Poems and Songs are towards the bottom of page...
GHOST WIND SOCKS
Materials:
White card stock or poster board
Black permanent marker
Stapler
Glue
White crepe paper streamers, String, yarn, or twine
1. Draw a ghost face on the white poster board using the black marker.
2. Roll the poster board into a tube shape and staple the overlapping ends together securely.
3. Cut long strips out of the crepe streamers. Glue or staple them all around the bottom of the wind sock.
4. Cut a piece of string about 2 1/2 feet long and staple the ends to opposite sides of the top of the wind sock to hang.
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HALLOWEEN NOISE SHAKER (Also makes a great DOORKNOB HANGER)
Materials: For each shaker need two paper plates, dry beans, orange paint, paper scraps, yarn, scissors, glue
1. Paint the back of each plate orange.
2. When paint is dry--create facial features out of paper scraps (black or brown would be good) and glue onto the plate.
3. Around the outer edge of plates, staple them together--leaving an opening at the top. Drop in a handful of beans (enough to make a sound).
4. If desired, insert a green rectangle stem into the top opening and staple the pumpkin closed.
5. With a hold punch. punch a hole on each side or the STEM. Thread and tie the yarn.
6. The jack-o-lantern can be hung from a doorknob or used to shake as a musical instrument.
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PAPER PLATE GHOSTS
Materials:
White Paper Plates
White Streamers
Black Marker
Hole Punch
String
•Draw a 'ghost face' on the paper plate. Tape white streamers to the back of the paper plate. Make them long enough so they look like a ghost.
•Punch a hole in the top of the plate; tie on string.
•Hang the ghosts from the ceiling, windows or outdoor trees (if not raining).
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BULLETIN BOARD IDEA...
Cut out ghost shapes of different kinds and have children decorate them with scraps of white material, cotton balls, tissue paper, etc.
Paste a picture of each child's face on the ghost and hang them on a bulletin board with the heading: What A "BOOtiful" Class!
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OPEN ART PUMPKIN TABLE...
Provide each child with a pumpkin. Put out a variety or paints and decorating supplies. Instruct children to be their most creative and personalize their pumpkin! If this is an activity for a party-it can also double as a party favor!
The pumpkins on the chair are a small portion of pumpkins created by Notre Dame Prep Academy in Pontiac, Mi. They were done as a service project and given to an Assisted Living Home to brighten up the residents' dining room.
The second was created by Bria-age 5-- at an Autumn Birthday party. The last (two pumpkins) was an activity at a school-age program in Conway, S.C. (First two images by KidActivities.net)
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SPAGHETTI COBWEBS
Materials:
Cold Cooked Spaghetti noodles
White glue
Wax paper
Have children dip spaghetti into the glue and arrange the pieces onto wax paper.
When the spaghetti dries, carefully peel the "cobweb" off of the wax paper.
Hang from the ceiling or on a window.
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CREATE A MONSTER... Materials: Glue, construction paper, scissors, old magazines (and anything with pictures in it), crayons/markers
Cut out facial features, hair, arms and legs from old magazines, newspapers and/or junk mail. (Have body parts cut out before the project begins. You can do this yourself-or have a 'group-cut' previous to this)
Once all random parts are assembled -- put them out and challenge kids to create their own original Frankenstein.
There should be some pretty interesting creatures with mismatched eyes, three or four legs, or who knows what!
When complete, have children tell you all about the monster they've created! (i've done this with kids--and they really are a fun project to do!)
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PAPER BAG PUMPKIN
Directions most often seen...
1. Starting with a lunch size paper bag-- crumble-up some paper and stuff the lunch bag.
2. Tie the top with string leaving about 2 inches of space at top.
3. Paint the bottom portion with orange tempera paint and the top brown (for the stem).
Copy a leaf pattern on green paper, felt or foam -- cut it out--glue or staple it to base of stem.
Optional but nice: Wrap green or brown pipe cleaners around the pumpkin stem for vines. (Give the pipe cleaner vine a curly look by spiraling it around a pencil and then twisting it onto the stem. You can make a jack-o-lantern by painting or drawing a face on your orange paper bag.
