Every year, I search for Halloween and fall activities for my fourth-grade students. It can be a challenge to find Halloween activities for upper elementary students.
Especially compared to the numerous activities out there for lower elementary students.
Here are a few tried and true Halloween activities that I have used with my upper elementary students:
Upper Elementary Halloween Read Aloud
These three read alouds aren’t directly related to Halloween, but they are great to read on the holiday or the week leading up to it.
Tell Me a Scary Story by Carl Reiner
Tell Me a Scary Story by Carl Riener is a spooky story about a boy who meets his creepy new neighbor, Mr. Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards). The book has quite a few cliffhangers. Therefore, it lends itself perfectly to teaching inferencing.
I created a Tell Me A Scary Story companion resource with teacher inferencing questions, and the students’ answer sheet. Also included in the resource are other fun activities such as word reversals, quotation marks, and spooky story starters.
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
Students love the book Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds. It is about a bunny who craves carrots and grabs one from the carrot patch daily. Soon, he thinks that the carrots are out to get him.
Last year, I dressed up as a creepy carrot for my school’s book parade. It was so much fun!
Frankenslime by Joy Keller
Victoria is a scientist whose invention comes to life. The book reviews the scientific process. After reading this book, students can make their own slime.
Additionally, they could write about what their own slime would become if it came to life.
Write a Scary Story
Students can create their own scary story independently or with a partner.
A scary story doesn’t have to be gruesome and gory. It can be a little creepy and mysterious.
I have a scary story starter included in my Tell Me a Scary Story resource. Also, I’ve used this Spooky Story freebie by Brain Waves Instruction
Halloween Homophones
Homophones can be a tricky skill for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. This Halloween Homophones resource makes it fun for students to practice a variety of homophones.
First, there are 16 task cards that students can work on with a small group, or they can be put in a literacy station. Then there are 5 independent practice pages that review different homophones such as: there/their/they’re, to/too/two, it’s/its, your/you’re, and a mix of different homophones.
Halloween Paired Passage
Another Halloween activity that I enjoy using in my fourth grade class is Halloween Paired Passages created by Jennifer Findley.
Students read both passages and then answer the compare and contrast questions. Additionally, they must show they are prompted to show their evidence from the passages.
This is another difficult skill that students actually enjoy doing with this engaging activity.
Halloween Revise/Edit
Another one of my favorite Hallowen activities for upper elementary students is my Halloween Revise/Edit resource.
Students read an entertaining Halloween themed passage and answer the revise and edit questions. Students can work on this activity independently, in partners, or with a small group.
I prefer to pair the students up. First, they read the passage together and then they answer the revise and edit questions that I have hung around the room.
Students can self check with the QR code or check the answer key when they have completed all questions.
These engaging Halloween activities are a hit in my upper elementary classroom. My hope is that your students will enjoy them as well.
Similarly, I have another blog post with Christmas activities for upper elementary students: Christmas Activities for Upper Elementary
