge kids to create their own original Frankenstein.
There should be some pretty interesting creatures with mismatched eyes, three or four legs, or who knows what!
When complete, have children tell you all about the monster they've created! (i've done this with kids--and they really are a fun project to do!)

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PAPER BAG PUMPKIN

 

Directions most often seen...
1. Starting with a lunch size paper bag-- crumble-up some paper and stuff the lunch bag.
2. Tie the top with string leaving about 2 inches of space at top.
3. Paint the bottom portion with orange tempera paint and the top brown (for the stem).
Copy a leaf pattern on green paper, felt or foam -- cut it out--glue or staple it to base of stem.

Optional but nice: Wrap green or brown pipe cleaners around the pumpkin stem for vines. (Give the pipe cleaner vine a curly look by spiraling it around a pencil and then twisting it onto the stem. You can make a jack-o-lantern by painting or drawing a face on your orange paper bag.

Tip:
I prefer to make these by first painting the paper bag orange. Have the kids open the bag  and place it on their hand (like a puppet) They will be able to then paint all sides. 
Leave the top 1- to 2-inches of the bag brown.
While you are waiting for the paint to dry, cut a couple of leaf shapes out of green felt, craft foam, or construction paper...and proceed from there. (Barb)
Images: Thanks to About.com  (image with pipe cleaner vines) and Kaboose

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JACK-O-LANTERN ORANGES
Materials:
Oranges
Whole Cloves
Toothpicks-or something to poke holes in the oranges

After poking a hole with a needle, fork, or tooth pick, insert cloves into oranges in a decorative jack-o-lantern face pattern.

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A NOT TOO SCARY HALLOWEEN YARN GHOST 

 

This guy is from the Craft Category of Yarn Dolls. Directions for making the "head" is there....After you've made the head--stop! Just trim the bottom loops and add google eyes and a spooky plastic spider!

 

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STYROFOAM SPIDERS
Materials:
1 Styrofoam Ball
1 Large Black Pom-pom
4 to 8 Black Pipe Cleaners
2 Googley Eyes
Black Acrylic Paint
Paintbrush
Glue or glue gun
Scissors

1. Paint the Styrofoam ball black. 
2. Once dry, glue on the black pom-pom to one side of the ball. This is the head of the spider.
3. Glue the googley eyes to the black pom-pom.
4. To make legs--insert the black pipe cleaners into the Styrofoam ball.
5. For long legs use 8 full-length pipe cleaners and bend into shape. For shorter legs, take 4 pipe cleaners and cut in half; use these half sized pieces to form the legs. (Image by KidActivities.net)

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TISSUE TUBE SPIDER STAMPING
Take an empty toilet or paper cardboard roll.
For the spider's legs, cut eight parts, Make them even in width. Go up high enough to bend the legs up.
Holding the top, dip it in black paint and make a spider.
Use google eyes to finish.

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REAL PUMPKIN STAMPING!
Buy several small, real pumpkins. 
Cut them in half. 
Have children dip the pumpkin halves into paint to make prints.

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HALLOWEEN COOKIE CUTTER PRINTS
Buy an assortment of halloween cookie cutters. 
Dip cookie cutters into paint and press them onto paper. 
This makes really cool prints!

Also remember to pull out the Halloween cookie cutters when playing with play dough this month! See 'Pumpkin Theme' for directions on making 'Pumpkin Pie Scented' play dough. (Recipe in middle of page)

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GHOST PENCIL TOPPER
Materials: Pencils-preferable black, Halloween themed, orange or white black
White tissue
Fine tip black marker
rubber bands

Crumple two or more tissues to form a ball.
Place the ball (the ghost head) on top of the pencil. Use a double layer of flat tissue to put over the ball (the body) and the pencil.
Wrap a rubber band around the base of the ball and the flat tissue.
Draw a face on the tissue with black marker.

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HALLOWEEN JAR
Materials:
Clean baby food or small jam jar with leak proof screw top lid; corn syrup
Small Halloween craft items such as: plastic spiders, insects, witches, ghosts, etc.; Halloween confetti with bat, spider and pumpkin shapes
Marbles, glass stones or small pebbles
Optional: Silicone caulking

1. Add a layer of marbles to the bottom of the jar.

2. Add a large Halloween figure to the jar. Although it is not necessary, you may want to glue this to the center of the upside down jar lid so that it remains stationary while the other objects float around it. If so, use waterproof silicone caulking (the kind used for fish tanks is excellent) to cement the base of the figure in place. Let dry.

