• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

halloween learning ideas — silly and scary literacy, math, and science

home / Activities / holidays / halloween / halloween learning ideas — silly and scary literacy, math, and science
1.3K shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

halloween learning

Halloween is in the air, and though we’ve just gotten around to decorating our house, we never do a lot of scary Halloween over here.

We always stick to the silly or tricky.

But, like any holiday, I truly believe that there are opportunities for sneaking in a little bit o’ learning during this candy-filled holiday.

A whole lot of fun—don’t get me wrong—but also a whole lot of fun learning as well.

Here’s the skinny on a few Halloween learning ideas—both silly and scary–literacy, math, and science learning for kids at a time when the world is black and gold, black and gold, nothing in between. . . when the world is black and gold, then it’s Halloween!

Really, it’s scary how much fun you can have with your kids around holiday time.  We like to start with Halloween.

Halloween Literacy Learning:

  • Halloween GHOST Bingo: Cute—not spooky—Halloween friends cover the boards and kids can practice learning the letters of “GHOST” while they use their eyes to match up the Halloween friends on cards to the ones on their boards.
  • Halloween Word Search: Perfect for emerging readers, word searches provide a super platform for really looking for letters. Add some Halloween words, and kids love playing detective!
  • Halloween Lunchbox Love Joke Notes: Bring some fun into lunchtime–or anytime–with fun, silly, and totally not-spooky Halloween Lunchbox Joke Notes.

hallowen book collage

Some of our favorite Halloween books:

  • Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson — the witch’s hat blows away, and while trying to find it, the witch picks up more and more friends, all who want to ride on her broom. We love the language in this book, and it’s super-silly.
  • Too Many Pumpkins, by Linda Arms White and illustrated by Megan Lloyd — a sweet story about lonely and cranky Rebecca Estelle who loathes pumpkins only to have her yard taken over by pumpkins one season. In an attempt to rid herself of these pesky gourds, she bakes tons of pumpkin goodies and draws her entire town to her house for a pumpkin party.  Read it to chat about inferring like we did; read it and love the illustrations, characters, and story
  • Arthur’s Halloween, by Marc Brown — as a mom I love the lesson in this book, no never judge a book by its cover, but with a fun Halloween theme, Arthur and D.W. don’t let us down!
  • Zen Ghosts, by Jon J. Muth — the children in this story learn from their panda friend Stillwater on Halloween–and who doesn’t need a little zen on a spooky holiday?
  • Berenstain Bears Ghost Walk & Berenstain Bears Trick-or-Treat& Berenstain Bears & the Prize Pumpkin — All of our Berenstain bear friends during Halloween and fall, these three have been a permanent part of our at-home library for years and years. Our fave? Hard to choose.  . .

hallowen learning

Halloween Math Learning:

  • halloween party estimate game 2013: a perfect quick game to help kids practice number sense and estimating, it’s as easy as can be to get kids psyched about counting and numbers when candy corn or spiders are involved!
  • Halloween Candy Math Games: Sorting, counting, and more—who knew Halloween candy could provide so much learning fun?!
  • Cats, Hats, and Pumpkins Grid Games: give your kiddos a chance to practice fine motor skills, counting, and practice that important literacy skill of left-right return sweep
  • Leafy Grid Games: same kind of literacy and math prep but with Leafy Grid boards.
  • Blank Grid Games: use Halloween stickers or stamps as markers to continue the spooky fun.

Halloween Science Learning:

  • Candy Experiments: Use that leftover Halloween candy for some super-fun science experimenting!
  • Halloween Treat-Making: Cooking is science for kids, so get them in the kitchen and have them help you make these super cute witches’ fingers, eyeballs, boogers on a stick, and frozen ghosts.
  • Dinner in a Pumpkin:  A perfect opportunity to show kids how crazy cool food can be, a fun Halloween tradition is dinner in a pumpkin!

That’s it! Just a few fun literacy, math, and science related Halloween learning opportunities for families and kids!

And if you need some Halloween class party help, some not-so-scary Halloween tricks, or our new-and totally cool Halloween scarf. check it out, or feel free to leave links with your own fave Halloween sites.

Have something awesome I should add to the ole Halloween Pinterest Board? I’d LOVE to! Leave me the link!

Happy, happy, happy Halloween!

You May Also Like...

  • how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
    how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
  • Ward's Science: grants, lessons, products and more
    Ward's Science: grants, lessons, products and more
  • photo books for kids and family: 15 best, coolest, most clever and creative
    photo books for kids and family: 15 best, coolest, most clever and creative

About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro · http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:t-mobile for families: (and phone giveaway)
Next Post:national book festival 2012: why families need to go

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
Even kids who dislike writing will LOVE to pen a note on these tiny cards! And the best news? These flowers last FOREVER!

Grab some here: 
https://zuli.ly/sl/n/t/ACEf

#makesomeonesday #featuredreel #teachersofIG #partner
View
Open
💜❤️🤍 THINK: VALENTINE’s DAY!! ❤️🤍💜

Sooooo many people we know LOVE cool sweatshirts. Skip the 🍬💕 this year and surprise your sweethearts with a fun, cozy, super-😎hoodie. 

Move now! $19 and FREE SHIPPING with my link here—> zulily.gfpv.net/x9eP6v

#coolvalentine #hoodieszn #ad #giftsfortweens #giftsforteens
View
Open
THANK YOU, @imse_og for the best. training. ever!!

WHERE on earth did this week go? It completely flew by!

Our instructor, Becky Strimple, was AWESOME. I am officially hooked on the #OrtonGillingham method, and I am already looking at the next IMSE course I can take to get me closer to Comprehensive OG Plus Certification. 

#UntilAllCanRead #imseog #readingrocks #multisensoryteaching #soexciting
View
Open
Day 4 of OG Training, and this 5 second video doesn’t even scratch the surface of what we covered. 

I have participated in dozens and dozens and dozens of trainings over the course of my career—and throughout my own education—but hands down this is the best one I have ever had. 

Every educator should take this. I don’t have the faintest idea why it’s not required for every edu degree. 

It’s not only a look at the best ways to teach decoding and encoding, but it’s a study of the English language as well. It’s wild. 

#ortongillingham #Letsread #ogteacher #readingteacher
View
Open
Day 3 of @imse_og Orton-Gillingham Training and I am 🤯. 

WHY did I not do this sooner?!

If YOU are OG-Trained, what did you find most helpful/ mind-blowing/ earth-shattering?

#ogteacher #ortongillinghamteachers #teachersofig #teachersfollowteachers
View
Open
Day 2 of Orton-Gillingham Training —we learned SO. MUCH. 

#OGtraining #readingteacher #teachreading #strivingreaders #ortongillingham
View
Open
So excited for Day 2 of @imse_og Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Plus Training!

If YOU are familiar with OG, let me know. If you’ve taken this training, let me know. 

If you have advice or suggestions or questions, let me know!

Follow stories this week for more behind-the-scenes!

#ortongillingham #readingteachers #ortongillinghamteachers #teachreading #letsdothis💪
View
Open
Not. Even. Kidding. 

I have wanted to take this training for YEARS and years, and after DAY 1, I’m already psyched for tomorrow. 

If you have taken the @imse_og training (Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Plus), what was your experience?

#ortongillingham #ortongillinghamteachers #readingteacher #scienceofreading
View
Open
To say we ate well last night at @st.anselm_dc would be a total understatement. Loved it!

#dceats #stanslemdc #foodiefamily #birthdaydinout #dcmetro #mocoeats

Copyright © 2023 · teach mama media, llc · All Rights Reserved

  • 8
1.3K shares