LEAF, PUMPKIN, CANDY CORN & GOURD GAMES
Good for late September through November

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 PIE EATER TAG GAME!
Good for October to December because of apple and pumpkin pies!

• Split the students into two different groups; one is apple pie and the other group is pumpkin pie.

• Have one student be the pie eater, who will be standing on the center line. The pie eater can only move from side to side on the center line.

• All the students say to the pie eater, "Pie eater, pie eater are you hungry?" The pie eater responds with a 'yes or no' answer.

• If the answer is no, the pies (students) ask again.

• If the answer is yes, then the pies ask again, "What kind of pie would you like?"

• The pie eater then says apple or pumpkin and that pie tries to make it to the other side.

• If the pie is tagged, then they become a pie eater.

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BEAN BAG TOSS
Use a large piece of cardboard or a large, unfolded box…. Cut one or two leaf shapes out of the cardboard. Paint the cardboard orange, red and yellow. When dry have the children throw bean bags through the LEAF SHAPED holes.
Be sure to save for next year!

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LEAF BLOW GAME
Have a leaf race! In this, the children blow a leaf across a table with a straw. The first one across is the winner...

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HARVEST DASH (Outiside Game)

• Set up a fall relay with the kids. Fill large containers with sunflower seed bird feed. Have smaller, clear containers at the opposite end.
• Kids fill cup with seeds and race to dump it in the empty container.
• They sprint back to the start and hand-off the cup to the teammates.
•  Goal of the race is to be the first team to fill up the small container with the seeds.
• As an extra challenge, give the kids an over-sized soup ladle instead of a cup. Don't worry if the seeds spill; that's part of the fun! The birds will easily find them later.
• Tip: Try a dollar store for inexpensive clear containers. They usually stock plastic ones in apple or pumpkin shapes in the fall. Popcorn or candy corn also can be used in place of seed. 

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 GOURDS...

GOURD ROLL Have each child take a turn rolling a small, round gourd. Try to find one with lots of bumps for extra craziness! The kid with the longest roll wins. Play on a sloped driveway or a small hill for extra fun.

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GOURD BOWLING
Set up 'bowling' using empty two-liter soda bottles. If preferred, the bottles can be weighted with seeds or water. Use a round, bumpy gourd as the ball.

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GOURD RACE  Set up start and turn around lines… (About 10 feet apart) Dived children into equal teams…

• At the signal, first players walk from starting line to turn-around line and back to the stating line while holding a spoon with a gourd on it. Child then hands it off to the next in line.
• If the gourd falls off the spoon, players must stop and pick up the gourd with the spoon to continue.
• Continue until each child has had a turn. With many children—have many lines)
  

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PLAY RING TOSS AS RING AROUND THE GOURD
Assign different point values to different sizes of gourds, pumpkins, or dried Indian corn.

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GAMES USING PUMPKINS and more...

 • PUMPKIN AND FOOT RACE
Set up starting and finish lines and have the children race to see who can get their smallish pumpkin over the finish line. Only feet can be used to push pumpkins along. There can be no kicking; if any kicking is observed, that child goes back to their starting line. This would also be a good team relay race.

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PUMPKIN & BROOM RACE (Can be played in  outdoors or gym!)

• This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not smooth balls and refuse to roll in straight lines, you'll need plenty of room! You need medium pumpkins and sturdy sticks (or brooms); Use one pumpkin and stick/broom for each team.
• The racers line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
• On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
• Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
• If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.
• When playing inside use smaller pumpkins.

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PASS THE PUMPKIN RELAY
Line up into 2 teams.

• The first person passes the pumpkin OVER his/her head to the next person in line.
• The next person passes the pumpkin UNDER his/her legs to the next person, and so on.
• When you get to the end of the line the last person runs up to the front and starts it all over again. 
• Whoever has the first person that was in line at the beginning of the game--- in the back of the line WINS.

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FIND THE PUMPKIN
Supplies:
   Ten pieces of white paper
   Five pieces of yellow paper
   Five pieces of orange paper
   A crayon
   Scissors
Directions:
1. Draw ten white pumpkins, five yellow pumpkins, and five orange pumpkins. (Or adjust the numbers to reflect the number of you group)
2. Cut out all the pumpkins.
3. Decorate each pumpkin with a funny face.
4. Write the number 1 on the backs of the white pumpkins.
5. Write the number 5 on the backs of the yellow pumpkins.
6. Write the number 10 on the backs of the orange pumpkins.
7. Hide all of the pumpkins.
8. Youth try to find as many pumpkins as you can before the adult says "Stop!"
9. Players will add up the numbers of collected pumpkins. The player with the most points wins! This can also be played in teams.

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PUMPKIN BOWLING!
Supplies: 3 small pumpkins, 30 empty 2 liter clear soda bottles (less if your group is smaller!), a bag of gravel or pebbles placed in bottom of bottles

• Ask parents to save empty, clean 2 liter soda bottles for your game.
• Add about a cup of sand or pebbles in each bottle so they will stand without falling over.
• Divide kids into several teams of 3-8 kids each...line up and take turn at bowling!
• The small pumpkins are the bowling balls. If it's for a party- consider prizes.
• The kids that get a Strike receive another turn to bowl a strike. If they  bowl another strike, they receive a prize. When using prizes BE SURE EVERYONE GETS SOMETHING for playing!

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PUMPKIN HUNT – While the kids are out of the room - hide paper or small gourd pumpkins around the room. Challenge kids to find them all! When they have found all pumpkins you can serve a special snack or give each child a ‘goodie’.

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PUMPKIN BOCCE BALL- Object of Game: Roll a pumpkin closest to the big pumpkin. You need a large pumpkin. Also purchase several miniature or round sugar pumpkins. To play: Place the big pumpkin several feet away. Give each player a small pumpkin. Each player rolls (No tossing or throwing) their pumpkin and tries to be the closest to the big pumpkin. The player closest wins ...

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THROW PENNIES IN THE PUMPKIN

• Carve out a pumpkin (Do NOT make it a Jack-O-Lantern); line the inside with plastic or aluminum foil.
• Make the top opening large. Option is to use small plastic pumpkins which are quicker and not messy!
• To play the game---place the pumpkins a couple feet away.
• Give each player about ten pennies...and try to get them in!
• Each time one gets in--a point is earned... (You could also use a plastic Halloween pumpkin container)

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GUESS THE PUMPKIN'S WEIGHT!
Need: Large pumpkin
Bathroom or science class scale
Slips of paper

• Have children write their estimates of the pumpkin's weight on a slip of paper. Kids write their names on the paper, fold them, and place in a box. At the end of the time-frame, weigh the pumpkin and award a prize or the pumpkin to the child with the closest guess.

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PUMPKIN RACE (Like the above Pumpkin Race-- but using sticks instead of brooms)

Can be played in a yard, garage or even inside using small pumpkins!
This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not  smooth balls and refuse to roll in nice straight lines, you will need plenty of room!

You need two large pumpkins and two sturdy sticks.
The racers, line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
 If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.

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PUMPKIN WALK
This is like a regular cake walk except instead of numbers, place pictures of several fall items on the floor for the children to walk on and call out the names of the items instead of numbers. Award the child that lands on the picture of a pumpkin---a small/miniature pumpkin! Use fall themed music such as "Turkey In The Straw" or "Jimmy Cracked Corn".

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WIN THE PUMPKIN!

Place children in a circle.
Start some music and pass a mini pumpkin from one person to another.
When the music stops-the person holding the pumpkin is out. 
The last one left keeps the pumpkin!

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MR. PUMPKIN HEAD
Do you have Mr. Potato Head game pieces???! The kids can have some Fall fun using them with small pumpkins!
Using a smallish to medium sized pumpkin, poke some holes where the eyes, nose and mouth would be (include hat and ears). Have the children decorate "Mr. Pumpkin Head" using Mr. Potato Head pieces.

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If you like Autumn Pumpkins-check out the entire PUMPKIN THEME! (It's NOT a 'Halloween/Jack-O-Lantern Category' but only Pumpkin Ideas!)

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NOT A GAME-- BUT WONDERFUL FOR YOUNG KIDS AND THE YOUNG AT HEART! 

MAGIC PUMPKIN SEEDS
Materials:
Pumpkin seeds, small paper bag and small pumpkins

• Show the children a small bag of pumpkin seeds and explain that you believe these are magic pumpkin seeds.
• Take the children outside to the playground (or your yard) where they toss the seeds onto the ground. Have them make up a few magic words, if they want.
• The next day, before children go outside--gather the seeds and put small pumpkins in their place.
• Take the children outside and delight them with the 'magical' pumpkins that have grown.
  If you have enough pumpkins, the children can take the pumpkins home and/or first decorate and paint them to add to theme of your space.
  Idea adapted from preschoolrainbow.org

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FLOATING PUMPKINS (Party Game)
Number the bottom of the small gourds that look like miniature pumpkins and float them in water for the children to choose one for small prizes. 

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POPCORN RELAY RACE – (Because October is National Popcorn Month-see Popcorn Theme --and also-popcorn is fun all year!)

All it takes are two big bowls of popcorn and some small cups per team. Have kids run and get a cupful of popcorn and transfer it to the bowl across the room. The first team finished wins. Because of potential popcorn mess, this would be good played outside! The critters can eat what isn't’ swept up! (Play in gym if you’re brave!)

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PUMPKIN SEED TOSS
Number and line up 5 small baskets or containers; have children stand 3 feet (or farther depending on ages) in front of the first container and toss seeds into them in sequence. Small prizes can be given for each container seeds get in.

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Idea***Have a 'PUMPKIN SEED SPITTING CONTEST' OUTSIDE!

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DRESS A SCARECROW AND RUN
Stock up on over-sized plaid shirts, goofy pants, floppy hats and any other clothing that a scarecrow might wear.  Make piles containing one of each item. The number of piles is determined either by the number of kids or teams participating.

• Line up kids and let the game begin!
• The children run to the pile, put on the outfit, and dart back to the starting line.
• If doing it as a team game, they  then switch the outfit with their teammate--who run out and back.
• First team with their last team member dressed as a scarecrow wins.

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CANDY CORN RELAY RACE

• Designate a starting line and a finish line.
• Set out a bowl full of candy corn for each player at the starting line and an empty bowl at the finish line.
• The players must use a large spoon to scoop candy corn out of the full bowl and then carry it to the empty bowl and fill it.
• They cannot spill any candy corn or use their hands!
• If any candy corn falls off the spoon, they must immediately pick it up and bring it back to the back to the starting line bowl and start over with that scoopful.

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PASS THE CORN GAME (Ages 4 - 10)
Divide the children into two teams (or as many as you need) and have them form two lines. You will need a cob of dried Indian corn for each team.
 
1. At the signal "go", the corncob is to be passed from child to child. The catch is that they can use any part of their bodies, except their hands.
2. If the corn touches the ground at any time, it must go back to the beginning of the line again.
3. Whichever team manages to get the corn to the end of the line first wins the game.
4. The corn can also be used in a relay, with the kids putting the corn between their knees, and racing "crab" style".

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TURN EVERYDAY GAMES INTO  FALL GAMES

 • LEAF, LEAF, PINECONE

The Leaf, Leaf, Pinecone is a version of the classic "Duck, Duck, Goose" with a nature-friendly twist.
This game is best played outdoors, but you can also gather pinecones and play this traditional game inside on a rainy day.

 Whoever is "it" must not only touch the heads of the other players, saying, "Leaf, leaf, leaf," but must also drop a fresh pinecone in the lap of the child they choose before running back around the circle without being tagged. The person trying to tag "it" can touch "it" with a hand above the waist or with the pinecone below the waist. For Thanksgiving play "Turkey, Turkey, Stuffing"!

•Instead of Simon Says, play the Scarecrow Says or the Witch Says, The Turkey Says, etc.

• APPLE-APPLE-PUMPKIN GAME
Just like duck-duck-goose---Play Apple, Apple, Pumpkin!  Same game with fall flair.

• "Musical Hats" ...Play "Musical Pilgrim Hats" in November

• Large-sized AUTUMN TIC-TAC TOE
Take a large piece of poster board and draw the tic-tac-toe lines on it; laminate it if possible.
Cut-two different leaf shapes; then simply play tic-tac-toe.

• THREE LEGGED SACK RACES – Add an autumn touch by creating an obstacle course using pumpkins, corn stalks and bales of hay.

• BINGO
Use candy corn as game pieces.

• In October play "Put the Wart on the Witch" or Put the "Nose on the Pumpkin". In November play "Pin the WATTLE on the Turkey" instead of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

• PARACHUTE LEAF TOSS (For younger children)
Take a sheet, or a parachute. Gather real leaves, fabric leaves, or paper leaves. Place them in the middle of the sheet. Gather around the sheet and have the children lift the sheet slowly and then quickly to see how all the leaves "float".

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MISCELLANEOUS HARVEST TYPE GAMES...

FLOATING PUMPKINS
Number the bottom of the small gourds that look like miniature pumpkins and float them in water for the children to choose one for small prizes.

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TURKEY IN THE STRAW
Fill a wading pool with straw and hide a small picture of a turkey in it for groups to dig through to see who can find it first.

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THE SQUIRREL GAME - Let the kids pretend they are squirrels gathering nuts for the winter. Give each a small paper bag, then toss out several unshelled nuts onto the floor and let the kids race to see who can collect the most. Older and younger children should be separated for this game. Another way to play this game, (if you have a way to corral a large quantity of leaves) is to hide nuts beneath a large pile of leaves and give the kids a set amount of time to find as many nuts as they can.

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PICKING APPLES
A regular sucker pull can become "Apple Picking." Make a large apple tree with lots of red apples out of construction paper; then connect the tree to peg board. Mark the tips of the handles on only a few caramel apple suckers then poke them through the peg board holes; poke several unmarked suckers around the marked suckers; then let the kids pick an apple. Have prizes ready for those who get the marked suckers, but everyone gets to keep the sucker they pulled.

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There are '20 APPLE THEMED' GAMES (near bottom of page) in the Apple Category... Click here  Great in the Fall!!!

OTHER AUTUMN GAMES:

 • HALLOWEEN GAMES HERE...

• THANKSGIVING GAMES HERE...

Back to top of page 

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 2011

Flower: Calendula (English Marigold)            
Birthstone: Opal-Tourmaline

Just look at all the things going on this month! This is sure to inspire lots of ideas! 