3. Add a selection of Halloween confetti pieces.

4. Pour in clear corn syrup to fill the jar. If you are adding a figure glued to the lid, remember to allow space for this so the syrup doesn't overflow.(Clear Dippity Do Hair gel also gives an interesting effect. It's thick-- so items and gels would be alternately placed in the jar.)

5. Screw on the lid. If desired, you can run a bead of silicone caulking around the lid to secure it permanently. Activate your Halloween scene by shaking or inverting the jar so you can see the confetti and marbles floating slowly around.

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POP BOTTLE GHOST

1. Put white tempera paint inside empty 2-liter soda bottles.
2. Have children roll bottle around until inside is covered in white.
3. Paint on face with black acrylic paint. Let dry completely.
4. Remove cap and let inside dry. Once dry, replace cap.
5. At this point yarn/string can be tied around top of bottle to hang... or left to sit.

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HALLOWEEN BOTTLE

1. Take an empty, clear 20 oz. bottle add orange colored water or have children add red and yellow food coloring if you want to demonstrate how the color orange is made.
2. Add Halloween confetti of bats, moons, witches, ghosts, glitter

If you would like items to move more slowly in the bottle--use a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 corn syrup--instead of all water.

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PAPER PLATE MASKS (Half-face Style)
Spooky or Pretty...whichever kids wish!
 
1. Cut a sturdy paper plate in half.
2. Staple a tongue depressor to the bottom right hand corner.
3. Cut a slot in the middle of the half plate to look through.
Put out a variety of materials for  children to glue onto their mask.
Markers, paint, feathers, yarn, shiny papers, egg carton bumps, buttons, Styrofoam, pieces, etc.

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CONTACT PAPER JACK-O-LANTERN
Cut a pumpkin shape out of contact paper and lay it-sticky side up- on a table.
Have children cover the contact paper with orange tissue paper squares and black paper features.

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COOL WHIP LID AND GROCEY SACK GHOST
Materials:
2 sheer white plastic grocery sacks
2 white pipe cleaners
Cool whip Lid or similar round lid
Scotch Tape
Glue Stick
Black yarn
scissors
Hole Punch

Glue eye and mouth on front of lid.
Cut off any writing, graphics, and handles from the sacks.
Lay sacks down flat. With scissors, shred 2" strips of sacks-- leaving at least 1" area intact next to the seam.

Turn the lid over on a flat surface. Bend and insert the pipe cleaner/seam into the ridge around the bottom 1/2 of the lid. Tape to secure in place.

Repeat with the second sack and stem and insert it in the ridge around the upper 1/2 of the lid.

Punch a hole through the top of the lid.
Thread a length of yarn through the hole appropriate for hanging.

A loop can also be made on the end of a 11/2 ' length, so children can hold and run with them. They 'fly' nicely and kids appear to being chased by a little ghost.

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HAPPY FACE-SCARY FACE STICK PUPPET (Or Stick-Mask)

On orange paper, have children draw a medium size pumpkin-- or trace a pumpkin-face template. Cut-out the shape. On one side design a happy jack-o-lantern face---and on the other side, design a scary or sad-faced jack-o-lantern. Tape the pumpkin face to a large size craft stick.

Talk about what makes the jack-o-lantern happy; what makes the jack-o-lantern sad or scary? If children are young-discuss the pumpkin faces being 'pretend'.

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HALLOWEEN COFFEE CAN BANKS (Use those recycled cans!)

To cover a 10-13 oz. coffee can--cut orange paper rectangles about 5" by 14". Remove the coffee can plastic lids; using tape, wrap the cans with the paper.

Have kids design and cut out jack-o-lantern facial features and stems from scrap paper. Glue the facial features and stem to the can. Using a knife or scissors, cut a coin slot in the lid of the banks.

You can also make smaller banks using frosting/icing containers.

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DANCING GHOSTS
Materials:
White cloth material cut into approximatly 18" x 18" squares
Ping pong or Styrofoam balls
White pipe cleaners or twist ties
Long straws (non-bendable)
Hot glue gun
Black permanent marker

With caution, hot glue a ping pong ball onto the top of a straw.
After glue dries, center the white cloth over the ping pong ball.
Make the ghost's head by twisting a pipe cleaner/tie between the ball and straw. 
Finish off with black marker eyes and mouth.