Tip:
I prefer to make these by first painting the paper bag orange. Have the kids open the bag and place it on their hand (like a puppet) They will be able to then paint all sides.
Leave the top 1- to 2-inches of the bag brown.
While you are waiting for the paint to dry, cut a couple of leaf shapes out of green felt, craft foam, or construction paper...and proceed from there. (Barb)
Images: Thanks to About.com (image with pipe cleaner vines) and Kaboose
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JACK-O-LANTERN ORANGES
Materials:
Oranges
Whole Cloves
Toothpicks-or something to poke holes in the oranges
After poking a hole with a needle, fork, or tooth pick, insert cloves into oranges in a decorative jack-o-lantern face pattern.
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A NOT TOO SCARY HALLOWEEN YARN GHOST
This guy is from the Craft Category of Yarn Dolls. Directions for making the "head" is there....After you've made the head--stop! Just trim the bottom loops and add google eyes and a spooky plastic spider!
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STYROFOAM SPIDERS
Materials:
1 Styrofoam Ball
1 Large Black Pom-pom
4 to 8 Black Pipe Cleaners
2 Googley Eyes
Black Acrylic Paint
Paintbrush
Glue or glue gun
Scissors
1. Paint the Styrofoam ball black.
2. Once dry, glue on the black pom-pom to one side of the ball. This is the head of the spider.
3. Glue the googley eyes to the black pom-pom.
4. To make legs--insert the black pipe cleaners into the Styrofoam ball.
5. For long legs use 8 full-length pipe cleaners and bend into shape. For shorter legs, take 4 pipe cleaners and cut in half; use these half sized pieces to form the legs. (Image by KidActivities.net)
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TISSUE TUBE SPIDER STAMPING
Take an empty toilet or paper cardboard roll.
For the spider's legs, cut eight parts, Make them even in width. Go up high enough to bend the legs up.
Holding the top, dip it in black paint and make a spider.
Use google eyes to finish.
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REAL PUMPKIN STAMPING!
Buy several small, real pumpkins.
Cut them in half.
Have children dip the pumpkin halves into paint to make prints.
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HALLOWEEN COOKIE CUTTER PRINTS
Buy an assortment of halloween cookie cutters.
Dip cookie cutters into paint and press them onto paper.
This makes really cool prints!
Also remember to pull out the Halloween cookie cutters when playing with play dough this month! See 'Pumpkin Theme' for directions on making 'Pumpkin Pie Scented' play dough. (Recipe in middle of page)
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GHOST PENCIL TOPPER
Materials: Pencils-preferable black, Halloween themed, orange or white black
White tissue
Fine tip black marker
rubber bands
Crumple two or more tissues to form a ball.
Place the ball (the ghost head) on top of the pencil. Use a double layer of flat tissue to put over the ball (the body) and the pencil.
Wrap a rubber band around the base of the ball and the flat tissue.
Draw a face on the tissue with black marker.
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HALLOWEEN JAR
Materials:
Clean baby food or small jam jar with leak proof screw top lid; corn syrup
Small Halloween craft items such as: plastic spiders, insects, witches, ghosts, etc.; Halloween confetti with bat, spider and pumpkin shapes
Marbles, glass stones or small pebbles
Optional: Silicone caulking
1. Add a layer of marbles to the bottom of the jar.
2. Add a large Halloween figure to the jar. Although it is not necessary, you may want to glue this to the center of the upside down jar lid so that it remains stationary while the other objects float around it. If so, use waterproof silicone caulking (the kind used for fish tanks is excellent) to cement the base of the figure in place. Let dry.
3. Add a selection of Halloween confetti pieces.
4. Pour in clear corn syrup to fill the jar. If you are adding a figure glued to the lid, remember to allow space for this so the syrup doesn't overflow.(Clear Dippity Do Hair gel also gives an interesting effect. It's thick-- so items and gels would be alternately placed in the jar.)