Make this a month of Kindness and Service! The month of October hosts Bullying Prevention Month; Kids Care Week; Diversity Awareness Month; Lights on AfterSchool; World Smile Day; World Food Day; National Make a Difference Day; Peace, Friendship and Goodwill Week; and National UNICEF!

THIS IS ALSO:

 • Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
  • National Apple Month (See Apple Activities and Cooking & Snacking with Apples 
  • National Pajama Month (See page bottom)
  • National Roller Skating Month
  • National Stamp Collecting Month
  • National Pizza Month
  • National Chili Month
  • Computer Learning Month
  • Do-It Yourself Month
  • Polish American Awareness Month
  • National Dental Hygiene Month
  • National Pasta Month (See Pasta Theme)
  • World Chocolate Awareness Month
  • Vegetarian Awareness Month
  • National Seafood Month
  • National Clock Month
  • Family History Month
  • National Popcorn Month (Check out Popcorn Theme)
  • National Dessert Month
  • American Pharmacist Month
  • Awareness Month
  • Cookie Month (See No-Bake Cookie Recipes)
  • Eat Country Ham Month 
  • International Drum Month 
  • Sarcastic Month 
  • Seafood Month
  • National Vegetarian Month 

 • Head Start Awareness Month  • Month of the Young Adolescent-Learn of Shadow Day  •  Diversity Awareness Month

DOING THE WEEKS OF OCTOBER!

WEEK ONE:

National Hispanic Heritage Month 2011... is observed from Sept. 11 through Oct. 14.

• Get Organized Week
• National Fire Prevention Week
• National Human Services awareness Week
• National Newspaper Week
• National Pickled Pepper Week
• Universal Children's Week

WEEK TWO:

• Teen Read Week  See page bottom below
• Metric Week
• National School Lunch Week
• Organize Your Files Week
• Pet Peeve Week
• Space Week

 WEEK THREE

• Kids Care Week, celebrated the third week of October, recognizes the power of kids to help others in their community and the world. During the week, young people focus their compassion on a specific social issue through a service project. Kids Care Week culminates on Make a Difference Day~ October 22.
• National School Bus Safety Week
• National Forest Products Week
• Wildlife Week
• World Rainforest Week

WEEK FOUR:

• World Rainforest Continues
• Peace, Friendship and Goodwill Week
• Save your Back Week

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  DOING THE DAYS OF OCTOBER

1.   Homemade Cookie Day (No Bake Cookies Here)
      World Vegetarian Day and Julie Andrew's (Mary Poppins) Birthday, World Smile Day
2.   Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi born 1869
      Charlie Brown's Birthday: Peanuts debut 1950
      Name your Car Day
3.   Emily Post Birth Date -1873
      Captain Kangaroo Day
      SOS established as international stress code
4.   National Golf Day and Sputnik launched
5.   World Teachers Day
     
6.  Thomas Edison shows first motion picture
     Mad Hatter Day
7.  World Smile Day; American Bandstand premiered-Daylight Saving Time ends in United States
8.                          
9.  Moldy Cheese Day
     Count from Sesame Street Birthday
10. National Cake Decorating Day and 'Bonza Bottler' Day!
     International Top Spinning Day
     National Bring your Teddy Bear to School or Work Day
11. Eleanor Roosevelt Birthday & Thanksgiving in Canada. Columbus Day celebrated
12. Farmer's Day (Farm/Harvest Theme)
     World Egg Day (See below)
      First Aerial photo taken in 1860
13. International Newspaper Carriers Day
      Iron Man Competition
      International Skeptics Day
      Navy birthday
14. Bullying Prevention Week Starts! Grover of Sesame Street's Birthday
      Be Bald and Be Free Day
15. National Grouch Day
      National Poetry Day
16. Bosses Day:  National Boss's Day is celebrated on October 16th each year. If the holiday falls on a weekend, it is generally celebrated on the working day closest to October 16. 2011 is Mon Oct 17; 2012 thru 2015 is Oct. 16.     

16. Dictionary Day
16. World Food Day (See below)
17. Black Poetry Day
      Kid's Care Week starts!

18. Alaska Day--1867
      Little Orphan Annie's Birthday-1922
      Puerto Rico became American colony
19.  Star Spangled Banner first sung
20.  Guggenheim museum opens in N.Y.-1959
      Mickey Mantel's birthday
      Monster Mash (song) Day- 1962
      World Toy Cameral Day
21. Mother-in-law Day
22. National Nut Day
23. National Make a Difference Day, National Mole Day and
      T.V. Talk Show Host Day
24. National Bologna Day
      United Nations Day
25. National Denim Day
      Pablo Picasso Birthday-1881
26. Hilary Rodham Clinton-s Birthday
     International Red Cross organized-1863
27. Theodore Roosevelt's Birthday-1858
28. Plush Animal Lovers Day
      Statue of Liberty's Birthday
      National Chocolate Day (See below)
29. Internet Day 
30. National Candy Corn Day (See below)
     Haunted Refrigerator Night
31. Halloween  (Visit the hundreds of ideas)
      Books for Treats Night and National Knock-Knock Jokes Day
      National Magic Day
      National UNICEF Day Click here for website 

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SOME IDEAS FOR 'DOING THE DAYS' OF OCTOBER

 

OCTOBER 7 is WORLD SMILE DAY! 

 

 This year, on October 7, 2011 we celebrate the 13th World Smile Day ®.  As ever the theme for the day is "Do an act of kindness.  Help one person smile."  As always, the image that leads the way on this day is the smiley face.

Get involved on this special day by organizing events and activities at your school, business or organization. Recognize members of your community for their acts of good will and kindness. Spread the word.  If each of us becomes a World Smile Day® Ambassador and help just one person smile that day - the world will be a better place.  Harvey Ball  (the artist who created the 'SMILEY FACE' believed that each of us, as individuals, can make a difference in this world.  World Smile Day® is the day when all our individual acts can make the world a better place. See Kindness Category

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THE BIGGEST SMILE
This is not a game, but a great group activity to see who can give the biggest smile!. (Prizes or not--your choice) One at a time measure people's smiles with a ruler (or measuring tape). This is fun. You can also measure the zany faces!
You can take photos as you do this as people are smiling BIG!

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PLAY THROWING THE SMILE! (Circle Game)

In this game, players are forbidden to smile, but --giggling and laughing will abound anyway.
 
1. Players sit in a circle, making sure they can see everyone else. One player who is "It" starts the game by smiling widely, while all the other players are somber. "It" then uses their hand to wipe the smile off their face and throw it to another player--- who has to catch the smile with their hand -- and then put it on.

2. The new "It" can wipe off the smile to throw to someone else--(though he/she will probably choose to make funny smile faces at everyone for a minute or two before relinquishing the happy role.) Meanwhile, all other players must sit stone-faced. One smirk and they're out.

TIP:
The youngest players are the least successful at winning this game (they simply can't stop themselves from laughing), but they also tend to enjoy it the most.) Cassie/Mi. Adapted from: familyfun.go.com

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Promintly post this Poem...
SMILING

Smiling is infectious; you catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around a corner and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled, I realized I had passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile and then I realized its worth.
A single smile, just like mine, could travel around the earth.
So if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected.
Let's start an epidemic quick and get the world infected.
Author Unknown

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 OCTOBER 10...Don't forget BONZA BOTTLER DAY!  It's a day just to have a reason to celebrate. So celebrate!!! 
This happens each month when the day and date are the same number!
Example: January 1, February 2, March 3, April 4, May 5, etc.  Bonza Bottler Day is a favorite with many school classrooms and programs because it provides a break in routine for the students and teachers. It has been celebrated since August 8 (8-8) 1985!

When the number of the year also coincides with the number of the day and month (This year it is November 11, 2011) there is reason to have a bigger celebration (more food, more friends and more decorations). This is called a 'Bodacious Bonza Bottler Day'. As the official website  states, "Bodacious means extraordinary, impressively great in size, or enormous" Consider making this a monthly event the kids can look forward to!

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OCTOBER 11TH IS EGG DAY-HAVE SOME EGGCEPTIONAL FUN!

EGG GAMES...They're not only for Easter!

THE EGG-A-THON
This can be played as a race or relay…
Use a tablespoon and a hard-boiled egg or plastic Easter egg and plastic spoon.
Children try to walk fast holding the egg in the spoon to the finish line.
It can also be done as a relay and have one child in the middle of the race line waiting.
The children transfer the egg to their relay partner's spoon and go!

EGG TOSS
You’ll need one, hard-boiled egg for each pair of children.
Have the children stand across from a partner. They should stand one foot apart.
When the leader says, “Go” the children should toss the eggs to their partners.
With hard-boiled eggs, everyone can play the whole game because the eggs won’t crack.
With each toss, the children should back up one step. Play until the eggs are destroyed and before the kids get bored. 

1. PLAY BINGO using candy corn as markers.

2. PLAY CANDY CORN RELAY GAME

Designate a starting line and a finish line.

• Put out a bowl full of candy corn for each player at the starting line and an empty bowl at the finish line.
• The players must use a large spoon to scoop candy corn out of the full bowl and then carry it to the empty bowl and fill it.
• They cannot spill any candy corn or use their hands!
• If any candy corn falls off the spoon, they must immediately pick it up and bring it back to the back to the starting line bowl and start over with that scoopful.

 

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NATIONAL POPCORN MONTH! SEE THE POPCORN THEME!  As this is both 'National Popcorn Month' and 'Halloween'--make this cute popcorn ghost. You cover two themes in one!

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. Pot the branch and make a Halloween tree. These would make great ornaments the tree! 

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NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY is October 28--  This is also WORLD CHOCOLATE MONTH AND PAJAMA MONTH--Plan one event to celebrate both!

Have some fun with Hot Chocolate  and also play  CHOCOLATE FACE!  Place a piece of chocolate candy in your mouth and see how long it takes to melt! No sucking and chewing it! The one to keep the chocolate in their mouth the longest is the winner. A nice way to celebrate Chocolate Day! 

 Help kids plan a comfy COCOA PARTY! You could add a movie (an old favorite or something just released.) Make popcorn (It's popcorn month!) or have cookies (It's cookie month!) and set up a hot chocolate bar where everyone can add marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles, and whipped cream to cups of cocoa.

Extension Idea: Add a PAJAMA PARTY! (It's Pajama Month!) Have kids wear PJ's and lounge on pillows and blankets as they watch a movie. (Don't forget favorite stuffed animals! The 28th is Plush Animal Lover's Day!)

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October 31 is not only HALLOWEEN- but also  National Knock-Knock Jokes Day  Click and have some fun with Knock-Knock Jokes--Kids of all ages love them!

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WHAT IS HALLOWEEN?

 Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31st, by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets or money.

The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1st, "All Hollows Day" (or "All Saints Day"), is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints.

The origin of Halloween dates back 2000 years ago to the Celtic celebration of the dead. A Celtic festival was held on November 1st, the first day of the celtic New Year, honoring the Samhain, the Lord of the Dead.

Celtic ritual believed that the souls of the dead returned on the evening before November 1st. The celebration included burning sacrifices and costumes.

Irish, Scots and other immigrants brought older versions of the tradition to North America in the 19th century and by the late 20th century, many other Western countries have embraced Halloween as a part of American pop culture.

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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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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.

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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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PAINTED PUMPKINS
Purchase one mini pumpkin or gourd for each child.
Put out an assortment of paints and pens...
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!

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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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MORE THAN 80 GAMES for all ages!!! (Word and Letter Games at page bottom)

HALLOWEEN BEAN BAG TOSS

Take a cardboard box and paint 3 pumpkins on it. Cut out large mouth shapes to throw in the bean bags. Put numbers of 5, 10, 15, above each mouth opening.

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How long can you keep WHITE SKELETON HEADS (Made from white balloons) in the air? Draw  the faces with magic marker -You could also use nets to catch them.

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HALLOWEEN JOKE AND PUNCH LINE...  Great as a 'Connector and Ice-breaker' (Get Halloween Jokes here)

1. Before the event: Write a joke on one card and a punch line on another. Be sure to mix the cards up. The number of different jokes depends on the size of the group.
2. Give each person a card. Explain that they may have a joke or a punch line on the card.
3. On a given signal, they are to walk around the group trying to find the other part of their joke/punch line. When they find their other half, you may ask them to get to know their new partner by asking things like favorite spooky movie, their best ever costume, dream costume, etc. When this is done, everyone can return to a circle and, with their partner, tell their joke.

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MUMMY WRAP Contest!

Dived kids into teams of three.

• Choose one child from each team to be a "mummy". The other 2 are the mummy wrappers.
• Have the mummy stand with their hands and at their sides and their feet together.
• At the signal, all wrappers wrap their mummy from head to foot (Leaving room to breathe of course)
• No clothing can show when the wrapping is done.
• Although the toilet paper will tear from the roll, teams must continue wrapping.
•  Be sure to have a camera ready!!!

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 TRICK OR TREAT PARTY GAME

1. Before the party cut several strips of paper; about twice as many strips as there are children.
2. On half of the strips write the word 'treat'. On the other half write 'trick' with a trick such as "hop on one foo"”, "pat your head and rub your belly".
3. Place all of the strips in a Halloween bag.
4. Have the children form a circle. Walk around the circle. Each player draws a paper out of the bag and performs a trick or receives a treat such as a sticker, Halloween pencil or small piece of candy. (Be sure all kids receive a treat!)

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HALLOWEEN SURPRISE GOOP-SCOOP

1. Carve out the insides of a pumpkin, but leave the pumpkin seeds and goop inside the pumpkin.
2. Blindfold one child at a time and have them reach in and grab out some messy seeds. Have small paper cups ready with each child's name on it. Put their 'goop' in their cup.
3. After each child takes their turn, have each one count out their seeds.
4. Whoever has the most wins a prize. (Give all children a prize for being a good sport--and the winner an additional small prize)

Tip:
Games like this are fun if they are done behind a screen or door--where children previously don't see what they will be doing.

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PRIZE BUCKET OF GUTS
 
Fill a large tub-type container with something disgusting such as cooked pasta noodles or jello. It needs to feels gross, slimy or oozy!

Bury small plastic prizes in the 'guts'. 
So children don't see what is in the container--dim the lights or put the container behind a screen. Blindfold players as they reach into the container to find the prizes.(Be sure to have a large bucket of water to then wash hands!)

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BLOOD-SHOT EYE BALLS (TEAM RACE)
Materials for two teams: 12 ping-pong balls, permanent markers
Using permanent markers, draw irises, pupils, and bloodshot veins on the 12 ping-pong balls.

