How to Decorate Your Classroom For Halloween

Making your classroom a spooky place can be fun for the students. Small children can be easily scared by some decorative Halloween items, but you can still bring a spirited theme to your classroom without out all the unpleasant things. Homemade gravestones created by each student are unique and fun. Cut large tombstones out of grey poster board. Each one should be approximately two feet high and about one foot across. They can also be constructed out of cardboard and painted grey. The epitaphs for each student can be funny to lighten the atmosphere. For example, “Here Lies Emily Grey, She ate her vegetables, what more can we say,” or, “Here Lies Danny Ward, the greatest skunk trainer we could afford.” Kids love to read each other’s epitaphs. They create the most imaginative sayings with a little help. Rhyming is not necessary, but it is fun. You can write the sayings in class, or assign them as part of homework so the parents can help too. After all the gravestones are complete, you can place them along the bottom of a wall, door, bulletin board, or another surface to create your class graveyard. Using green construction paper, you can create grass to “grow” along the bottom of the tombstones. Grass can also be purchased at a craft or teacher store.

Many young children may visit a pumpkin patch during the fall season. Bringing the experience to the classroom can be done with a little preparation and some small purchases. The area where circle time or story time usually takes place can be transformed into a miniature pumpkin patch. You will need to purchase bales of hay and a variety of pumpkins. Set up the hay bales along the edges of the area, and place the pumpkins along the perimeter. Make sure the pumpkins are not in a walkway where the students can trip over them. The students, who demonstrate good behavior, earn the privilege to sit on the hay bales during circle or story time. The pumpkin patch may be a little messy, so you may need to ask for permission from your maintenance staff or administration. The students love the opportunity to sit on the hay bales. It really motivates them to be on their best behavior.

Although the last decorating idea extends beyond the classroom, it is a big hit with students. Allowing the students to help decorate the classroom door is always exciting. They can bring items from home, or create different Halloween decorations. Alternatively, you can purchase inexpensive decorations. Holding a school-wide door decorating contest is a fun and creative way for students to show pride for their classroom. A panel of judges, usually the principal and a few staff members, award various prizes for the hard work produced by the students. The categories can include: The Cutest Door, The Funniest Door, The Scariest Door, The Most Unique Door, etc… Even if your school does not want to participate in the contest, you can still allow the students to decorate the door. Help them select a theme by brainstorming with the whole class, and writing ideas on the board. Select the winning idea by popular vote, and ask the students to think about how to put their ideas into action. Create a plan with the students, and make a checklist on the board to complete the project. Check off each task as it is completed. The students enjoy decorating the door, and they are introduced to some strategies for planning and completing a task. Whether you are creating funny sayings for gravestones, bringing a pumpkin patch inside, or planning a winning theme for your classroom door, Halloween can be a fun experience for everyone.

Kimberly would like for you to take a look at her favorite classroom supplies website, MPM School Supplies. They carry tons of incredible products for teachers, parents, schools, childcare centers, and more. You will find everything from craft supplies to classroom furnishings, including unique kids rugs! Her favorite part of shopping at MPM School Supplies is that they donate 50% of the gross profits to children’s charities! So what are you waiting for? Check out the site today!

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