Hold the straw to make the ghost dance/walk/fly/play.

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A COUPLE IDEAS FROM cereschildcare (SPIDER & WITCH)

PAPER PLATE SPIDERS

(With the letter 'S' or not)

 

Paint a paper plate all black.
Cut 8 strips of black construction paper
Fold the legs accordian style. Younger children fold randomly.
Glue to the back of the plate and add wiggle eyes.
Hang from a black string.
Add A splotch of red to make it look like a black widow. The sample image sponge painted letter "S" for Spider as part of the day's lesson plan.

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PAPER PLATE WITCH

 

Paint a paper plate green.
Trace and cut childs hands on orange construction paper. Glue to the plate for the witch hair.
Add a black witch hat.
Draw on a face.

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SPOOKY GHOST HANDPRINT TREE
On large white paper, draw a black or brown, gnarly tree.
Have each child paint their hand with white paint.
Put the painted hand with fingers pointed down on/from the gnarled branches.
After the 'ghosts' have dried-- have each child to draw a face on their handprint. Makes a great Halloween display!

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MISCELLANEOUS HALLOWEEN FUN!

DOES YOUR SCHOOL FROWN ON COSTUMES AT HALLOWEEN TIME ? CONSIDER FACE PAINTING!
If your school doesn't allow students to wear costumes to school...Consider holding a 'Creative Hat parade" complete with colorful face paint!

Extension: A GREAT HALLOWEEN TIME (OR ANY-TIME IDEA!)
Have children make instruments (See Making Instruments Category)  When complete... start a musical Halloween parade through your neighborhood! This is actually an activity that can take place over a couple days.

1. Make instruments.
2. Practice
3. Have a parade (with costumes if possible) If costumes are not possible, then make funny hats and face paint!

This is a wonderful idea for younger children. The kids love it and the neighbors will, too!

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Make a 'BUBBLING CAULDRON'
Materials: Cauldron, Water, Baking soda, Vinegar, Tablespoon, Cup, Pan or Tray

Place a cauldron on a pan or tray (cauldrons are abundant around Halloween; you can buy them at dollar stores.) Place 2 tbsp. of water in the cauldron and stir in 1 tbsp. of baking soda. In a separate cup, measure 2 tbsp. of vinegar. Pour it in and watch potion bubble!

Science explanation: Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. When they combine, it forms carbon dioxide.

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MAKE WITCH'S BREW SLIME

6 spoons glue
6 spoons water
2 spoons Borax
Green food coloring.

Mix to make 'WITCH'S SLIME'...

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HALLOWEEN SONGS and POEMS (See Halloween jokes here...)

PUMPKIN BELLS…
To the tune of Jingle Bells

Dashing through the streets
In our costumes bright and gay...
to each house we go
Laughing all the way.

Halloween is here,
Making spirits bright...
What fun it is to trick-or-treat
And sing Pumpkins carol tonight!

O, Pumpkin bells! Pumpkin bells:
Ringing loud and clear.
Oh what fun Great Pumpkin brings
When Halloween is here!

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IF YOU'RE A MONSTER...
To tune: If you're happy and you know it

If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms
If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms.
If you're a monster and you know then your arms will surely show it.
If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms. 

If you're a monster and you know it show your claws  
If you're a monster and you know it show your claws.  
If you're a monster and you know then your claws will surely show it.
If you're a monster and you know it show your claws.

Continue with:
...Stomp your feet
...Gnash your teeth
...Growl out loud

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THE HALLOWEEN SURPRISE STORY
Dad and I shopped for a pumpkin
To carve for Halloween.
The one we bought was round and fat,
The best we'd ever seen.

We took it home, and carefully
My dad cut off  the top.
We scooped the gloppy seeds all out
Onto paper--plop, plop, plop!

Next, Dad cut out the eyes and mouth,
Then he cut out the nose.
He winked at me and then he said,
"He'll be bald, I suppose."

I laughed and said, "Oh, Daddy,
Jack-o-lanterns' heads are bare.
I've never seen a single one
That had a head of hair!"