1. Divide players into two teams.

2. The object of the game is to race around a specific course with a hand-ful of least six 'eye-balls'.

3. When the first players reach the end of the course, he/she hands the 'eye-balls' to the next player.
Dropped balls must be picked-up before the exchange of balls. The first team to complete the course wins.
(Children as young as 5 should be able to play this; if youth are older, consider adding more balls.

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TRICK OR TREAT - DON'T SAY 'THAT' WORD!

The object of this game is to catch fellow players saying one of the following words: Halloween, Candy, Witch, Party, Ghost, Pumpkin
To help players... post the words prominently on a board where they can be seen often.

TO PLAY: Give each player a goodie bag or box with 10 pieces of candy in it. (Have bags labeled with players' names, so they don't get mixed up.) Let players know at the start of the game exactly when the game will be ending--this game can be played throughout an entire event..

If someone is caught saying one of the words on the list, that person has to give up a piece of candy from their stash. The player with the biggest haul of candy at the end of the game is the winner! (Ages 7-12)

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A CIRCLE GHOST STORY...
Sit in a circle and start a scary ghost story.
Each  player adds on to the story until it reaches a scary ending! It's best done when each person will say two or three sentences and then stop in the middle of the next sentence-saying..."and then..." The next player then continues.

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FREEZE DANCE with a Halloween twist.
Instead of musical statues do MUSICAL SCARES--where the children get into a frightening pose whenever the music stops! Use Halloween music such as the Monster Bash, Purple People Eater and Halloween Sounds, etc.

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DRAW A PUMPKIN FACE GAME

Draw a large pumpkin face shape for each player.
Give each artist/player an orange crayon and a blindfold.
Instruct each person to draw a jack-o-lantern face on the pumpkin face.
Laugh at the finished creative masterpieces!

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SKELETON SCAVENGER HUNT  
Purchase plastic skeletons and disassemble them. Hide the bones before the game starts. Have kids search for them and then reassemble the skeleton. For older kids, you can hide the bones and then write out clues for them to follow. You can also get a few skeletons and break the kids into teams.

 

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OUTDOOR SKELETON BONE HUNT
 
1. Save old chicken bones.
2. Clean in hot soapy water.
3. Hide/bury the bones in a sandy play area.
Award prizes in method of your choice, however, be sure each player gets a prize for participation.

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PUMPKIN AND FOOT RACE
Set up starting and finish lines and have the children race to see who can get their smallish pumpkin over the finish line. Only feet can be used to push pumpkins along. There can be no kicking;if any kicking is observed, that child goes back to their starting line. This would also be a good team relay race.

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PUMPKIN & BROOM RACE (Can be played in a outdoors or gym!)

• This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not smooth balls and refuse to roll in straight lines, you'll need plenty of room!
• You need medium pumpkins and sturdy sticks (or brooms); Use one pumpkin and stick/broom for each team.
• The racers line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
• On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
• Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
• If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.
• When playing inside use smaller pumpkins.

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WITCHES BROOM OBSTACLE RACE...
Need:
Two brooms
An obstacle course (chairs and simple objects set up)

On the word start, the first person of each team "sweeps" a ball around the obstacles and come back to their team line.
The first team to finish wins.

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WHO IS THE GHOST?
One child leaves the room and one child in the room puts a sheet over their head. The child who comes back in the room tries to guess who the ghost is.

____________________________

PASS THE PUMPKIN RELAY

• Line up into 2 teams.
• The first person passes the pumpkin OVER his/her head to the next person in line.
• The next person passes the pumpkin UNDER his/her legs to the next person, and so on.
• When you get to the end of the line the last person runs up to the front and starts it all over again.
•  Whoever has the first person that was in line at the beginning of the game--- in the back of the line WINS.

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POPCORN RELAY RACE – All it takes are two big bowls of popcorn and some small cups per team. Have kids run and get a cupful of popcorn and transfer it to the bowl across the room. The first team finished wins. Because of potential popcorn mess, this would be good played outside! (For other popcorn games visit the Popcorn Theme!)

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HALLOWEEN MEMORY GAME
1. Place a few themed items such as a candy corn, an apple, mini pumpkin, plastic spider, etc. on a tray.
2. Show the tray to the children for a few seconds and then cover the tray or basket up with a cloth or towel
3. Based on children's ages-you can do this a few ways. Youth can call out as a group...or individually,in pairs or a teams. If the latter, they can then write down what they remember. 

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NO HANDS USED CANDY GRAB!

1. Spread a pile of wrapped candy on a table or large tray. (If there is a large group-do this in several areas.)
2. Give each child a container (small bag, bowl, or paper cup).
3. Set a timer for 30 seconds and have  kids put as much candy into their containers -- without using their hands.
4. When time is up, everyone gets to keep the candy they maneuvered into their containers. 

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PIN THE WART ON THE WITCH
Supplies:
Large picture of a witch, preferably with a wart already on it
Blindfold
A paper wart for each player with his or her name on it
Tape
How to play:
1. If the picture of the witch does not already have a wart on it, draw one.
2. Hang the witch on a wall or a door where there is lots of space around it.
3. When it is a player's turn, blindfold the child and give her the wart with a piece of tape stuck on it.
4. Spin the player around (not too fast!) and tell her to stick the wart on the witch's nose.
The player whose wart is closest to the real one is the winner! (You can also make a huge pumpkin and play put the nose on the pumkin!)

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MELT THE WITCH
Draw a with on a blackboard, whiteboard or roll paper-- and attach it to a wall. Have children take  turns throwing a wet sponge at the witch to try to melt her. You can mark certain areas with points and keep score if desired.

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COSTUME RELAY RACE

• Divide players into equal teams.
• For each team have a box containing a complete costume, each costume should have the same number of pieces (4 or 5 is fun - Shirt pants, shoes, wig or mask, etc.).
• In turn each player must put on the costume and run to a certain point where they take the costumes off and put them back in the box.
• They run back to start where the next player repeats the process until one team finishes and wins.

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WITCHES BREW

1.Cut ten pieces of paper in Halloween related shapes, such as ghosts, bats, pumpkins, or spiders. The shapes need to be about the size of a Ritz-cracker.
2. Place the shapes in a pile beside a small bowl or witch's cauldron. Have straws available for each player, along with a stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand.
3. Using the straw as a vacuum, each contestant tries to pick up the shapes and drop them into the cauldron. The player with the fastest time wins. (Ages 6-12)

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FIND THE PUMPKIN
Supplies:
Ten pieces of white paper
Five pieces of yellow paper
Five pieces of orange paper
A crayon
Scissors
Directions:
1. Draw ten white pumpkins, five yellow pumpkins, and five orange pumpkins. (Or adjust the numbers to reflect the number of you group)
2. Cut out all the pumpkins.
3. Decorate each pumpkin with a funny face.
4. Write the number 1 on the backs of the white pumpkins.
5. Write the number 5 on the backs of the yellow pumpkins.
6. Write the number 10 on the backs of the orange pumpkins.
7. Hide all of the pumpkins.
8. Youth try to find as many pumpkins as you can before the adult says "Stop!"
9. Players will add up the numbers of collected pumpkins. The player with the most points wins! This can also be played in teams.

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OOZING EYEBALL
Peel a hard-boiled egg.(this is the eyeball) and then play the game as you would play 'Hot Potato".  
Players sit in a circle and pass the 'oozing eyeball' until the Halloween inspired music or sounds stop.
The child holding the eyeball when the music stops is out. Keep passing the egg until only one player is left.

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ZOMBIE GAME
One person is IT'--the others must sit or lay as motionless and expressionless zombies. The person who is 'IT' must do whatever they can to make the zombies smile, giggle, or wiggle in any way without touching them! When 'IT' gets a zombie to wiggle, giggle, or smile, that zombie then joins 'IT' in trying to get others to smile, giggle, or wiggle. The last zombie wins!

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KNOCK OVER THE GHOSTS--PUMPKIN BOWLING!
Supplies: 3 small pumpkins, 30 empty 2 liter clear soda bottles (less if your group is smaller!), 1 can white spray paint, 1 permanent black marker, a bag of gravel or pebbles placed in bottom of bottles

• Ask parents to save empty, clean 2 liter soda bottles for your game.
• Spray paint the soda bottles white and draw eyes and mouths on the bottles once dried.
• Add about a cup of sand or pebbles in each bottle so they will stand without falling over.
• Divide kids into several teams of 3-8 kids each...line up and take turn at bowling over the Ghosts!
• The small pumpkins are the bowling balls.
• If it's for a party- consider prizes.
• The kids that get a Strike receive another turn to bowl a strike. If they  bowl another strike, they receive a prize. hen using prizes BE SURE EVERYONE GETS SOMETHING for playing!

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BOBBING FOR APPLES OR DONUTS ON A STRING 

APPLES:
Fill a large tub with water and several apples. The players must try to bite" into and "catch" and apple while holding their hands behind their backs. Don't forget to have some towels handy.

DONUTS: Using string, hang mini or regular doughnuts from the ceiling or a tree. The object of the game is to be the first to eat the donut with out using your hands! Do not use powdered or cinnamon doughnuts. Plain is the safest--it's would be unsafte to inhale the sugars. 

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PUMPKIN HUNT – While the kids are out of the room - hide pumpkins around the room. Challenge kids to find them all! When they have found all pumpkins you can serve a special snack or give each child a ‘goodie’.

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GAMES AND FUN from the Fall/Autumn category These work with HALLOWEEN!!!

PUMPKIN BOCCE BALL Object of Game: Roll a pumpkin closest to the big pumpkin. You need a large pumpkin. Also purchase several miniature or round sugar pumpkins. To play: Place the big, carved out (Or NOT carved out) pumpkin several feet away. Give each player a small pumpkin. Each player rolls (No tossing or throwing) their pumpkin and tries to be the closest to the big pumpkin. The player closest wins ...

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WIN THE PUMPKIN! 

Place children in a circle.
Start a Halloween themed song and pass a mini pumpkin from one person to another.
When the music stops-the person holding the pumpkin is out. 
The last one left keeps the pumpkin!

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Throw  PENNIES IN THE PUMPKIN: Carve out a pumpkin; line the inside with plastic or aluminum foil. Make the top opening large. Option is to use small plastic pumpkins which are quicker and not messy! To play the game---place the pumpkins a couple feet away. Give each player about ten pennies...and try to get them in! Each time one gets in--a point is earned...

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GUESS THE PUMPKIN'S WEIGHT!
Need: Large pumpkin
Bathroom or science class scale
Slips of paper
Have children write their estimates of the pumpkin's weight on a slip of paper. Kids write their names on the paper, fold them, and place in a box. At the end of the time-frame, weigh the pumpkin and award a prize or the pumpkin to the child with the closest guess.

 

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MR. PUMPKIN HEAD
Do you have Mr. Potato Head game pieces???! The kids can have some Halloween fun using them with small pumpkins!
Using a smallish to medium sized pumpkin, poke some holes where the eyes, nose and mouth would be (include hat and ears). Have the children decorate "Mr. Pumpkin Head" using Mr. Potato Head pieces.

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HALLOWEEN GOURD ROLL
Have each child take a turn rolling a small, round gourd. Try to find one with lots of bumps for extra craziness! The kid with the longest roll wins. Play on a sloped driveway or a small hill for extra fun.

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GOURD BOWLING
Set up 'bowling' using empty two-liter soda bottles. If preferred, the bottles can be weighted with seeds or water. Use a round, bumpy gourd as the ball.

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MAGIC PUMPKIN SEEDS Really fun with young children!
Materials:
Pumpkin seeds, small paper bag and small pumpkins

• Show the children a small bag of pumpkin seeds and explain that you believe these are magic pumpkin seeds.
• Take the children outside to the playground where they toss the seeds onto the ground. Have them make up a few magic words, if they want.
• The next day, before children go outside--gather the seeds and put small pumpkins in their place. Take the children outside and delight them with the 'magical' pumpkins that have grown.
• If you have enough pumpkins, the children can take the pumpkins home and/or first decorate and paint them to add theme of your space.
  Idea adapted from preschoolrainbow.org

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GUESS THE CANDY CORN...

 

Take a Halloween-theme container and fill it up with specified number of candy corn pieces. Let the children guess how many pieces are in the container. The closest to the right number wins the container and treats. (or shares with the group)  A perfect way to end a successful Halloween party!

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 DRESS A SCARECROW AND RUN...

Stock up on over-sized plaid shirts, goofy pants, floppy hats and any other clothing that a scarecrow might wear.  Make piles containing one of each item.

• The number of piles is determined either by the number of kids or teams participating.
• Line up kids and let the game begin!
• The children run to the pile, put on the outfit, and dart back to the starting line.
• If doing it as a team game, they  then switch the outfit with their teammate--who run out and back.
• First team with their last team member dressed as a scarecrow wins.

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PUMPKIN SEED TOSS
Number and line up 5 small baskets or crates; have children stand 3 feet (or farther depending on ages) in front of the first crate and toss seeds into the crates in sequence. Small prizes can be given for each of the crates they get their seeds in.

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Party Game: PUMPKIN WALK

• This is like a regular cake walk except instead of numbers, place pictures of several Halloween items on the floor.
• Children  walk on the pictures and the names of the items are called out instead numbers.
• Use themed music such as Monster Mash and Purple People Eater.
• Base prizes on Halloween theme…or cookies/cupcakes.
• After playing ALL CHILDREN receive something!

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Idea***Have a PUMPKIN SEED SPITTING CONTEST OUTSIDE! Who's can go the farthest?!

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PIE EATER TAG GAME!
Good for October to December because of apple and pumpkin pies!

• Split the students into two different groups; one is apple pie and the other group is pumpkin pie.
• Have one student be the pie eater, who will be standing on the center line. The pie eater can only move from side to side on the center line.
• All the students say to the pie eater, "Pie eater, pie eater are you hungry?" The pie eater responds with a 'yes or no' answer.
• If the answer is no, the pies (students) ask again.
• If the answer is yes, then the pies ask again, "What kind of pie would you like?"
• The pie eater then says apple or pumpkin and that pie tries to make it to the other side.
• If the pie is tagged, then they become a pie eater.