5. Screw on the lid. If desired, you can run a bead of silicone caulking around the lid to secure it permanently. Activate your Halloween scene by shaking or inverting the jar so you can see the confetti and marbles floating slowly around.
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POP BOTTLE GHOST
1. Put white tempera paint inside empty 2-liter soda bottles.
2. Have children roll bottle around until inside is covered in white.
3. Paint on face with black acrylic paint. Let dry completely.
4. Remove cap and let inside dry. Once dry, replace cap.
5. At this point yarn/string can be tied around top of bottle to hang... or left to sit.
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HALLOWEEN BOTTLE
1. Take an empty, clear 20 oz. bottle add orange colored water or have children add red and yellow food coloring if you want to demonstrate how the color orange is made.
2. Add Halloween confetti of bats, moons, witches, ghosts, glitter
If you would like items to move more slowly in the bottle--use a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 corn syrup--instead of all water.
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PAPER PLATE MASKS (Half-face Style)
Spooky or Pretty...whichever kids wish!
1. Cut a sturdy paper plate in half.
2. Staple a tongue depressor to the bottom right hand corner.
3. Cut a slot in the middle of the half plate to look through.
Put out a variety of materials for children to glue onto their mask.
Markers, paint, feathers, yarn, shiny papers, egg carton bumps, buttons, Styrofoam, pieces, etc.
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CONTACT PAPER JACK-O-LANTERN
Cut a pumpkin shape out of contact paper and lay it-sticky side up- on a table.
Have children cover the contact paper with orange tissue paper squares and black paper features.
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COOL WHIP LID AND GROCEY SACK GHOST
Materials:
2 sheer white plastic grocery sacks
2 white pipe cleaners
Cool whip Lid or similar round lid
Scotch Tape
Glue Stick
Black yarn
scissors
Hole Punch
Glue eye and mouth on front of lid.
Cut off any writing, graphics, and handles from the sacks.
Lay sacks down flat. With scissors, shred 2" strips of sacks-- leaving at least 1" area intact next to the seam.
Turn the lid over on a flat surface. Bend and insert the pipe cleaner/seam into the ridge around the bottom 1/2 of the lid. Tape to secure in place.
Repeat with the second sack and stem and insert it in the ridge around the upper 1/2 of the lid.
Punch a hole through the top of the lid.
Thread a length of yarn through the hole appropriate for hanging.
A loop can also be made on the end of a 11/2 ' length, so children can hold and run with them. They 'fly' nicely and kids appear to being chased by a little ghost.
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HAPPY FACE-SCARY FACE STICK PUPPET (Or Stick-Mask)
On orange paper, have children draw a medium size pumpkin-- or trace a pumpkin-face template. Cut-out the shape. On one side design a happy jack-o-lantern face---and on the other side, design a scary or sad-faced jack-o-lantern. Tape the pumpkin face to a large size craft stick.
Talk about what makes the jack-o-lantern happy; what makes the jack-o-lantern sad or scary? If children are young-discuss the pumpkin faces being 'pretend'.
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HALLOWEEN COFFEE CAN BANKS (Use those recycled cans!)
To cover a 10-13 oz. coffee can--cut orange paper rectangles about 5" by 14". Remove the coffee can plastic lids; using tape, wrap the cans with the paper.
Have kids design and cut out jack-o-lantern facial features and stems from scrap paper. Glue the facial features and stem to the can. Using a knife or scissors, cut a coin slot in the lid of the banks.
You can also make smaller banks using frosting/icing containers.
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DANCING GHOSTS
Materials:
White cloth material cut into approximatly 18" x 18" squares
Ping pong or Styrofoam balls
White pipe cleaners or twist ties
Long straws (non-bendable)
Hot glue gun
Black permanent marker
With caution, hot glue a ping pong ball onto the top of a straw.
After glue dries, center the white cloth over the ping pong ball.
Make the ghost's head by twisting a pipe cleaner/tie between the ball and straw.
Finish off with black marker eyes and mouth.
Hold the straw to make the ghost dance/walk/fly/play.