Then we took our pumpkin outside
With a candle for its light.
Our jolly jack-o-lantern glowed
So brightly in the night.

Long after I had gone to bed,
Snowflakes began to fall.
They covered up the bushes
And the garden and the wall.

In the morning I ran out to see
If my pumpkin was still there.
I found him sitting on the porch -
But now he had white hair!
Author Unknown

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PUMPKIN SONG
To tune of Found a Peanut

Pick a pumpkin, pick a pumpkin,
Pick a pumpkin just now...
I just now picked a pumpkin
Picked a pumpkin just now.
 
Cut the top off, cut the top off
Cut the top off just now...
I just now cut the top off,
Cut the top off just now.

Scoop the seeds, out, scoop the seeds out,
Scoop the seeeeeds out just now...
I just now scooped the seeds out
Scooped the seeds out ju-ust now.
 
Carved a face in, carved a face in
Carved a face in  just now...
I just now carved a face in it
Carved a face in it just now.
 
Stick a candle in it, stick a candle in it
Stick a candle in it now...
I just now stuck a candle in it
Stuck a candle in it just now.
 
I made a jack-o-latern, I made a jack-o-latern
Made a jck-o-latern just now...
I just now made a jack-ol-lantern
Made a jack-o-latern just now!
(Use appropriate hand motions with each verse)

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THE EIGHT DAYS OF HALLOWEEN
Sing to the tune of The 12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
An Owl in a dead tree

On the second day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the third day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the fourth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the fifth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the sixth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the seventh day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
7 ghouls a groaning
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree

On the eighth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
8 witches cackling
7 ghouls a groaning
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree...

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THE WITCH SONG
(Sung to tune of Ten Little Indians)

1 little, 2 little, 3 little witches
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches,
Slide down the moonbeams without any hitches,
Hi, Ho, Halloween's here!

THREE LITTLE WITCHES Version #2

One little, two little, three little witches
Fly over haystacks and fly over ditches
Fly over moonbeams without any hitches
Hey, it's Halloween night.
 
One little, two little, three little witches
Fly over barb wire and tore their britches
Had to go home and get some stitches
Hey, it's Halloween night.

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BATS ARE SLEEPING
Sung to Frere Jacques

Bats are sleeping
Bats are sleeping
Upside down
Upside down...

Waiting for night to come
Waiting for night to come
Then they fly around
Then they fly around.

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FIVE LITTLE GHOSTS FINGER PLAY

The first little ghost floated by the store.
The second little ghost stood outside the door.
 
The third little ghost tried her best to hide.
The fourth little ghost stood by my side.
 
The fifth little ghost near the window sill,
And gave everybody a great big thrill.
The five little ghosts were all my friends,
And that is the way that this story ends.

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THREE LITTLE GHOSTS

Three little ghosts on Halloween night
Saw a witch and freaked in fright.
The witch just laughed and shouted, "Boo!"
One ghost ran home and then there were two.

Two little ghosts who shiver and shook
With every single step they took.
When the door opened wide
A goblin said to the other...
I'm going home and stay with my mother.

One little ghost can't have much fun,
so he ran home, and then there were none.

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LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE (For school-age)
by James Whitcomb Riley

Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board an' keep;
An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun
A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you
    Ef you
         Don't
            Watch
                   Out!

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--
An' when he went to bed at night, away upstairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!
An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,
An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever' wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
    Ef you
         Don't
            Watch
                   Out!

An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,
An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;
An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,
She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!
An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,
They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
    Ef you
         Don't
            Watch
                   Out!

An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--
You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,
An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
An' help the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns'll git you
    Ef you
         Don't
            Watch
                   Out!

NOTE: This is fun if said with a 'southern accent'. I can still remember memorizing this in the 5th grade--and reciting it at a Parents' Day! (Barb)

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There are also several 'Pumpkin Poems and Songs' in the Autumn Pumpkin Theme. (Great for October and November!)

Also be sure to check out HALLOWEEN DECORATING IDEAS! There are artsy/crafty ideas and great ideas for decorating that great Halloween Party!

 

Back to Page one... for Halloween Arts and Crafts

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Fantastic lists of books for themes of Apples, Leaves, Autumn, Pumpkins, Jack-O-Lanterns, Halloween, Spooky, and November!