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PUMPKIN GOLF
Object of Game: Hit the golf ball into a pumpkin.
1. Carve out a pumpkin. Make the mouth extra large.
2. Build a cardboard ramp about one to two feet side from the ground to the bottom of the pumpkin's mouth.
3. You will probably need some support under the cardboard.
4. Tape the ramp to the floor for stability.
5. Mark a starting point a few feet from the start of the ramp: The older the kids, the farther away.
Playing the Game:
1. Each player gets to hit a golf ball three times.
2. Each time the ball goes into the pumpkin, the player wins a piece of candy. From: About.com

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CANDY CORN RELAY RACE

 

Designate a starting line and a finish line. Set out a bowl full of candy corn for each player at the starting line and an empty bowl at the finish line. The players must use a large spoon to scoop candy corn out of the full bowl and then carry it to the empty bowl and fill it. They cannot spill any candy corn or use their hands! If any candy corn falls off the spoon, they must immediately pick it up and bring it back to the starting line bowl and start over with that scoopful.

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HALLOWEEN CANDY HUNT...
Using the same idea as an Easter Egg Hunt hide small bags of fun candy around the event area (room or outside)
Set the kids loose and let them find the candy.
Be sure to have plenty extra in case a child doesn't find as much as others.

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HALLOWEEN PARTY TOSS ACROSS
Object of Game: Get three O's or X's.
1. Use a "Toss Across” game.
2. Tape pieces of candy or small prizes on some of the O's and X's.
3. You can use a paper note stating the prize if the prizes are too big to put on the game.
Each player gets five or six bean bags.
Toss the bean bags at the game. There are two ways to win.
Win a prize by getting three O's or X's.
If the player turns over a prize, they win that prize.

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GHOULS AND GOBLINS!

• Have the kids line up on a line, and count them off by twos.
• When finished, have the "ones" go on one side of the gym and the "twos" go to the other side of the gym.
• Have the two groups lined up across from each other. One group are the Goblins, and the other group are the Ghouls.
• The facilitator will shout out a group, either the Ghouls or Goblins; that group must then chase the opposite group and try to tag as many kids as they can.
• If a child gets tagged, that player joins the OTHER group.
  Example: If the leader calls out 'ghouls' and four goblins were tagged, those four tagged goblins are now ghouls.
• This game goes on until there is only one person in the group, and that person is declared the winner.

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SPIDER WEB #1
Arrange groups of 4 to 8 children in a circle and give each one a golf ball-sized ball of yarn. Help each child tie an end of the yarn around their waist. Taking turns, each player tosses his yarn to someone else in the circle. When they reach the end of the yarn, they've created a web! Now the only challenge is to untangle themselves.

SPIDER WEB #2 – Take a ball of yarn and have one person start by holding the yarn. They throw it to another person and it continues until the yarn is all gone.

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TRADITIONAL GAMES  PLAYED HALLOWEEN STYLE
Play classic games such as:

1. WITCH, WITCH, GHOST... (Played like Duck, Duck, Goose) 
Four or more children sit, stand, or kneel in a circle facing in. One child goes around the circle touching each person on the head as they pass and say "Witch". They continue around the circle tapping and saying "Witch" until they decide they are ready to tap someone on the head and say "Ghost". They then proceed to run around the circle. The "Ghost" must run around the circle in the opposite direction. Both are racing for the open spot in the circle. The loser gets to be the caller for the next round. Variations on this game are many including hopping, skipping etc.

•Or Play it as 'GHOST, SHOST, BOO!' or play it as...

•APPLE-APPLE-PUMPKIN : Play Apple, Apple, Pumpkin! Same game as above.

2. SKELETON, SKELETON, WHERE'S YOUR BONE? 
This game is variation of the old favorite, "Doggy doggy where's your bone."

3. PASS THE PUMPKIN played like Hot Potato. Use a tiny pumpkin…

4. Instead of playing Pin the tail on the Donkey---PLAY 'PUT THE STEM ON THE PUMPKIN'--'PIN THE TAIL ON THE DEVIL'--- or 'PUT THE WART ON THE WITCH'...

5. Play Musical Chairs to the "MONSTER MASH"

6. Add ghoulish imagination to a SCAVENGER HUNT or game of HALLOWEEN CHARACTER CHARADES

7. Instead of 'Simon Says'...play the 'Pumpkin Says' ... or Witch,  Ghost, Goblin, etc. ________________________________________

GAMES FROM THE 'WORM THEME'...that work for Halloween fun! 

1. THE WORM SQUIRM Obstacle Course Game
... Great for a WORM THEME party"! This is an obstacle course made of pillows, boxes etc. when it's your turn, you squirm like a worm on your belly to complete the obstacle course

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 Be sure to have your camera ready--this one is a good photo op!

 2. GUMMY WORM HUNT CONTEST

This one is fun!
Give each child a plate with three gummy worms covered in whipped cream, and a cup.
The first child to find the gummy worms with their mouths and get them into their cup is the winner! No Hands used!!!  

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 3. SNAKES AND WORMS
1. Cut two colors of yarn, (brown and green) each about 20 feet long. (If you have a large group playing at the same time--you may need 3 colors of yarn and cut the pieces longer)
2. Next cut the long length into many pieces.
3. Hide the pieces of yarn outside.
4. When time to play, carefully explain rules and regulations to children.

Form two teams with one or two kids on each side as captains.
They will tie each yarn piece that is brought to them, to the next yarn piece.
The team with the longest finished yarn (Worm or Snake)  wins!

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4. WIGGLE WORM RELAY
Form relay lines.
1.  Everyone in each line puts their left hand between their legs and the person behind grabs that hand with their right hand.
2.  Then they run at a given signal to the other end of the playing area and back.
3.  The first team to return 'intact' wins!

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 WORM THROUGH THE APPLE

1. Have children stand in a straight line with their feet apart.
2. The child at the end is the "worm."
3. They crawl through the "apples" (children's spread feet/legs).
4. When the player reaches the front of the apple line, the next person in line becomes the "worm".

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6. THE INCH WORM WALK...

1. Stand with feet together, bend, and touch hands to the floor-- just in front of your feet.
2. Walk your hands forward - without moving your feet up - until you can't go any farther.
3. Next walk your feet up to your hands. Continue...
4. If some of the children cannot do this, they could always lie down on the floor and wiggle forward any way they can.

Play some music to go with the movement!!! 

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7. PLAY 'WORMS' WITH A PARACHUTE!

Place four to six skipping ropes on the chute. By shaking the chute, the children try to shake the 'worms' off.

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**These are fun to do Halloween week for a gym warm up--or as "Pumpkin Says" (The Halloween version of Simon Says)
Also consider these before doing any fine motor or craft activities. Have the children do "warm ups" to get their hands and minds ready to work!

• Pumpkin Fists: Make tight fists.
• Boo Hands: Have the children stretch their hands as far as they can saying "boo!!"
• Spiders: Tapping fingers on the table/floor.
• Smashing Spiders: Smash "spiders" with flat hands onto table or floor.
• Witches hats: Use pincer fingers to make a triangle, place it on your head and make witch noises.
• Two Ghost Flying: Have children take their hands and press the palms together and "fly" with their arms.
• Frankenstein Sitting: Sit on a chair or floor and do sit ups with flat palms.
• Shake the Scaries out: Shake your whole arms and hands.
  Source: perpetualpreschool.com by Cathy

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HALLOWEEN WALK Good for Pre-K to Gr. 1 as Drama Game or exercises... 
Form line on one side of room. Cross the room in following ways:

• Fly... like a bat
• Gallop... like a cowboy on a horse
• Hop... like a bunny
• Roll... like a pumpkin
• Dance... like a princess
• Creep... like a cat
• Walk... like a skeleton
• Float... like a ghost
• Stomp... like a monster

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SPIDER WALK
Have children do a spider walk, by placing their hands and feet on the floor and lifting their bottom off the floor.

SPIDER WALK RACE...
Have the children race each other while walking like a spider. Or try a relay race.

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HALLOWEEN WORD AND LETTER GAMES...

TELL SCARY STORIES
Sit around in a circle in a darkened room, with a flashlight in the middle of the circle.

One player starts the story by saying- "Once there was______".
two or three  sentences and stops in the middle of a sentence. The next person picks up where the last left off. Each person builds upon what was previously said.

Try to make the stories scary or gross.
Some ideas to start:

Once there was an old man walking through the graveyard...
Once there was an old lady who look so much like a witch...
Once there was a shadow....
Once there was an erie sound that was like..

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THEMED BANNER RACE WORD RACE
Challenge friends to a race of the minds. Prepare two banners (or as many as you need for each team) that say whatever you want them to say. Example: Whoo Hoo! Happy Halloween!; Welcome to the Pumpkin Patch, etc. Also prepare a set of letters for the same words cut out in two different colors-- (Orange and Black) for two teams-- hidden randomly around the area.

Divide the group into teams with captains.The captains sit and wait for their teammates to bring the letters for their banner. If a student is on the "orange" team and sees a letter for the "black" team he/she just leaves it alone. The first team to cover their banner letters wins.

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HALLOWEEN WORD FIND

Set a kitchen timer for one minute. When the time starts, write down as many Halloween themed related words that you can think of.

Example: Halloween, Spooky, Ghosts, Party, Candy, Goodies, Trick or Treat, Monsters, Costumes, Make-up, Blood, Creepy-Crawlies, Spirits, Cauldron, Witch, Pumpkin, Jack-O-Lantern, Broom Stick, Apples, Scarecrow, Haunted, Haunted House, Bats, Cobwebs, Spiders, Spider Web, Scary, etc. 

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HALLOWEEN WORD RACE
Take a Halloween related word.
Example:  Word choices could be Scarecrow, Broom stick, Costumes, etc.
Find as many little words as possible within that word - before the timer runs out. This can be played as individuls, pairs, or teams.

• Example for Scarecrow: crow, row, scare, care, car,rare, era, race, ace, are, sea, ear, we, case, rear, etc.
• Jack-O-Lantern example... jack, lantern, cola, jerk, crack, crackle, rack, car, neck, joke, learn, no, ran, rent, etc.

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HALLOWEEN PICTIONARY
Need:
Black board / chalk or dry erase board
Markers
Timer
Slips of paper with a different Halloween themed word of an item/object writen on each paper

Examples for a Halloween Theme: Halloween, Spooky, Ghosts, Party, Candy, Goodies, Trick or Treat, Monsters, Costumes, Make-up, Blood, Creepy, Creepy-Crawlies, Spirits, Cauldron, Witch, Pumpkin, Jack-O-Lantern, Broom Stick, Apples, Scarecrow, Haunt, Haunted House, Bats, Cobwebs, Spiders, Spider Web, Eerie, Mondsters, etc.

Divide the kids into teams. The first player draws a slip of paper from the bowl; reads it silently and hands to the facilitator. The player then draw clues as to what is on their paper and the team guesses what it is. 
If the playing team guesses correctly, before the timer runs out, they get two points.
If the playing team cannot guess correctly, before the timer runs out, the opposing team may take one guess.
If the opposing team guesses correctly they get a point and the playing team loses a point. Most points wins. For younger children -- DON'T divide into teams; use a timer or keep track of points. Just play until someone calls out the right answer.

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***Idea-Make Everyday Literacy games a Themed game! How about playing TRADITIONAL HANG MAN or BINGO to go with your theme! Themed Bingo cards can be downloaded easily from internet sites such as DLK...also crossword puzzels, word search, etc. can all be theme based.

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SPOOKY WORD SCRAMBLE
Unscramble the words in the first row...Who can do it the fastest?

othsg             ghost
keelnsto        skeleton
wlso             owls
bglsoni         goblins
kpniuspm     pumpkins
sbat            bats
hictsew        witches
rebootc        October
yracs           scary 
pumaek       makeup
entusoc       costume
eripvam       vampire
dyanc rnco   candy corn
ckbla act     black cat
roombkcits   broomstick
llsku           skull
roncalud      cauldron
rkad            dark
andyc          candy
ikctr            trick  
rtaet           treat   
raytp          party   
detnauh      haunted  
bmoeiz       zombie 

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Looking for Themed Books?  The Autumn Book List Category has good lists that include books of Pumpkins Only, Jack-O-Lanterns, Scary, and Halloween!

You may also be interested in:

• Halloween Snacks
• Halloween Arts & Crafts (Page 1) (Page 2)
• Easy Costumes and Make Up
• Halloween Decorating
• Decorating a Mad Science Lab
• Purple People Eater Theme
• Halloween Games 
• Autumn/Fall Pumpkin Theme

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More than 80+ Fun Halloween Drinks, Snacks and Goodies!

EDIBLE CREEPY CRAWLIES

PEANUT BUTTER CATERPILLARS
Bananas
Peanut butter
Grapes
Chow Mein noodles
• Peel and slice a banana. Join the slices together by "gluing" them with peanut butter. Carefully poke two Chow Mein noodles (or break a pretzel stick in half to make two pieces) through the top of the grape. Use more peanut butter to attach the head (grape) to the front of the body, with antennae (Chow Mein noodles) pointing up.
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ANTS IN THE SAND
Crushed graham crackers
Chocolate sprinkles
Snack sized re-sealable plastic bags
  • To crush graham crackers, place inside a large (gallon size) re-sealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, crunch crackers through the bag by rolling back and forth over them until they are all in crumb form.
Fill snack sized re-sealable bags halfway with graham cracker crumbs. Add a small handful of chocolate sprinkles to the bags and seal.
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BUGS ON A LOG
Celery stalks
Peanut butter, cream-cheese or spreadable cheese spread
Raisins or Raisinette candy
  • Spread peanut butter onto washed and drained celery stalks. Top with raisins.
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COOKIE SPIDERS
Black or chocolate licorice twists
Fudge sandwich cookies
Chocolate frosting
Red cinnamon candies or chocolate chips or raisins for eyes

• Cut licorice in half.
• Remove the top of each sandwich cookie; press 8 licorice pieces into the fudge center to resemble spider legs.
• Spread a little chocolate frosting over the licorice; replace cookie tops.
• Frost the tops of the spider cookies with frosting. Place red cinnamon candies on top for eyes.
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MUENSTER CHEESE BEETLES

 

Crunchy Chow Mein noodles
Muenster cheese (or other soft block cheese)
• Cut the cheese into 2" x 1" rectangular blocks. Gently insert three Chow Mein noodles on each side of the cheese blocks for legs. Using two broken Chow Mein noodles, insert into the "head" as antennae.
Tip: Use softer cheese such as gouda, Havarti, Monterey jack, or mozzarella so cheese does not crumble Chow Mein noodle are inserted.