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A COUPLE IDEAS FROM cereschildcare (SPIDER & WITCH)
PAPER PLATE SPIDERS
(With the letter 'S' or not)
Paint a paper plate all black.
Cut 8 strips of black construction paper
Fold the legs accordian style. Younger children fold randomly.
Glue to the back of the plate and add wiggle eyes.
Hang from a black string.
Add A splotch of red to make it look like a black widow. The sample image sponge painted letter "S" for Spider as part of the day's lesson plan.
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PAPER PLATE WITCH
Paint a paper plate green.
Trace and cut childs hands on orange construction paper. Glue to the plate for the witch hair.
Add a black witch hat.
Draw on a face.
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SPOOKY GHOST HANDPRINT TREE
On large white paper, draw a black or brown, gnarly tree.
Have each child paint their hand with white paint.
Put the painted hand with fingers pointed down on/from the gnarled branches.
After the 'ghosts' have dried-- have each child to draw a face on their handprint. Makes a great Halloween display!
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MISCELLANEOUS HALLOWEEN FUN!
DOES YOUR SCHOOL FROWN ON COSTUMES AT HALLOWEEN TIME ? CONSIDER FACE PAINTING!
If your school doesn't allow students to wear costumes to school...Consider holding a 'Creative Hat parade" complete with colorful face paint!
Extension: A GREAT HALLOWEEN TIME (OR ANY-TIME IDEA!)
Have children make instruments (See Making Instruments Category) When complete... start a musical Halloween parade through your neighborhood! This is actually an activity that can take place over a couple days.
1. Make instruments.
2. Practice
3. Have a parade (with costumes if possible) If costumes are not possible, then make funny hats and face paint!
This is a wonderful idea for younger children. The kids love it and the neighbors will, too!
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Make a 'BUBBLING CAULDRON'
Materials: Cauldron, Water, Baking soda, Vinegar, Tablespoon, Cup, Pan or Tray
Place a cauldron on a pan or tray (cauldrons are abundant around Halloween; you can buy them at dollar stores.) Place 2 tbsp. of water in the cauldron and stir in 1 tbsp. of baking soda. In a separate cup, measure 2 tbsp. of vinegar. Pour it in and watch potion bubble!
Science explanation: Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. When they combine, it forms carbon dioxide.
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MAKE WITCH'S BREW SLIME
6 spoons glue
6 spoons water
2 spoons Borax
Green food coloring.
Mix to make 'WITCH'S SLIME'...
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HALLOWEEN SONGS and POEMS (See Halloween jokes here...)
PUMPKIN BELLS…
To the tune of Jingle Bells
Dashing through the streets
In our costumes bright and gay...
to each house we go
Laughing all the way.
Halloween is here,
Making spirits bright...
What fun it is to trick-or-treat
And sing Pumpkins carol tonight!
O, Pumpkin bells! Pumpkin bells:
Ringing loud and clear.
Oh what fun Great Pumpkin brings
When Halloween is here!
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IF YOU'RE A MONSTER...
To tune: If you're happy and you know it
If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms
If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms.
If you're a monster and you know then your arms will surely show it.
If you're a monster and you know it wave your arms.
If you're a monster and you know it show your claws
If you're a monster and you know it show your claws.
If you're a monster and you know then your claws will surely show it.
If you're a monster and you know it show your claws.
Continue with:
...Stomp your feet
...Gnash your teeth
...Growl out loud
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THE HALLOWEEN SURPRISE STORY
Dad and I shopped for a pumpkin
To carve for Halloween.
The one we bought was round and fat,
The best we'd ever seen.
We took it home, and carefully
My dad cut off the top.
We scooped the gloppy seeds all out
Onto paper--plop, plop, plop!
Next, Dad cut out the eyes and mouth,
Then he cut out the nose.
He winked at me and then he said,
"He'll be bald, I suppose."
I laughed and said, "Oh, Daddy,
Jack-o-lanterns' heads are bare.
I've never seen a single one
That had a head of hair!"
Then we took our pumpkin outside
With a candle for its light.