BOOKS ABOUT APPLES

 

Apple Picking Time (ages 3-8)
Written by Michele Benoit Slawson; illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray
Written from the perspective of a young girl, this book is based on the author's own apple-picking memories from her Washington childhood. Adults and children alike will love the lyrical quality of the text and the charming watercolor illustrations.

How Do Apples Grow? (ages 5-9)
Written by Betsy Maestro; illustrated by Giulio Maestro
Part of the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out science series, this non-fiction book explains how apple blossoms become fruit, and how the seeds of the fruit, in turn, can become new trees. The book also introduces the concepts of pollination, fertilization, and photosynthesis.

Johnny Appleseed (ages 4-8)
Written by Reeve Lindbergh; illustrated by Kathy Jakobsen
This beautifully-illustrated book tells in poem form of Johnny Chapman's quest to spread apples throughout the Midwest. Beyond discussing Chapman's mission, it also highlights various aspects of his character, including his kindness, courage, compassion, and respect for all living things.

The Apple Pie Tree (ages 4-8)
Written by Zoe Hall; illustrated by Shari Halpern
This beautifully written and illustrated book recounts the adventures of two children as they follow an apple tree through the seasons, from bud to fruit. Of all the books in my personal library, this is one of the ones that has seen the most use. It's great for teaching about plants, life cycles, seasons, apples, food in general, etc.

The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree (ages 4-7)
Written by Gail Gibbons
Join Arnold and his dog as they interact with an apple tree and discover how it changes through the seasons.

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BOOKS ABOUT AUTUMN

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic (ages 3-8)
Written by Steven Schnur; illustrated by Leslie Evans
This beautifully illustrated book includes one acrostic poem about autumn for every letter of the alphabet.

Autumn (ages 4-8)
Written by Nicola Baxter
This simple book tells all about the season of fall, includes a list of things to talk about, and offers seasonal activities.

Clifford's First Autumn (ages 3-8)
Written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell
Young students will love this simple work featuring the wonders of autumn through the eyes of one of the world's most-lovable dogs.

How Do You Know It's Fall? (ages 3-8)
Written by Allan Fowler
Illustrated with photographs, this non-fiction work beautifully presents the many signs of fall, from migrating birds to falling leaves to people playing football.

In November (Ages 4-7)
Written by Cynthia Rylant; illustrated by Jill Kastner
This illustrated poem reflect on the earth's transition from fall to winter.

When Autumn Comes (ages 4-10)
Written by Robert Mass
Uncommonly rich photography, aided by simple text, bring New England autumns to life.

 

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BOOKS ABOUT LEAVES

Autumn Leaves (ages 3-7)
Written by Ken Robbins
Illustrated with full-color photographs, this book introduces young children to autumn leaves from thirteen different types of deciduous trees. Beginning readers will find the vocabulary very challenging, but even young children will enjoy listening and following the pictures as an adult reads it to them.

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf (ages 4-10)
Written by Lois Ehlert
In this classroom favorite, Ehlert relates the life cycle of a sugar maple from a child's perspective. The unique illustrations will grab the attention of the youngest listeners, while the captivating text will engage older readers.

Why Do Leaves Change Colors? (ages 5-9)
Written by Betsy Maestro; illustrated by Loretta Krupinski
In the simplest of terms, this book explains why leaves change colors and fall from the trees. Also included is a list of activities children can do with leaves.

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BOOKS ABOUT PUMPKINS and Only Pumpkins... 
Note: Some  books included in this section make reference to Jack-o-Lanterns and/or Halloween. If you do not wish to familiarize your children or students with this holiday, please check the Amazon.com reviews before purchasing any of the following books.

 

The Runaway Pumpkin
by Kevin Lewis The Baxter brothers find a wonderful pumpkin for Fall, but first they must catch up with it when it rolls down the hill

Pumpkin Jack
by Will Hubbell
In the course of one year, a jack-o-lantern, discarded after Halloween, decomposes in the backyard and eventurally grows new pumpkins from its seeds.

In a Pumpkin Shell: Over 20 Pumpkin Projects for Kids.
by Jennifer Gillis BProvides instructions for a variety of projects involving pumpkins, such as growing them, using them for crafts, and using them in some great recipes.

It's Pumpkin Time
by Zoe Hall 
A sister and brother plant and tend their own pumpkin patch so they will have jack-o-lanterns for harvest time.

