Halloween is just around the corner! As educators, we know that linking activities to events and holidays can really help to engage children and make learning relevant. Here are some simple ideas for low-prep, no-mess October and Halloween science activities for kids, to tie-in with the spooky season.
Dichotomous keys with candy - free printable
Help your students practice their classification skills in science with this free candy dichotomous key worksheet. For this activity, students will identify the flavors of 9 different candies using observable features of the wrappers.
They can also try writing their own keys for 4 or 6 given candies. There are even blank sheets for students to draw thier own candies, then write a key (or for extra fun, let thme use real candy). For UK educators, the pack also includes a version that uses 'sweets' instead of 'candy'.
You can grab the free PDF on TeachersPayTeachers here.
Pumpkin life cycles
Pumpkins are at their best in the lead-up to Halloween. Many children will be carving pumpkins at home during October, so a pumpkin science activity is a great way to connect science to their real-world experiences.
This foldable pumpkin craft will help students sequence and remember the life cycle stages of a pumpkin. They'll color a pumpkin and its life cycle stages, sequence the stages, glue, and fold. Multiple template options allow you to differentiate if needed, and there's also a pumpkin labeling worksheet that you could use alongside looking at the parts of a mature pumpkin.
See the pumpkin life cycle printable pack on TeachersPayTeachers.
There’s also a Halloween bundle that includes printables for bat, spider, and owl life cycles too.
Animal stick skeletons
There’s nothing quite like wrapping up warm and cozy and getting outside during the crisp autumn months. Why not try making some animal stick skeletons with this creative science activity from Gratnells! Children will love searching for sticks and twigs that are the right shapes and sizes to make the different animal skeletons.
Spooky animal research
The animal kingdom has some animals with seriously spooky names. Have a go at an animal research project focusing on one of these creepy critters:
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Goblin shark
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Vampire squid
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Halloween crab
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Death’s head hawk moth
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Skeleton shrimp
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Ghost bat
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Thorny devil lizard
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Man-faced stink bug
Do bigger hands hold the most Halloween candy?
Conduct your own class investigation! Measure hands (either one or both), then see how many pieces of candy each student can hold. Use wrapped candy and you can eat them afterwards!
This activity encourages children to work scientifically by predicting, observing, recording their results, and identifying patterns.
Research Fossil Folklore
There are lots of fun myths and folklore associated with fossils. Before science was able to explain what fossils really were, people had some interesting ideas about their origin…
Sometimes fossils were thought to have magical properties, and they were often associated with superstition.
Here are some websites to help you discover more about fossil folklore, including ‘snakes’ turned to stone, thunderbolts from the gods, and fairy loaves!
Cumberland House Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum, London (snakestones)
What’s your favourite Halloween science activity? Will you be trying one of these? Drop your ideas in the comments.
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