Our jolly jack-o-lantern glowed
So brightly in the night.
Long after I had gone to bed,
Snowflakes began to fall.
They covered up the bushes
And the garden and the wall.
In the morning I ran out to see
If my pumpkin was still there.
I found him sitting on the porch -
But now he had white hair!
Author Unknown
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PUMPKIN SONG
To tune of Found a Peanut
Pick a pumpkin, pick a pumpkin,
Pick a pumpkin just now...
I just now picked a pumpkin
Picked a pumpkin just now.
Cut the top off, cut the top off
Cut the top off just now...
I just now cut the top off,
Cut the top off just now.
Scoop the seeds, out, scoop the seeds out,
Scoop the seeeeeds out just now...
I just now scooped the seeds out
Scooped the seeds out ju-ust now.
Carved a face in, carved a face in
Carved a face in just now...
I just now carved a face in it
Carved a face in it just now.
Stick a candle in it, stick a candle in it
Stick a candle in it now...
I just now stuck a candle in it
Stuck a candle in it just now.
I made a jack-o-latern, I made a jack-o-latern
Made a jck-o-latern just now...
I just now made a jack-ol-lantern
Made a jack-o-latern just now!
(Use appropriate hand motions with each verse)
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THE EIGHT DAYS OF HALLOWEEN
Sing to the tune of The 12 Days of Christmas
On the first day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
An Owl in a dead tree
On the second day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree
On the third day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree
On the fourth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree
On the fifth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree
On the sixth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree
On the seventh day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
7 ghouls a groaning
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree
On the eighth day of Halloween my true love gave to me:
8 witches cackling
7 ghouls a groaning
6 bats a flying
5 scary spooks!
4 shaky skeletons
3 ghosts a booing
2 trick or treaters and
An Owl in a dead tree...
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THE WITCH SONG
(Sung to tune of Ten Little Indians)
1 little, 2 little, 3 little witches
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches,
Slide down the moonbeams without any hitches,
Hi, Ho, Halloween's here!
THREE LITTLE WITCHES Version #2
One little, two little, three little witches
Fly over haystacks and fly over ditches
Fly over moonbeams without any hitches
Hey, it's Halloween night.
One little, two little, three little witches
Fly over barb wire and tore their britches
Had to go home and get some stitches
Hey, it's Halloween night.
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BATS ARE SLEEPING
Sung to Frere Jacques
Bats are sleeping
Bats are sleeping
Upside down
Upside down...
Waiting for night to come
Waiting for night to come
Then they fly around
Then they fly around.
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FIVE LITTLE GHOSTS FINGER PLAY
The first little ghost floated by the store.
The second little ghost stood outside the door.
The third little ghost tried her best to hide.
The fourth little ghost stood by my side.
The fifth little ghost near the window sill,
And gave everybody a great big thrill.
The five little ghosts were all my friends,
And that is the way that this story ends.
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THREE LITTLE GHOSTS
Three little ghosts on Halloween night
Saw a witch and freaked in fright.
The witch just laughed and shouted, "Boo!"
One ghost ran home and then there were two.
Two little ghosts who shiver and shook
With every single step they took.
When the door opened wide
A goblin said to the other...
I'm going home and stay with my mother.
One little ghost can't have much fun,
so he ran home, and then there were none.
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LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE (For school-age)
by James Whitcomb Riley
Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board an' keep;
An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun
A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--
An' when he went to bed at night, away upstairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!
An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,
An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever' wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,
An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;
An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,
She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!
An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,
They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--
You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,
An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
An' help the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!
NOTE: This is fun if said with a 'southern accent'. I can still remember memorizing this in the 5th grade--and reciting it at a Parents' Day! (Barb)
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There are also several 'Pumpkin Poems and Songs' in the Autumn Pumpkin Theme. (Great for October and November!)
Also be sure to check out HALLOWEEN DECORATING IDEAS! There are artsy/crafty ideas and great ideas for decorating that great Halloween Party!
Back to Page one... for Halloween Arts and Crafts
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