The Pumpkin Patch
by Margaret McNamara Katy find what she thinks is the perfect pumpkin on a class field trip to a pumpkin patch, but after her classmates tease her about how small it is, it is up to Katy's father to show her how perfect her pumpkin can be. 
 

Pumpkin Day!
by Nancy Wallace A bunny family picks pumpkins at a local farm and learns pumpkin facts in the process
 
The Garden That We Grew
by Joan Holub Children plant pumpkin seeds, water and weed the garden patch, watch the pumpkins grow, pick them, and enjoy them in various ways.
 
Kids' Pumpkin Projects: Planting & Harvest Fun
by Deanna Cook Provides instructions for fifty projects and activities involving pumpkins, including growing them, using them in recipes, and making things out of them.
 
The Pumpkin Book
by Gail Gibbons Describes how pumpkins come in different shapes and sizes, how they grow, and their traditional uses and cultural signigicance.
 
From Seed to Pumpkin
by Jan Kottke Illustrates and describes with simple text how a pumpkin seed grows into a plant that

Apples and Pumpkins (Ages 3-8)
Written by Anne Rockwell; illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
In simple language, a young girl tells of her family's trip to a farm where they picked apples and pumpkins. The family samples fresh apple cider and returns home to carve the pumpkin into a Jack-o-Lantern, just in time for Halloween.

It's Pumpkin Time! (Ages 3-7)
Written by Zoe Hall; illustrated by Shari Halpern
This story follows a brother and sister as they plant a tiny seed in the spring and watch it grow into a great big pumpkin by fall. The story ends with the parents helping the children to carve it into a Jack-o-Lantern

  _____________

HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN-JACK-O-LANTERN BOOK LIST

Pinky and Rex and the Perfect Pumpkin
by James Howe When Rex accompanies Pinky and his relatives on their traditional trip to pick and carve pumpkins, she feels left out because of the jealous behaivor of Pinky's cousin Abby.

Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night
by Anne F. Rockwell Shows a boy's excitement in buying the perfect pumpkin and then trying to make the pumpkin into a perfect Jack-o-lantern.

Pumpkin Faces
by Emma Rose Turn off your light for a spooky surprise--pumpkins are glowing in every shape and size!
 
The Problem With Pumpkins: A Hip and Hop Story
by Barney Saltzberg Hip and Hop's friendship is tested when Hop insists they can't both dress up as pumpkins for Halloween.

Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin
by Mary Serfozo Peter finds the perfect pumpkin so that he and his Dad can make a jack-o-lantern. 
 
The Berenstain Bear Scouts and the Humongous Pumpkin
by Stan Berenstain The Bear Scouts must stop the infamous Archweasel McGreed before he and his evil troops, hidden in an enormous pumpkin, tak over Bear Country.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
by Justine Korman Will Linus ever find the Great Pumpkin?  Join Linus as he convinces his friend Sally to wait for the Great Pumpkin to arrive on Halloween.

This is the Pumpkin
by Abby Levine A cumulative rhyme describes the activities of Max, his younger sister, and other children as they celebrate Halloween at school and trick-or-treating.

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BOOKS  FOR HALLOWEEN

Thirteen Nights of Halloween
by Rebecca Dickinson
 
All Hallow's Eve - The Story of the Halloween Fairy
by Lisa Sferlazza Johnson

 Big Pumpkin
by Erica Silverman
 
 Bugs That Go Bump in the Night
by David A. Carter

 Dragon's Halloween
by Dav Pilkey

 Extreme Monsters Joke Book
by Nikki Bataille Lange
 
 Extreme Monsters - Meet Mr. Hydeous
by Louise Simonson
 
 Extreme Monsters - The Blue Moon Effect
by Mel Friedman
 
 Extreme Monsters - What's With Wulf?
by Mel Friedman

 Five Little Pumpkins
by Iris Van Rynbach
 
 Go Away Big Green Monster
by Ed Emberley
 
 Halloween Bugs: A Trick-Or-Treat Pop-Up
by David A. Carter
 
 Halloween Night
by Arden Druce

 Halloween Puzzles
by Helene Hovanec
 
 Halloween Sky Ride
by Elizabeth Spurr
 
 Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve
by Mary Pope Osborne

 I Spy Spooky Night
by Jean Marzollo
 
 In the Haunted House
by Eve Bunting
 
 Inside a House That Is Haunted: A Rebus Read-Along Story
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