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MARSHMALLOW SPIDERS
You'll need a package of large marshmallows, pretzel sticks or chow mein noodles and mini M & M's or raisins.
  • Have the kids push four pretzel sticks or noodles into each side of the marshmallow as the spider's legs. These will make the marshmallow body of the spider actually stand on their spider legs.
Use another stick to poke two eye holes in the marshmallow; insert M&M's or raisins into place as the spider's eyes.
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CRACKER SPIDERS--with peanut butter or cheese spread!
These arachnid treats are easy to make and they look positively lifelike crawling across the snack plate.
For each:
2 round crackers
2 teaspoons smooth peanut butter (or cheese spread if allergies)
8 small pretzel sticks
2 raisins
  • With the peanut butter, make a cracker sandwich. Insert eight pretzel "legs" into the filling. With a dab of peanut butter, set two raisin "eyes" on top. Makes 1.

You can also make the spider snacks more substantial by using small round bread slices (They are usually rye or pumpernickle and called party bread slices) Follow the above directions and add olives, chocolate chips or raisins for eyes.

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THE ABOVE ARE ALSO GREAT WITH NUTELLA
Ingredients:
8 Ritz crackers
4-5 Tbsp. chocolate hazelnut spread, such as Nutella
thin pretzel sticks for decorating
Raisins or white chocolate chips for decorating
Directions:
1. Spread approximately one tablespoon of the chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella) on four Ritz crackers. Top each with another Ritz cracker to make a sandwich.
2. Insert pretzel sticks on the sides of each cracker to make a spider's legs. You will be able to fit about six pretzel sticks on each spider.
3. Make the spider's eyes by dabbing a bit of Nutella on the back of two raisins or white chocolate chips and placing them on top of the cracker sandwich. Make the spider's mouth the same way, using the Nutella as glue for the white chocolate chips or raisins, and arranging them in the shape of a mouth.
4. Serve and eat!
Makes 4 crunchy spiders

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CHEESE BOOGERS
Ingredients:
Cheez Whiz, Green Food Coloring, Pretzel Sticks, Wax Paper

Follow  directions to melt Cheez Whiz.
Dip a pretzel half way into the cheese.
Wait fifteen to twenty seconds and re-dip pretzels. Place on wax paper to harden.
When the cheese has re-hardened, remove from wax paper and place on a serving dish.

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CREEPY CRAWLERS
1 lg. pkg. butterscotch chips
1 lg. pkg. milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter
1 (5 oz.) can chow mein noodles
1 to 2 tbsp. water
  • Melt chips and butter in double boiler or glass bowl in microwave. Stir to mix. Gradually add small amounts of water to thicken mixture. Stir in noodles and mix to coat in chocolate mixture. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.

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THREE HALLOWEEN SNACK MIX-PARTY MIX RECIPES

 One easy way to provide Halloween party food for kids is to create a huge bowl (or plastic pumpkin) full of Halloween snack mix.

• Start with a box or two of Count Chocula or Frankenberry cereal- they aren't always easy to find, and are only out at Halloween. Other cereal brands sometimes come out with a special Halloween blend as well.
• Add candy corn, raisins, small marshmallows, small pretzels, chocolate chips or other treats to the mix.
• Kids will have fun 'grazing' at this yummy snack bowl all night!

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HALLOWEEN PARTY MIX #2
Ingredients:
1 6-oz bag original flavor Chex Party Mix
2 cups Wheat Chex cereal
1 cup candy corn
1/2 cup whole salted almonds
1/2 cup chopped dried apples
• In a large bowl, mix one 6-oz bag original flavor Chex Party Mix, 2 cups Wheat Chex cereal, 1 cup candy corn, 1/2 cup whole salted almonds and 1/2 cup chopped dried apples.

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#3 WITCHS' GORP
3 cups eyes of Newts (peanuts)
2 cups tails of dogs (pretzel sticks)
1 cup squishy, slithery parts of frogs (raisins)
2 cups warts of toads (Cheerios)
1/2 cup lizard lips (walnuts)
1 cup dinosaur toenail chips (banana chips)
1 cup teeth of bats (sunflower seeds)
1/2 cup of dandruff from the biggest rats (coconut)
1 cup chocolate cover iguana hearts (chocolate chips)
Measure and combine all of the ingredients in the order listed above. Mix well with mixing spoon.
Source: Cooks.com
This is a good one for your newsletter...really cute!

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HALLOWEEN APPLE IDEAS!

The following are a few ideas from the APPLE COOKING THREAD that  are wonderful at Halloween time!  Be sure to check out the '63 Apple Recipes' for other ideas--including 'apples on a stick'
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WORMY APPLE!
Help kids slice apples into thirds and remove seeds from the center. Have them reassemble the apple with peanut butter (or cream cheese) and gummy worms between each layer. Worms should be hanging out from apple.

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APPLE SMILES
This is an apple recipe your kids are sure to love. Cut a red apple into slices. (These are the lips) Have child spread peanut butter or cream cheese on apple slice. Place mini marshmallows (These are the teeth) on top of peanut butter and top with other apple slice.
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APPLE FANGS
Ingredients:
8 large Red Delicious apples
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp. sugar
1 10-oz. jar strawberry or cherry sauce
Directions:
1. Wash, peel and core the apples. Then cut each apple into 8 pieces.
2. Dip the cut apples into the lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown.
3. To prepare the fangs, cut the apple slices into long, narrow triangles, making pointy tooth-like shapes. Re
-dip slices in the lemon juice and lightly sprinkle them with sugar.
4. Arrange the fangs on a serving platter with the strawberry dipping sauce in the middle. Make sure you splatter some of the "blood" over the fangs. Makes 10 servings.
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APPLE OR PEAR MOUTH
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 medium apple or pear
1 Tbsp peanut butter (or low fat cream cheese or cottage cheese) Cutting board
20 raisins

1. Cut apple into 8 slices. Spread 4 of the slices with a small amount of peanut butter.
2. Insert raisins between the apple slices for “teeth”.
3. Top the apple slices with another apple slice.
4. Serve. Refrigerate leftovers.

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CEREAL TREATS...

KIX BALLS ON A STICK...
Prep Time:30 min
Start to Finish: 30 min
Makes: About 20 snacks
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups Kix® cereal
20 raisins, miniature milk chocolate candy drops, small gumdrops, chocolate- or yogurt-covered raisins or miniature marshmallows 1 to 2 tablespoons multicolored candy sprinkles, 20 thin pretzel sticks (2 1/4 inch)

 
1. In 3-quart saucepan, heat sugar and corn syrup to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter until blended. Stir in cereal. Cool slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Lightly butter hands. Shape 1 to 2 tablespoons cereal mixture into a ball around each candy. Immediately roll in candy sprinkles. Place pretzel stick into each cereal ball.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

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No-Cook NOT SO SPOOKY SPIDERS
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup Rice Krispies
1/2 cup thin chow mein noodles
Candy eyes
1. Line baking sheet with waxed paper.
2. In microwave, place chocolate in 2 cup microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium (50%) for 2 minutes. Stir. If chocolate is not completely smooth, microwave an additional 20 to 30 seconds; stir.
3. Stir in Rice Krispies.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper, forming spider-body shapes. Stick 4 noodles into each side of "body" for spider legs. Add eyes on top of spider.
5. Refrigerate about 15 minutes to set, or let them set at room temperature about 1 hour. Store in covered container.
Makes 12 spiders.
Source: Cooks.com

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#1 RICE KRISY HALLOWEEN TREATS
The regular, run of the mill rice cereal treat can be turned into a sweet and unique Halloween treat by adding a few drops of orange food coloring (or a combination of red and yellow) into the marshmallow/butter mixture as it melts.
When you cut the treats into squares, add one candy corn to the top of each square.

Variation: Add in candy pumpkins, candy corn, chocolate chips for extra fun.

#2 RICE KRISPY TREATS

Ingredients: 3 TBSP butter, orange food coloring (or mix red and yellow food coloring), 10 oz. marshmallows, 6 c. rice krispies
Directions:

• Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat; add food coloring to desired color; then add marshmallows.  You may want to add more food coloring once the marshmallows are melted.
• Place the rice krispies in a large bowl.  Pour the melted marshmallows over the rice krispies and toss to combine.
• Line a sheet pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray.  Dump rice krispies mixture onto foil. 
• Take a sheet of wax paper and spray it with cooking spray; then cooking spray side down press rice krispies mixture so that the entire pan has a thin layer of mixture, about 1/4 inch thick. 
• Let set for a few hours.
• With Halloween cookie cutters, cut out your shapes and decorate.

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#3 RICE-KRISPY CREEPY SPIDERS
6oz. pkg. (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1'4 cup peanutbutter'3 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 cup miniature marshmallows
Black pipe cleaners

1. Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together in the micro-wave or in large saucepan over a very low heat. Remove from heat and stir in cereal and marshmallows.
2. Shape the cereal mixture into a spider body shape--roundish that is about 3 to 4 inches wide.
3. When spider bodies are firm, insert 6 black pipe cleaners--each 3 to 4 inches long.  Add candy or frosting eyes.

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HALLOWEEN MARSHMALLOW HAYSTACKS
This is a great variation to the rice cereal treat recipe.
Replace the rice cereal with corn flake cereal. Follow the instructions combining the cereal, melted marshmallow and butter mixture. Mold the cereal mixture into the shape of haystacks. Add an orange candy corn pumpkin to the top of each haystack.

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NO BAKE MAGIC BROOMS
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup smooth peanut butter
5 cups shredded wheat cereal, crushed
1 cup M&M's (plain)
32 (8-inch) pretzel rods
Grease 2 large baking sheets; set aside.

• In a small saucepan combine sugar and syrup.
• Bring to a boil; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter.
• Place cereal and M&M's in a large buttered roasting pan.
• Pour peanut butter mixture overall, tossing to coat well.
• Drop mixture by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
• Form each mound into a broom shape.
• Place a pretzel rod into top of each "broom" to form a handle.
• Refrigerate 35 minutes or until set.
  Store in single layers in covered containers.
  By JBic

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RICE KRISPIE GHOSTS
Prepare Rice Krispie Marshmallow treats according to the cereal box directions. Shape the warm mixture into ghosts---- use a ghost cookie cutter if necessary. Add some white icing and mini chocolate chip eyes and the kids will enjoy eating the fun Halloween ghost treats!

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HEARTIER SNACKS OR THOSE WITH A BREAD, CRACKER, OR TORTILLA BASE

MUMMY DOGS

6 hot dogs
1 package ready to bake pastry in a tin
Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Wrap each hot dog in a pastry sheet and lightly brush with melted butter. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top.
Place "mummy dogs" on a lightly greased baking tray and bake at 350F approximately 15 minutes or until golden and baked through. You can add pepper corns or dots of mustard for eyes.
Serve  with "blood" (ketchup

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 WORMS ON A BUN
Try this Halloween twist of the traditional hot dog and bun.
Ingredients:
Hot dogs
Hamburger rolls
Ketchup
Directions:
Cut the hot dogs into thin slices and score the edges (about three cuts per slice).
Boil or microwave until the slices curl like wiggly worms. Serve three or four worms to a bun. For an extra-icky touch, add a few squiggles of ketchup.
Source: FamilyFun.com

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STRING CHEESE BROOMSTICKS (A pretty healthy snack that is also fun!)
Ingredients:
String Cheese
Pretzel Rods

Shred the  string cheese into long strips.
Place/Press them around the end of a pretzel rod.
Tie a piece of string licorice around it to look like a broom.

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BLOOD AND GUTS WITH EYEBALLS
1 package green spinach pasta (elbow macaroni is best)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 jar stuffed Spanish olives
  • Boil pasta according to package instructions. Heat spaghetti sauce. Cut olives in half to make "eyeballs" and place on top of the "blood and guts."

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PUMPKIN FACES
Toasted English muffins
Orange spreadable cheese or cream cheese with added orange food coloring
Raisins
• Have the children spread the cheese on the English muffin. Let them arrange the raisins to make the eyes, nose and mouth. Eat and enjoy!

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JACK-O-LANTERN PIZZAS
 
Ingredients:
English muffin halves
Pesto or Marinara Sauce
Grated Cheddar cheese
Sliced Black Olives

Lightly spread sauce on the English Muffin halves.
Cover with grated cheese. Make a jack-o-lantern face
with olives. Place mini-pizzas on a cookie sheet and
broil in oven until the cheese is melted.
This is a great kid activity as well as a menu food

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GHOST SANDWICHES
White sliced bread
Children’s favorite sandwich ingredients
A ghost-shaped cookie cutter (or a cardboard template to cut around)
  • Make up favorite sandwiches and cut out with the ghost-shaped cookie cutter. You can add eyes with chocolate chips, olives, or whatever else is appropriate.

 

GHOST SANDWICHES #2
Ingredients:
Bread, Peanut Butter or Whipped Marshmallow Creme, Ghost Cookie Cutter, Raisins

Make the sandwiches using peanut butter, marshmallow creme-or both.
Use the cookie cutter on finished sandwiches to create ghost shaped sandwiches. Add raisins for eyes 

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GHOST TOAST #1
1. Spread soft butter or margarine on a large slice of white bread.
2. Carefully cut or tear a ghostlike shape out of aluminum foil.
3. Press the foil shape on top of the buttered bread. Sprinkle the bread generously with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
4. Place the slices on a baking sheet and slip under a preheated broiler for about two or three minutes or until the butter is hot and bubbly.
5. Remove the foil template to unveil spooky toast.

GHOST TOAST #2 
Lightly toast white bread.
Spread it with butter or margarine then have kids sprinkle it with ghost dust (icing/confectionary sugar).
Or..... cut the toast with ghost shaped cookie cutter and spread with cream cheese and add raisin eyes.

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BISCUIT GHOSTS
Ingredients needed:
One or Two cans of Refrigerator Biscuits
Cinnamon & Sugar Mixed together
Butter or Margarine
  • Have children separate and shape each biscuit like a ghost...brush on melted butter...sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and bake as directed. Simple, fun and tasty.

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HALLOWEEN TORTILLA TREATS
Flour tortillas
Canola or other oil
Cheddar, Parmesan or other favorite cheese
Directions:
Start with some flour tortillas and spray a little oil on them. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan or other cheese. Then cut fun shapes out of the tortillas with a bat, ghost or pumpkin cookie cutter. Put the shapes into the oven for a crispy treat

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Serve 'BLOOD SOUP' (tomato soup)! Serve it in bowls made out of carved gourds or small pumpkins...

