Organize a Classroom Halloween or Fall Party
Take on the Task of Planning a Class Party With Confidence
Oct 23, 2009
The first step in organizing a classroom party begins with a conversation with the teacher. Find out what is expected, the duration of the party and if there are any children in the class with food allergies or other limitations. Many schools are avoiding the phrase "Halloween Party" in place of a more general theme, such as a “Fall Party” or a “Harvest Celebration”.
Most classroom parties can be organized around things to do and what's to eat. Consider creating rotating stations for large classrooms for students to move from one activity to the next. More parent help will be needed if stations are used.
Activities for a Classroom Fall Party
Begin by considering the age of the students as activities are planned. For younger children, more steps should be completed in advance. Older students may enjoy a more complicated activity. Choose crafts and games accordingly.
Fall or Halloween Crafts
There are many easy craft ideas for children to make a project to be taken home.
Leafy Bookmarks
Have students cut out a book mark shape out of construction paper. This should be done in advance for younger children. Place leaves, vein side up, underneath the bookmark and use crayons to rub out the shape and veins of the leaves under the paper.
Leaf Pictures
Collect a large amount of colorful leaves before the party. Have the students arrange leaves on a piece of construction paper to create a larger design. For example, two large leaves could be the wings of a butterfly. Students should glue the leaves to the paper and give the picture detail with markers, crayons or colored pencils.
Fall or Halloween coloring pages are an easy project for young children. They can also be useful in classrooms of older children as an activity to complete while waiting for others.
Fall or Halloween activity sheets such as crossword puzzles and mazes are great to use as students finish eating their party snack.
Fall Games to Play With Children
Whether indoors or out, there are many fun games to get students moving and laughing.
- Pumpkin Bowling: Purchase a small pumpkin for the ball and use plastic bowling pins or empty milk or soda bottles for pins.
- Pass the Corn: Line the students up in two lines. Give the first person in each line an ear of Indian corn. The students must pass the corn down their line and back up again using any body part, except their hands.
- Bean Bag Toss: Cut out the top of a large pumpkin and have students toss bean bags into it. Or, draw a large pumpkin on the side of a box. Cut out the mouth and have students toss bean bags into the mouth.
- Ring the Pumpkin: Set out a large pumpkin. Have students toss a hula hoop from a designated spot to try to ring the pumpkin. Another way to play this game is to use several pumpkins with long stems and have students toss a small plastic ring to try to ring the stem.
- Fall or Halloween Bingo: Print out themed bingo cards from a site such as DLTK. Use candy corn, pumpkin seeds or dried beans as markers.
Books With a Fall Theme
Children of all ages enjoy a great story. Check out some of these titles and plan a read-a-loud as a party activity:
- Corn is Maze, by Aliki [HarperCollins, 1986]
- Picking Apples and Pumpkins, by Amy Hutchings [Cartwheel, 1994]
- Johnny Appleseed, by Reeve Lindbergh [Little, Brown Young Readers, 1993]
- When Autumn Comes, by Robert Maass [Henry Holt and Co., 1992]
- It's Fall, by Linda Glaser [Millbrook Press, 2001]
- Leaf Man, by Lois Ehlert [Harcourt Children's Books, 2005]
- From Seed to Pumpkin, by Wendy Pfeffer [HarperCollins, 2004]
- Arthur Jumps Into Fall, by Marc Brown [LB Kids, 2006]
Food Ideas for a Classroom Fall Party
Be sure to ask the teacher about classroom or school-wide food restrictions. Many schools have adopted wellness policies and encourage healthy food choices. If there are students with food allergies, ask the teacher what foods can be served so all students can participate in the celebration.
- Pieces of apple, raisins, grapes and other small fruit would be a little more fun if served in themed cupcake liners.
- Crunchy snacks like pretzels, popcorn and roasted pumpkin seeds make fine munchies for a fall celebration.
- Consider homemade goodies such as pumpkin bread and leaf shaped sugar cookies. Recipes for Halloween treats may be a fun addition to a classroom Halloween party.
While planning a party for twenty or more elementary aged students may feel like an intimidating task to many parents, several key ingredients will assure success. Choose age appropriate activities that include crafts and games. Consider some quiet book reading time to break up the celebration. Ask other parents for assistance with party food and check with the teacher regarding school food policy or food allergies. Then, relax and enjoy the party!
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