 It's Halloween!
by Jack Prelutsky
 
 Jan Pienkowski's Haunted House
by Jan Pienkowski
 
 Miss Fiona's Stupendous Pumpkin Pies
by Mark Kimball Moulton
 
 Mrs. McMurphy's Pumpkin
by Rick Walton

 Peek-a-Boooo!
by Marie Torres Cimarusti

 Pigs Go to Market - Halloween Fun with Math and Shopping
by Amy Axelrod

 Pumpkin Eye
by Denise Fleming
 
Room on the Broom
by Julia Donaldson

 Scary, Scary Halloween
by Eve Bunting
 
 Shake Dem Halloween Bones!
by Mike Reed

 Skeleton Hiccups
by Margery Cuyler
 
 Tell Me a Scary Story
by Carl Reiner
 
 Ten Timid Ghosts
by Jennifer O'connell

 The Bumpy Little Pumpkin
by Margery Cuyler

 The Everything Kids Halloween Puzzle
by Beth L. Blair

 The Legend of Spookley, the Square Pumpkin
by Joe Troiano

 The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
by Linda Williams
 
 The Night Before Halloween
by Natasha Wing
 
 The Ugly Pumpkin
by Dave Horowitz

 Too Many Pumpkins
by Linda White

 Trick or Treat Countdown
by Patricia Hubbard

 Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet
by Diane deGroat

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SPOOKY BOOKS--great for HALLOWEEN...but kids like them all year long!

CAMP CREEPY TIME
Gina Gershon and Dann Gershon
G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Ages 10-up---224 pages

GHOST CAT AND OTHER SPOOKY TALES
James Preller
Scholastic Paperbacks
Ages 7-10
76 pages

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, STINKY FACE
written by Lisa McCourt
illustrated by Cyd Moore
Ages 4-8
32 pages

MERCY WATSON: PRINCESS IN DISGUISE
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press--Ages 6-8--80 pages

NIGHTMARE ACADEMY
by Dean Lorey
HarperCollins--Ages 10-up--320 pages

SKELLY THE SKELETON GIRL
written and illustrated by Jimmy Pickering
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Ages 4-8--32 pages

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT
Derek Landy
Ages 10-up--400 pages

UNCLE MONTAGUE’S TALES OF TERROR
written by Chris Priestly
Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Ages 10-14---192 pages

WINNIE THE WITCH
written by Valerie Thomas
HarperCollins
Ages 4-8--32 pages
Source: kidsread.com

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 I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson, Judith Byron Schachner (Illustrator)
Great twist of the classic - I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. I know an old lady who swallowed a pie, a Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry. And with that the feast begins! After the pie the old lady swallows a whole squash, all of the salad, and the entire turkey! As Mother and Father watch in shock, the two children are delighted to see the old lady growing fatter and fatter. And, in the end, the old lady makes a surprising and humorous contribution to the holiday festivities.

In November by Cynthia Rylant, Jill Kastner (Illustrator)
In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends. This book is a great resource to share at Thanksgiving time, as it honors family traditions of this seasonal month.

The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing, Tammie Lyon (Illustrator)
A creative spin on the Clement C. Moore classic, The Night Before Thanksgiving is a warm, whimsical celebration of everyone's favorite fun-filled, family-filled, food-filled holiday! Follow along as the feast is prepared, cousins are greeted, and thanks are given, all with an extra helping of holiday fun. All are at Library, bookstores, and Amazon.com

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Make one party room/area into the lab. It will be much easier to decorate and will contain 1. On the entrance to the room-- put up some danger tape and a notice warning that only scientists may enter the "Secret Science Lab Zone".

 2. Using black construction paper cut out large question marks, magnifying glasses and mathematical formulas. Put these up around the room.

3.  Put up posters of famous scientists around the room with a small caption underneath of why they are famous.You could also hang some science clip art pictures in the room. These can be found with an internet search such as Google.

4.  Decorate the space with an array of lab items such as gummy frogs that have been pinned down so that they look as if they were being dissected. You can also keep jars of lab specimens such as huge gummy snakes, lizards etc.