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MUMMY BONES (Raisin Banana Roll Up's-Good all year long!))
Ingredients
1 - 8-inch whole wheat or flour tortilla
1 tablespoon - peanut butter
1 tablespoon - strawberry fruit spread or strawberry jelly
3 tablespoons - DOLE Seedless Raisins
1 - large Banana

1. Spread peanut butter on one side of tortilla; spread on jelly. Sprinkle raisins over jelly.
2. Peel banana and place at one end of tortilla
3. Wrap tortilla around the banana.
4. Use a sharp knife to cut in half.

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MISCELLANEOUS...

NO BAKE HALLOWEEN CAKE! Not really a cake-but pudding!
Ingredients:
2 packages Instant Chocolate Pudding (four serving size)
3 1/2 cups milk
2 8-ounce tubs of whipped topping
1 16-ounce package of chocolate sandwich cookies
1 package of Milano Cookies and Gummy Worms

•  Crush the entire package of cookies by placing them all in a zip style plastic bag and have the kids pound on the package.
• In a large bowl, make pudding as directed on the package but use 3 1/2 cups milk for both packages. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Mix in one tub of the whipping topping then mix in half of the crushed cookies.
• Spread the mixture into a 13x9 pan.
• Sprinkle the rest of the crushed cookies on top.
• Put in refrigerator and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Use the Milano cookies to make the grave stones.
• Use the other tub of whipped topping to make ghosts.
• Stick gummy worms into the mixture so it looks like they are coming out of the dirt.
  (Source: About.com)

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POND SLUDGE (Green Jell-O) 
Fill clear plastic glasses with green Jello. When the Jello has almost set, add gummy worms, making sure a few of them are escaping over the rim of the glass.
If desired, when the Jello has set, add a dollop of pond mud (chocolate pudding).

 

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SLIME JELL-O
Ingredients:
Lime Gelatin, Gummy Worm Candy, Large clear glass bowl or baking dish

Make jell-o following package directions. 
Pour into baking dish or bowl.
Once the gelatin has begun to set (about 1.5 hours) add gummy worms.

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JELL-O JIGGLER EYEBALLS
Need:
Ice Cube Trays, White Grape Gelatin, Blueberries or Dark Grapes

Follow the directions to make jigglers from the gelatin. 
Fill ice-cube tray containers 3/4 full.
Once they beginto set, add blueberries or grapes.
Following package directions, use warm water to remove the jigglers from the tray.
Place in a clear serving bowl or on a serving dish.

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HALLOWEEN PRETZEL RODS
Ingredients:
2 cups white chocolate candy melts or white chocolate chips
Orange colored sugar or sprinkles
Chocolate sprinkles
20 pretzel rods
Preparation:
1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
2. Place candy melts or white chocolate chips in a double boiler. Heat over low heat until melted.
3. Spread orange sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles in even layers on two separate shallow plates.
4. Dip pretzel rods into white chocolate, using a spoon to coat the rods well.
5. Press gently into orange sprinkles. Turn, then press into chocolate sprinkles.
6. Place pretzel rods on prepared baking sheet. Let harden for 20-30 minutes.
Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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BLOODY FINGERS
Ingredients: 1 package ladyfingers, Almond slices, Confectioners' sugar, Raspberry jam
Place the ladyfingers on a tray.
Spread with raspberry jam.
Place an almond slice at the tip of the finger.
Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.

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OREO PUDDING WORM CUPS
Ingredients:
4 cups of cold milk
1 package (4-serving size) Jell-O chocolate flavor instant pudding
1 package ( 4-serving size) Jell-O vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip topping, thawed
18 Oreo chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed, divided
8 plastic cups (6-7 oz)
8 gummy worms
8 gummy frogs
1. Prepare instant chocolate and vanilla puddings separately, with two cupsof cold milk each , as directed on packages. Let stand for five minutes.
2.Gently stir 1/2 cup of cool whip into each bowl of pudding. Sprinkle onetablespoon of Oreo crumbs into bottom of plastic cups. Top each with 1/4 cupof vanilla pudding, 1 tablespoon Oreo crumbs and 1/4 cup chocolate pudding.Sprinkle evenly with remaining Oreo crumbs. Refrigerate at least one hour.
3. Insert one gummy worm and one gummy frog into each cup just beforeserving.
Makes 8 Sand & Dirt Cups.

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EASY PUDDING WITH WHIPPED CREAM GHOSTS
Makes 4 servings

3 1/2-oz) chocolate OR vanilla pudding
Chocolate cookie crumbs (for dirt)
Whipped cream
8 mini chocolate chips for eyes
Scoop pre-made chocolate pudding into serving glasses.
Sprinkle cookie crumbs on top and  swirl a mound of whipped cream on top of crumbs.
Place mini chocolate chips on near top of whipped cream mound for eyes.

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  SCARY WITCHES HANDS/FINGERS

• Fill a clear plastic food handler's glove by placing one or two pieces of candy corn or raspberry shaped candy in the tip of each finger.
• Fill the remainder of the glove with popcorn or cereal.
• Tie with yarn or raffia.

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GHOST COOKIES #1

Ingredients:
Nutter Butters Cookies
Ready-made White Frosting in a can
Ready-made Chocolate Frosting in a can (or mini chocolate chips)
Directions:
Spread each Nutter Butter cookie with white frosting, then make little eyes with the chocolate frosting or mini chocolate chips. 

GHOST COOKIES #2  
6 oz. vanilla flavored almond bark
1 pkg. (15.5 oz.) peanut butter sandwich cookies (peanut shaped) Small black jelly beans

Melt almond bark following package directions. Dip two-thirds of each cookie into melted candy, shaking gently to remove excess coating. Place on wire rack with waxed paper underneath.

For eyes, cut jelly beans in half and place on cookie.
Makes 32 cookies …source unknown

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WITCHES HATS
Take a Hershey Kiss candy and with frosting, attach it to  a round cookie. using frosting.

 

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COOKIE DECORATING

Provide prebaked sugar cookies (or bake your own in Halloween shapes). Set out a variety of frosting/icing, sprinkles, chocolate chips and candy corn for children to decorate their own cookies. A craft and snack in one! Photo Source: Pinchmyself  (This sample is frosted with cream cheese icing.)

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DEAD TREES... A craft and snack in one!)

Ingredients: licorice sticks, chocolate frosting, peanut butter cups
 
With scissors, cut one end of a black or chocolate flavored licorice stick to make the trunk and branches of a tree.
Push the other end through a hole in the bottom of a peanut butter cup.(This is the base)
Use chocolate frosting to cement the tree in place.

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FRUIT SALAD IN A JACK O'LANTERN ORANGE 

• Slice off the top of an orange, like you would when making a pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern.
• Remove the orange fruit from the inside of the orange--- chop the orange segments into bite sized pieces. Mix with fruit cocktail or your favorite chopped, fresh or canned fruit.
• Next refill the orange with the fruit salad.
• If desired, draw a traditional Jack O'Lantern face with food writer markers, or a regular black marker (you won't be eating the orange skin). Serve in a shallow bowl with a spoon.
  ______________________________________

JACK-O-LANTERN PUDDING
Do the same as above; however, save the fruit for later. Instead, fill the orange with vanilla or butterscotch pudding.

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CANDY CORN PUDDING
Ingredients:
1 small box of butterscotch instant pudding
1 small box of banana bream instant pudding
4 cups milk
Red food coloring
Yellow food coloring
1 container of whipped cream
Candy corn

1. Make  butterscotch pudding as directed on the box, using 2 cups of milk.After it's mixed, add 20 drops of red food coloring and 25 drops of yellow food coloring, stir and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. Make banana cream pudding as directed, using the last two cups of milk.Add 20 drops of yellow food coloring and refrigerate until ready to use.

Use clear dessert containers OR small clear plastic cups... 

To assemble...
1. Put the yellow pudding at the bottom:
2. Then the orange:
3. And last, the coolwhip

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 KITTY LITTER CAKE

This really does look like used kitty litter!)
• 1 spice or German chocolate cake mix
• 1 white cake mix
• 1 large pkg vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1 pkg vanilla sandwich cookies
• Green food coloring
• 12 small Tootsie Rolls
• 1 new (and definitely unused) kitty litter pan
• 1 new plastic kitty litter pan liner
• 1 new Pooper Scooper

1.  Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans).
2.  Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in food processor, scraping often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup.
3.  To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops green food coloring and mix. When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. (Mix in just enough of the pudding to moisten it. You don't want it soggy. Combine gently).
4.  Line new, clean kitty litter box. Put mixture into litter box. Put three unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls and bury in mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top.
5.  Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly over the top. (This is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.) Heat 3 Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake; sprinkle with cookie crumbs.
6.  Spread remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top; take one and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around.
Source: Familycorner.com

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GHOST PEARS

Isn't this idea wonderful!  Photo and directions  are courtesy of  No Fuss Fabulous--a fantastic blog site. Melt white chocolate in your slow cooker. Holding a pear by it's stem, dip it into the melted white chocolate until you have a nice even coat of chocolate. Place chocolate-covered pear onto wax-paper. Place two choclate chips on the pear for eyes. Let harden and enjoy!

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GRAVEYARD GRAVEL

3 cups semisweet chocolate pieces
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
Dash salt
2 cups tiny marshmallows
Unsweetened cocoa powder mixed with an equal amount of powdered sugar
Powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Line a 9x9x2-inch or an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with foil; set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat and stir chocolate pieces, condensed milk, butter, vanilla, and salt over medium heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in marshmallows just until combined. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Using a table knife or thin metal spatula, swirl marshmallows through fudge in pan until marshmallows are mostly melted. Cover and chill about 2 hours or until firm.
3. Using a small scoop, scoop fudge and shape into rocks (fudge will be sticky). Roll some in cocoa powder mixture and some in powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Makes about 80 pieces (2 1/4 lbs.).

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PUMPKIN SHAPED CAKE
Make or purchase two bunt cakes. To create your pumpkin--put the two cakes together. (You may have to shave a bit off the bottom cake to sit on the plate and stay level) Cover with orange frosting and decorate as desired!

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EDIBLE EYEBALLS
Ingredients:
Powdered Donut Holes (Or tiny powdered donuts)
Gummy Life Saver
Chocolate Chips
Tube red gel icing/frosting

1. Place a life saver in the center of the eye (donut). This makes the iris.
2. Place a chocolate chip for the pupil.
3. Use the red gel to glue all together and make the eye appear blood shot. (This is something that can be prepared ahead or to have the children make!)

Also serve some:

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 PUMPKIN FACE CAKE

...Make a round cake and just decorate!

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WORMS IN DIRT (Using Jell-O)

You'll need clear plastic cups, orange or green Jello, gummy worms and crumbled Oreo cookies.

You can refrigerate the Jello right in the cups- place a gummy worm in the bottom of the cup before refrigerating.

When the Jello sets, place a layer of crumbled cookies on the top and place a few gummy worms 'crawling' out of the 'dirt.'

Kids love this easy Halloween party treat! You can even add a (dollop of whipped cream) ghost on top with mini chocolate chips for eyes!

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 ICE-CREAM WITCH Place a large scoop of orange sherbet (or favorite ice-cream such as this mint) into a dessert dish. Make the eyes, nose and mouth with pieces of nuts and raisins. Licorice hair is optional...Top the ice-cream with a pointed ice cream cone (sugar cone) hat. Freeze until time to serve.

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  SPIDER SUCKERS (A craft and snack in one!)

Take a large sucker such as Tootsie Roll Pop.
Under the sucker part, securely twist 4 long black pipe cleaners around the stick. Extend the end of the pipe cleaners to make 8 legs.
Bend each leg to resemble a spider's leg.

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GHOST SUCKERS
Materials:
Tootsie Roll Pops (suckers), White Facial Tissue, Orange or Black Ribbon or Yarn

Place the top of the sucker in the very center of the tissue, then wrap the tissue around the sucker. Tie the ribbon or yarn under the sucker. Use a felt tip markerand draw features on the ghost faces.

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GOULISH, DISGUSTING PARTY DRINKS...

GREEN GOUL PUNCH
1/2 gallon limeade
1 liter ginger ale
1/2 gallon lime sherbet
  • Mix together juice and ginger ale. Scoop sherbet and add to punch. Add marshmallows and maraschino cherries to float in punch.
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SLIME PUNCH WITH FROZEN HAND!
You Need:
Large bowl
Half-gallon (2 liters) of lime sherbet
One quart (one liter) each of ginger ale and lemon-lime soda
One quart (one liter) of sugar-free lemonade (made from powdered mix and dyed with green or red food coloring)
Two surgical gloves, washed first in warm, soapy water, rinsed, and turned inside out
String or rubber band

• Fill the gloves with the colored, sugar-free (sugar-free freezes better than sugar) lemonade and tie them securely at the wrists with string or a rubber band. Freeze until solid.
• In the bowl, mix the sherbet, ginger ale, and soda.
• With scissors, cut the gloves from the frozen hands. Discard the gloves and float the icy hands in the punch.

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 WORMY ICE CUBES
Cup gummy worms or other creepy crawler candy
2 ice cube trays
1 quart fruit punch
• Arrange gummy worms in ice cube trays, 1 worm per cube. Fill tray with fruit punch as you normally would water. Freeze until solid, 8 hours or overnight. Place into punch bowl/drinks minutes before serving
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SPIDER CIDER
Spider Cider is simply apple cider with 6 drops of red food coloring -chill for 30 minutes. Then get a small cup or ice tray and pour some more apple cider in to them; get some gummy spiders and put 1, 2, or 3 in each cup or ice tray. Add 6 drops of purple food coloring. Freeze it over night. Put iced cider with gummies into red cider. (Be sure not to freeze the red cider over night...a tasty beverage.

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HARRY POTTER'S DRAGON SNOT
Mix 8 ounces of Sprite or 7-Up with one scoop of lime sherbet.