 5. Check out Halloween stores/sites/for slimy table decorations which are perfect for scientists; also skeletons, skulls and other gory accessories. If you're going for a spookier look--purchase cobweb/spider webs from Halloween stores and put them about the room on tables, etc.

 6.  A dry ice machine would make a great table center piece.

 7. Fill lots of different shaped jars with colored water and rubber body parts to put around the table.

 8.  Borrow microscopes, chemistry sets, molecule models, magnifying glasses, compasses, and so on, and place them on the table and about the room. Do you have a flickering plasma lamp? Kids of all ages love them!

 9. Use a colored globe light to give the room an eerie appearance or just place colored light bulbs in regular lamps.

10. Set up a large chalk board/white board and write the recipes for the experiments that you are going to do.

 11. Hang a sign from the table or at the doorway saying “Welcome to the Science Laboratory”.

 12.  Use a 'weird or scary font' to write signs such as "Electricity", "Gas", "Chemicals", and put them around the area.

13. Put a rubber band around several large test tubes. Tie a ribbon over the rubber band. Arrange tubes to stand with open ends up. Fill them with colored water and add a flower or two.

14. Make a Light Bulb Pinata--Click here for directions! (And Photo)

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MAKE LAB COATS 

 #1 Professor X Lab Coats: Cover the table with newspapers or freezer paper. Lay out fabric markers. Give each child a plain white shirt to decorate as a lab coat. You can use T-shirts, or look for used front-buttoning shirts at thrift shops

Idea #2
Use white kitchen sized garbage bags to make lab coats (A practical way to protect children's clothing during experiments)
Cut a half circle hole for the head, and half circles for the arms. With a black permanent marker, draw a line down the front and buttons next to it. You can also draw a pocket on the side with a pen in it; write the children’s names on them (Example: Professor Smith, Dr. Susan.

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JUST LIKE EINSTEIN
Purchase black party glasses with the noses and mustaches from a novelty or party store. Before kids enter the “science lab” have them don their coats and glasses. It would be great if party facilitators could be wearing white lab coats, crazy wigs, goggles, or glasses too! BE SURE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS of this! Kids may not leave these on long---but it will be great fun.

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Food itself lends itself to the decorating! Make sure it's creepy, gooey and gross! Visit the Mad Science Theme for ideas on games, experiments, snacks, and more. Also check out the Halloween Snack and Party Food category for creepy, crawly goodies!

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DECORATE WITH DRY ICE ...

SMOKEY CAULDRONS

For truly dramatic effects, create fog using dry ice. Add one piece of dry ice to every gallon of very hot water. Note: Be careful and make sure that it is in a place where children cannot hurt themselves. (See complete directions below)

Also check out the HALLOWEEN DECORATING PAGE  for a "Spooky Jack-O- Lantern" with Dry Ice Fog.

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CREATE A 'FOG EFFECT' with dry ice
 
Materials needed: Large container
Lot water
Lry ice
CAUTION: Only use dry ice in a well-ventilated area. The carbon dioxide released from dry ice will displace oxygen.
 
Fill a metal or plastic container half full with hot water, add a few pieces of dry ice every 5 to 10 minutes. As water cools, it will be necessary to start over with hot water to maintain the fog effect.

As a rule of thumb, one pound of dry ice will create 2-3 minutes of fog effect. The hotter the water, the more fog but the quicker dissipation of the dry ice.

When you place dry ice into some warm or hot water, clouds of white fog are created. This white fog is not the CO2 gas, but rather it is condensed water vapor, mixed in with the invisible CO2. The extreme cold causes the water vapor to condense into clouds. The fog is heavy, being carried by the CO2, and will settle to the bottom of a container, and can be poured. You can produce enough ground - hugging fog to fill a medium-sized room with a pound or so of dry ice. Do not allow anyone to lie down in this fog, or allow babies or pets into it, as CO2 gas does not support life. Source: continentalcarbonic

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DECORATE WITH PLASMA LAMP

Whether you call them nebula spheres, PLASMA LAMPS, or lightening balls, these lamps put on one of the most unique displays available. Twenty years ago they cost $1500. Today you can get one for $40.00 or less...
Technically, they're a clear glass orb, filled with a mixture of various gases at low pressure, and driven by high frequency alternating current at high voltage...Great for decorating a 'Mad Science Lab'!!!

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