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Make a few glasses of FRANKENSTEIN FROTH: floats made with sherbet and 7-up 
________________

PUTRID PUNCH
Ingredients:
1 13-oz. package lemon-lime Kool-Aid
1 cup sugar
8 cups water
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
4 cups ginger ale
Worm cubes (See above))
3 scoops orange sherbet

• This sick-colored punch looks disgusting but tastes wonderful.
• Empty the Kool-Aid package into a punch bowl.
• Add the sugar, then the water and stir until dissolved.
• Stir in the orange juice.
• Just before serving, add the ginger ale and worm cubes and float the scoops of sherbet on top.
•  Before long, the punch will be green and infested with worms. Serves 14.
• A perfect drink to compliment ‘Worms on a Bun’.
  TIP: Be sure to freeze your worm cubes before the party.
  Adapted from: Familyfun.com

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EYE BALL PUNCH 
Canned litchis, drained
Maraschino cherries without stems
Dark red punch or fruit drink, chilled
Directions:
1. Cut a slit in each litchi. Stuff a maraschino cherry into each fruit so it resembles an eye. Place stuffed litchis on a large baking pan. Freeze until solid.
2. To serve, pour punch into a large bowl. Add the litchis.

'EYES OF NEWT' FOR PUNCH

Fill small muffin tins with apple juice and freeze slightly. Place a red grape in the center of each tin and freeze until solid. Float the "eye" in fruit punch.

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GLOW PUNCH
Materials:
1 quart pineapple juice
1 quart Mountain Dew soft drink
5 scoops of lemon or lime sherbet
1 clean (washed/dried) glow-stick

Chill all ingredients. Gently stir together the soda/soft drink and pineapple juice.
Add the glow-stick and sherbet just before serving...

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PUMPKIN PUNCH
Scoop out the inside of a large pumpkin. Put a mixing bowl inside. Fill the bowl with apple cider, orange punch or any other beverage the kids would like!

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POPCORN BALLS...ALWAYS GREAT AT HALLOWEEN! (October is National Popcorn Month...Click here for a great 'Popcorn Theme' if you'd like some fun ideas!)

POPCORN PUMPKINS

1. Microwave and melt 1/4 c. margarine/butter and  10 1/2 oz. of mini marshmallows for 1-2 min.

2. Stir in a 4 serving size orange Jell-O; after it is combined, pour it over 3 qts of popped popcorn (12 cups)

3. Grease/butter hands and form the popcorn into pumpkin-shaped balls.

4. Complete pumpkin features with a green spearmint candy for the top stem and chocolate chips and M&Ms for the face.

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EASY POPCORN MARSHMALLOW BALLS
This easy popcorn ball recipe makes chewy, rich popcorn balls that are similar to Rice Krispies treats.  Makes about 30 medium sized popcorn balls.
Ingredients:
1/2 C. butter
1 lb. bag of mini marshmallows
1/2 C. brown sugar, firmly packed
6 quarts (24 C.) air-popped popcorn (unpopped kernels removed)

1. In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
2. Stir in brown sugar. Cook over low, stirring, until dissolved, about two minutes.
3. Add marshmallows. Melt into butter mixture, stirring constantly. Do not burn.
4. Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn. Mix well with a wooden spoon or spatula.
5. With greased hands, form your popcorn marshmallow balls.
6. Let balls cool on greased cookie sheets or waxed paper.

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CLASSIC MOLASSES POPCORN BALLS...a crisp-chewy caramel popcorn balls that taste similar to Cracker Jacks.

Ingredients:
1 C. granulated sugar (or brown sugar for riche flavor)
3/4 C. light corn syrup
1/4 C. molasses
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
8 quarts (1 gallon) popped popcorn, unpopped kernels removed

1. In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, molasses, butter, and salt.
2. Bring to a simmer, and cook over medium for about 3 1/2 minutes.
3. Pour mixture over popcorn.
4. Mix well with a wooden spoon or spatula.
5. With greased hands, form into popcorn balls.
6. Let cool on greased baking sheets or waxed paper.
If desired--add peanuts to popcorn mixture.
Makes about 40 popcorn balls. Great at Halloween Time! 

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CHOCOLATE POPCORN BALLS

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 stick butter
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 cups popcorn, popped

1. Prepare popcorn and set aside in a large bowl sprayed with cooking oil.
2. Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, cocoa, and salt in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until boiling.
3. Pour mixture over popcorn and stir well to coat thoroughly. Form into 3 inch balls and allow to cool.
4. Alternately: Heat mixture in a large pot and add the prepared popcorn to the pot, heating and stirring for a couple of minutes. Sometimes this method makes it easier to coat popcorn thoroughly.

Don't burn fingers; this mixture is hot! Butter  hands before forming balls. Allow to cool slightly if necessary.
Wrap finished popcorn balls in cellophane or plastic wrap. They can also be stored  in an airtight container.

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DECORATE YOUR HALLOWEEN POPCORN BALLS! 
Decoration Ideas:

•Food coloring for 'colored' popcorn balls
•Edible glitter
•Melted white, milk, or dark chocolate (drizzled)
•Melted peanut butter or butterscotch chips (drizzled)
•Candies, such as candy corns
•Black licorice for "spider legs"
•Gummy "body parts"
•Gummy worms
•Popcorn Ball Add-ins:
    Nuts (peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, etc.)
    Chocolate or white chocolate chips
    Peanut butter or butterscotch chips
    Toffee bits
    Melted peanut butter (add to caramel/marshmallow mixture)
    Sprinkles
    Cocoa powder or baking chocolate (add to caramel/marshmallow mixture)
    Mini or regular M&M's
    Graham cracker pieces
    Dried fruit
    Sweetened flaked coconut
    Alternative flavoring extracts: coconut, almond, rum, maple, peppermint, etc.

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TIPS ON MAKING POPCORN BALLS...
1. If using add-ins, add them after you combine the popcorn and caramel-syrup recipe of your choice. Stir well, then form into balls.
 
2. It's easiest to form popcorn balls while mixture is hot-- get helpers to make the process move along quickly.

3. Keep a bowl of cold water handy to cool your hands if hot popcorn mixture starts to burn.

4. Taking out the unpopped kernels is key-- unless you want to break a tooth. An easy way to do this is to use your hands to scoop the popped popcorn into another container. All of the unpopped corns will fall to the bottom.

5. For colored popcorn balls, pour a few drops of food coloring into the caramel or marshmallow mixture before adding to popcorn. Make the color brighter than you need, as the pale-colored popcorn will dilute any coloring.

6. Resist the urge to over-pack your popcorn balls. Tightly packed popcorn balls are hard and not very tasty.

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For more than 40 Halloween Games Click Here...

For "Everything Halloween" Click Here... (Arts, Crafts, Mad Science, Games, Easy Costumes, etc.)

Return to top of page

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AUTUMN-FALL PUMPKIN FUN!  Games, Arts and Crafts, Science, Poems/Songs, Centerpieces, Books, and Home Decorating Ideas...

This theme is comprised of Pumpkins (NOT Jack-O-Lanterns) Please visit the 'Halloween pages' if looking for Jack-O-Lanterns and Halloween...Pumpkin Recipes/Snacks are in their own category...

GAMES...

PUMPKIN AND FOOT RACE
Set up starting and finish lines and have the children race to see who can get their smallish pumpkin over the finish line. Only feet can be used to push pumpkins along. There can be no kicking; if any kicking is observed, that child goes back to their starting line. This would also be a good team relay race.

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PUMPKIN ROLLING
Divide  children into two or more teams.
Have a start line and turnaround line, 20 ft apart.
The first child in each line rolls a pumpkin from the start line, to the turn-around line and back.
The next person does the same, etc. The first team to have everyone play wins!

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PUMPKIN & BROOM RACE (Can be played in  outdoors or gym!)

• This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not smooth balls and refuse to roll in straight lines, you'll need plenty of room! You need medium pumpkins and sturdy sticks (or brooms); Use one pumpkin and stick/broom for each team.
• The racers line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
• On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
• Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
• If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.
• When playing inside use smaller pumpkins.

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PASS THE PUMPKIN RELAY
Line up into 2 teams.

• The first person passes the pumpkin OVER his/her head to the next person in line.
• The next person passes the pumpkin UNDER his/her legs to the next person, and so on.
• When you get to the end of the line the last person runs up to the front and starts it all over again. 
• Whoever has the first person that was in line at the beginning of the game--- in the back of the line WINS.

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FIND THE PUMPKIN
Supplies:
   Ten pieces of white paper
   Five pieces of yellow paper
   Five pieces of orange paper
   A crayon
   Scissors
Directions:
1. Draw ten white pumpkins, five yellow pumpkins, and five orange pumpkins. (Or adjust the numbers to reflect the number of your group)
2. Cut out all the pumpkins.
3. Decorate each pumpkin with a funny face.
4. Write the "number 1" on the backs of the white pumpkins.
5. Write the "number 5" on the backs of the yellow pumpkins.
6. Write the "number 10" on the backs of the orange pumpkins.
7. Hide all of the pumpkins.
8. KIds try to find as many pumpkins as they can before the leader says "Stop!"

Players  add up the numbers on their collected pumpkins. The player with the most points wins! This can also be played in teams.

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PUMPKIN BOWLING!
Supplies: 3 small pumpkins, 30 empty 2 liter clear soda bottles (less if your group is smaller!), a bag of gravel or pebbles placed in bottom of bottles

• Ask parents to save empty, clean 2 liter soda bottles for your game.
• Add about a cup of sand or pebbles in each bottle so they will stand without falling over.
• Divide kids into several teams of 3-8 kids each...line up and take turn at bowling!
• The small pumpkins are the bowling balls. If it's for a party- consider prizes.
• The kids that get a Strike receive another turn to bowl a strike. If they  bowl another strike, they receive a prize. When using prizes BE SURE EVERYONE GETS SOMETHING for playing!

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PUMPKIN HUNT – While the kids are out of the room - hide paper or small gourd pumpkins around the room. Challenge kids to find them all! When they have found all pumpkins you can serve a special snack or give each child a ‘goodie’.

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PUMPKIN BOCCE BALL- Object of Game: Roll a pumpkin closest to the big pumpkin. You need a large pumpkin. Also purchase several miniature or round sugar pumpkins. To play: Place the big pumpkin several feet away. Give each player a small pumpkin. Each player rolls (No tossing or throwing) their pumpkin and tries to be the closest to the big pumpkin. The player closest wins ...

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THROW PENNIES IN THE PUMPKIN

Carve out a pumpkin (Do NOT make it a Jack-O-Lantern); line the inside with plastic or aluminum foil.

• Make the top opening large. Option is to use small plastic pumpkins which are quicker and not messy!
• To play the game---place the pumpkins a couple feet away.
• Give each player about ten pennies...and try to get them in!
• Each time one gets in--a point is earned... (You could also use a plastic Halloween pumpkin container)

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PUMPKIN RACE (Like the above Pumpkin Race-- but using sticks instead of brooms)

Can be played in a yard, garage or even inside using small pumpkins!
This is a simple race but since pumpkins are not  smooth balls and refuse to roll in nice straight lines, you will need plenty of room!

You need two large pumpkins and two sturdy sticks.
The racers, line up on the starting line with the pumpkins turned on their sides.
On the signal, the racers use the stick to roll the pumpkins to the finish line.
Younger players may want to use their hands instead of the stick.
 If you want to play this as teams, make it a relay race.

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CHALLENGE THE KIDS with how many words they can come up with letters in the word 'PUMPKIN' ? This can be an individual challenge, or two or three kids teamed together. 
(Nip, pup, ink, pink, mink, in, pin, kin, pun, nun, pump, up, nip, )

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WIN THE PUMPKIN! 

Place children in a circle.
Start some music and pass a mini pumpkin from one person to another.
When the music stops-the person holding the pumpkin is out. 
The last one left keeps the pumpkin!

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RING THE PUMPKIN
Line up three large pumpkins with stems, to form a ring toss.
Use embroidery hoops or make hoops with rope and duct tape.
Mark a throwing line on the floor and take turns trying to ring a pumpkin stem.
Variation: Try to ring an entire large pumpkin with a hula hoop!

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MR. PUMPKIN HEAD
Do you have Mr. Potato Head game pieces???! The kids can have some Fall fun using them with small pumpkins!
Using a smallish to medium sized pumpkin, poke some holes where the eyes, nose and mouth would be (include hat and ears). Have the children decorate "Mr. Pumpkin Head" using Mr. Potato Head pieces.

 

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NOT A GAME BUT WONDERFUL FOR YOUNG KIDS AND THE YOUNG AT HEART! 

 

MAGIC PUMPKIN SEEDS
Materials:
Pumpkin seeds, small paper bag and small pumpkins

• Show the children a small bag of pumpkin seeds and explain that you believe these are magic pumpkin seeds.
• Take the children outside to the playground (or your yard) where they toss the seeds onto the ground. Have them make up a few magic words, if they want.
• The next day, before children go outside--gather the seeds and put small pumpkins in their place.
• Take the children outside and delight them with the 'magical' pumpkins that have grown.
  If you have enough pumpkins, the children can take the pumpkins home and/or first decorate and paint them to add to theme of your space.
  Idea adapted from preschoolrainbow.org

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TRADITIONAL GAMES WITH A TWIST...

1. Instead of Simon Says, play 'THE PUMPKIN SAYS...'

2. Instead of Duck-Duck-Goose---'Play APPLE-APPLE-PUMPKIN'

3. Play 'PASS THE PUMPKIN'  like Hot Potato. Use a tiny pumpkin…

4. Instead of playing Pin the tail on the Donkey---PLAY 'PUT THE STEM ON THE PUMPKIN'

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PARTY GAMES...

FLOATING PUMPKINS

Number the bottom of the small gourds that look like miniature pumpkins and float them in water for the children to choose one for small prizes. 

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PUMPKIN SEED TOSS
Number and line up 5 small baskets or containers; have children stand 3 feet (or farther depending on ages) in front of the first container and toss seeds into them in sequence. Small prizes can be given for each container seeds get in.

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PUMPKIN WALK
This is like a regular cake walk except instead of numbers, place pictures of several fall items on the floor for the children to walk; call out the names of the items instead of numbers. Award the child that lands on the picture of a pumpkin---a small/miniature pumpkin! Use fall themed music such as "Turkey In The Straw" or "Jimmy Cracked Corn".

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Idea***Have a PUMPKIN SEED SPITTING CONTEST OUTSIDE! Clean seeds, dry, save and then play...

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SCIENCE...

 

GUESS THE PUMPKIN'S WEIGHT!
Need:
Large pumpkin
Bathroom or science class scale
Slips of paper
Have children write their estimates of the pumpkin's weight on a slip of paper. Kids write their names on the paper, fold them, and place in a box. At the end of the time-frame, weigh the pumpkin and award a prize or the pumpkin to the child with the closest guess.

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GROWING IN A PUMPKIN!
Start this about two weeks before Halloween
Materials:
1 small pumpkin for each child or experiement
Paint
Cotton Batting
Mustard, Watercress or birdseed
Water

Cut the top off the pumpkin and and clean out the seeds.
Paint a face on the pumpkin. (If it is Halloween project--if it is for Fall/Autumn, leave natural) 
Fill the pumpkin with cotton and spray with water.
Sprinkle the seeds on the batting.
Keep the batting moist, and seeds will sprout in about 2 weeks or sooner....just in time for Halloween!

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LEFT-OVER  PUMPKIN SEEDS!

You can quickly make pumpkin seeds in your microwave. The shells are edible --- and a good source of fiber. You can also use this method with other seeds such as acorn squash and butternut squash.

Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin seeds, 1 Tbsp. Olive oil or butter, Salt, seasoned salt, garlic /onion powder or other seasonings to your choice.

Rinse pumpkin seeds. Remove all the pulp. Drain the seeds and discard the pulp. Spread out on paper towel on a cookie sheet and dry them over-night. Place butter or Olive Oil l in a microwave-safe, baking dish.

Microwave on high about 7 to 8 minutes or until seeds are toasted a light golden color. Be sure to stir every 2 minutes as they are cooking. When done, sprinkle with your choice of seasonings. Coat evenly. Cool them before eating or storing. They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 months or refrigerate up to 1 year.

If you like your toasted pumpkin seeds extra-salty, soak them overnight in a solution of 1/4 cup salt to 2 cups of water. Dry an additional day, and follow the above directions.

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DOES A PUMPKIN SINK OR FLOAT?

Fill a large clear storage container or aquarium with water. (If the weather is warm, you can do it outside). Have children make predictions of what will happen and graph the predictions. Do the experiments to determine if they were right or not.

 

Make it interesting and get a few pumpkin sizes.
You may hear predictions that the smaller pumpkins will float and the large will sink. (Pumpkins float)

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PUMPKIN EXPERIMENT
Prepare the experiment by cutting two pie pumpkins in half. (This will give you four halves.)
Place each pumpkin half in a plastic bag that is mostly closed (the environment needs to be moist, yet allow some fresh air to enter).
 
Set one bag in a sunny spot, one in a shady spot, one in the refrigerator, and one in a location of the students' choosing.
Ask kids to predict which pumpkin will grow the most mold over the course of the experiment.

Set aside time each day for students to examine the pumpkin halves and record their observations.
Then ask students: Where is the best place to keep a jack-o-lantern in order to keep it from spoiling?
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Cooking and making playdough is also science. Liquid that turn to a solid is science. See the Pumpkin Play Dough recipes in the below 'Arts and Crafts' section of this page.

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PUMPKIN ARTS AND CRAFTS...For Autumn/Fall Season

 

From Our Little Nature Nest comes this wonderful pumpkin seed mosaic art! Jenn from the site explains it best! She says..."You can use any large seeds like those from a pie pumpkin, or hard squash that you may have from cooking this fall.

Dying them is simple. All you need is dried pumpkin seeds, food coloring, and vinegar. Place 1/4 to 1/2 cup water in small cups. Add a TBS of vinegar, and several drops of food coloring to the cups. Allow the dried seeds to soak in the colored water for 2 to 4 hours, then remove them from the water & allow them to dry over night. You then have a colorful, natural, free, craft item. You can make mosaics or necklaces with them. Some will dye a solid color & others will be speckled. Use a nice heavy paper like poster board or card stock to glue the mosaics to."

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PUMPKIN PIE PLAYDOUGH...

 

Ingredients:
5 1/2 cups flour
2 cups salt
8 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 cup oil
1 (1 1/12 ounces) container pumpkin pie spice
Orange food coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red)
4 cups water

Combine dry ingredients in a non-stick pan.
Add oil, water, food coloring and stir until smooth.
Cook and stir over medium heat until all lumps disappear.
Knead the dough on a floured surface until it's smooth.
Store in an airtight container.
Dough will keep in a plastic bag for about a week...and it smells wonderful!
Image source: Pepperpaints

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NO COOK PUMPKIN PIE PLAY DOUGH
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup water
Mix together and knead until smooth.

RECIPE FOR PUMPKIN PIE SPICE...
Of course you can purchase the spice--but you can also make your own!

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons ground cinnamon and 4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
4 teaspoons ground ginger
3 teaspoons ground allspice
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in air tight container.

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AUTUMN SMELLING 'PUMPKIN VOTIVE'

Cut the top off of a small pumpkin.
Clean and carve the pumpkin.

Sprinkle pumpkin pie spice on the inside of the lid and cut a small hole in the top to make a chimney.
Light a votive candle and set inside. Replace the lid.
Results are a pumpkin pie scented votive!

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 PAPER BAG PUMPKINS...

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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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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WHEN YOU'RE COLORING AND CUTTING OUT PUMPKIN ART...To give it some texture...
Peel the paper wrapping off an orange Crayon.
Place a textured item such as plastic bubble wrap or a dish mat UNDER a large piece of white construction paper.
Rub with the side of the crayon over the entire paper to create a pumpkin's bumpy surface. Continue with your project.

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AUTUMN PUMPKIN BALL

 6" Styrofoam Ball
18" Square of Fall Fabric
2 Green Pipe Cleaners
2' Raffia
Rubber Band
Scissors

Use a serrated knife to slice the end off a Styrofoam ball so it will stand flat without rolling.
Wrap the ball with fabric, gathering the ends at the top of the ball. Secure fabric with a rubber  band.
Twist two pipe cleaners together. Wrap it around the rubber banded fabric and twist to keep in place.
Twirl ends around a pencil. Finish off the pumpkin with a raffia bow.

Would be cute grouped together in a bowl on a tray...and...each one only takes about 10 minutes to make! Source: Cindy of Pittsburg PA.

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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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START WITH A PUMPKIN SEED (ART)

Put out photographs of pumpkin patches at various stages. The children can use this as a guide in their art work! Have the kids then...

1. Glue a pumpkin seed onto paper. (This will be  'underground')
2. Paint an imaginary plant with the roots growing FROM the seed UNDERGROUND.
3.  Paint the leaves, and flowers/fruit of the plant above the ground level.

To go along with the art project!

GROWING  STEPS OF A PUMPKIN...
1. Leafy vines grow from pumpkin seeds.
2. Yellow-orange flowers bloom on the pumpkin vine, then wither.
3. The flowers' ovaries (at the base of the flower) swell and become tiny green pumpkins.
4. The pumpkins grow larger and change color... 
5. In four months after planting, they're ready to harvest.

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 PUMPKIN PATCH FIELD TRIP...

Can you take your kids on a field trip pumpkin patch?

1. Read books about 'Growing Pumpkins' and 'Pumpkin Patches'  before the trip.

2. Have children each pick out a pumpkin to take back. (If budgets are tight-have parents pay for their child's pumpkin) While at the patch--observe how the pumpkin are growing on the vine. Look at variations in color, size, shape, quality and weight!

3. Children can take their pumpkins home--or decorate them with you. Put out paint, yarn for hair, google eyes, and other decorating materials. How creative can they get?!

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PUMPKIN SNACKS & RECIPES...

Yikes! There are so many easy Pumpkin Snacks and Recipes, that they are now in their own category!  Be sure to visit it to complete your theme...(There is also a link at page bottom and top)

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 PUMPKIN POEMS & SONGS...

PETER, PETER, PUMPKIN EATER

Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater
Had a wife and couldn't keep her...

Put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her very well.

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PUMPKIN POEM #1

One day I found two pumpkin seeds.
I planted one and pulled the weeds.

It sprouted roots and a big, long vine.
A pumpkin grew; I called it mine.

The pumpkin was quite round and fat.
(I really am quite proud of that.)

But there is something I'll admit
That has me worried just a bit.

I ate the other seed, you see--
Now will it grow inside of me?

(I am so relieved since I have found
that pumpkins only grow in the ground!)

PUMPKIN POEM #2
When all the cows were sleeping
And the sun had gone to bed,
Up jumped the pumpkin,
And this is what he said:

I'm a dingle dangle pumpkin
With a flippy floppy hat.
I can shake my stem like this,
And shake my vine like that.

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FIVE ORANGE PUMPKINS (Also nice for early math!)
  
Five orange pumpkins rolling down a hill,
Once they started rolling, they couldn't keep still.
One hit a rock and couldn't roll any more,
How many pumpkins left?  Now there are four.

Four orange pumpkins a-rolling and a-bumping,
I hear them clumping, I hear them thumping.
One fell into a hole next to a tree,
How many pumpkins left?  Now there are three.

Three orange pumpkins rolling on the grass,
Watch them tumble and roll so fast.
One rolled until it bumped right against my shoe,
How many pumpkins left?  Now there are two.

Two orange pumpkins still rolling really fast,
Will they ever slow down and stop at last?
One pumpkin hit a tree, its rolling now is done,
How many pumpkins left?  Now there is one.

One last orange pumpkin rolling toward me,
Now it's stopped rolling, look and see.
Now how many pumpkins are rolling in the sun?
Did you guess zero?  You're right, there are none.

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FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS SITTING ON A GATE

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate,
The first one said,
"Oh my, it's getting late."

The second one said,
"But we don't care."

The third one said,
"I see witches in the air."

The fourth one said,
"Let's run, and run, and run."

The fifth one said,
"Get ready for some fun."

Then whoosh went the wind,
and out went the lights,
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight!

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I'M PULLING A PUMPKIN ON A VINE

I'm pulling on a pumpkin on a vine.
It's so big and fat and fine.
I'm pulling on a pumpkin on a vine.
Snap! It's mine!

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PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN

Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Sitting on the wall.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Tip and fall.
 
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Rolling down the street.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Good to eat!

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PUMPKIN SONG
Tune: Have You Ever Seen A Lassie?

Have you ever seen
A pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin,
Have you ever seen
A pumpkin that grows on a vine?

A round one, a tall one,
A bumpy one, a squashed one.
Have you ever seen a pumpkin
That grows on a vine?

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MR. PUMPKIN SONG
Tune: Where is Thumbkin

Mr. Pumpkin,
Mr. Pumpkin,
Round and fat,
Round and fat.
Harvest time is coming,
Harvest time is coming.
Yum, yum, yum.
That is that!

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I'M A LITTLE PUMPKIN SONG
To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little pumpkin
Orange and round.
Here is my stem,
There is the ground.

When I get all cut up,
Don't you shout!
Just open me up
And scoop me out!

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TEN LITTLE PUMPKINS
Tune: Ten Little Indians

One little,
Two little,
Three little pumpkins...
 
Four little,
Five little,
Six little pumpkins...

Seven little,
Eight Little,
Nine little pumpkins...

Ten little pumpkins in the
Pumpkin Patch!

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WHERE IS PUMPKIN
Tune: Where is Thumbkin?

Where is Pumpkin?
Where is Pumpkin?
Here it is!
Here it is!
This one has a happy face,
This one has a scary face!
Roll away!
Roll away!

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PUMPKIN FACTS for lesson plans...

• Pumpkins are a fruit not vegtables.
• It takes 3-4 months for a seed to become a pumpkin
• Pumpkins are 90% water.
• 80% of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.
• Pumpkins range in sizes from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds.
• Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.
• Pumpkin flowers are edible.
• Pumpkin seeds can be roasted for a snack.
• Pumpkins can vary in color from white or green to yellow to orange.
• Pumpkins are an ingredient in pies, breads, soups, and other foods.
• Pumpkins are used as feed for some farm animals
• Carved pumpkins only last about four days but uncut pumpkins, keptin a cool place, remain firm forseveral months.

Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C.

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A FEW PUMPKIN DECORATING IDEAS! They'd be wonderful the entire Autumn season--from September to November! Many other ideas on Autumn Decorating Page...

YOUR ADDRESS--THE PUMPKIN WAY!

•Select one pumpkin per house number and cut a hole in the top of each.

•Clean pumpkins out--saving the tops--wipe exteriors dry. Center paper stencil number (these are 5 inches tall) on the first pumpkin and adhere with painter's tape.

•With a marker, trace the stencil outline, then carefully carve just outside the line with a small handsaw or heavy-duty craft knife. Repeat for each number.

•Arrange a few tea lights inside each pumpkin, then line up or stack in proper order. Replace top on the highest pumpkin. Illuminate tea lights using a long-handled lighter through the holes.
Source:  sunset.com

THE FAST WAY...You wouldn't be able to insert tea lights--but a similar effect could be achieved by painting on the numbers!

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 PUMPKIN CONTAINER CENTERPIECES...

Thoroughly clean/carve out a small to medium-sized, round pumpkin. Line the interior with tin foil or saran wrap. Place a block of florist's foam inside the scooped pumpkin; place an assortment of harvest-themed artificial berries and flowers, available at arts and crafts stores, into the foam block. Abundantly fill the foam block so that you cannot see the opening of the pumpkin.

This makes a festive Fall and Thanksgiving centerpiece!  As you see, it also makes a nice candle holder.

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PUMPKIN TOPIARY
Materials:
4-inch terra-cotta pot
Styrofoam piece to fit in pot
Wooden dowel or small tree branch
Miniature pumpkin
Hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks
Dried beans or peas
Raffia

1. Use hot glue to secure the Styrofoam into the pot.

2. Make the "tree." Sharpen the end of the dowel or branch (trimming it to size if necessary). Push it into the bottom of the pumpkin. Push the other end of the dowel into the Styrofoam. Hot-glue the dowel to secure if necessary.

3. Add the finishing touches. Spread dried beans or peas over the top of the Styrofoam, gluing if desired. Using raffia, tie a bow around the dowel just below the pumpkin.

TIPS: you can replace the miniature pumpkins with small gourds. If you want your topiary to last for more than two weeks, use artificial vegetables or fruits.

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FALL FOLIAGE PUMPKIN

Nice from October to Thanksgiving! ____________

First paint your pumpkin a white/off-white color.

Find different types of leaves, trace the shapes on the pumpkin, and paint. (Source: Better Homes and Gardens --they are many fantastic pumpkin decorating ideas there...a few for fall and several for Halloween)

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Visit the Autumn Decorating and Center Piece page for some wonderful ideas...great for 'September to Thanksgiving'!

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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

Looking for books about Jack-O-Lanterns and Halloween?  Be sure to check out the Autumn Book List Category--fantastic lists which  include books about Jack-O-Lanterns, Scary, and Halloween!

Easy Pumpkin Snacks/Recipes- Click Here...

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