5 Tips for a Calm and Enjoyable Classroom Halloween Party

 5 Tips for a Calm Classroom Halloween Party

Halloween is just around the corner, and elementary school teachers know what that means – it's time for the class Halloween party! While these festive celebrations are loads of fun, they can also be a bit chaotic. But don't worry, with some planning and the right strategies, you can maintain a calm classroom during the Halloween festivities. In this blog post, we'll explore five tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable Halloween party and ways to refocus your students after the festivities.

1. Set Clear Expectations

Before the Halloween party begins, gather your students and discuss your expectations for their behavior. Explain that while the party is a time for fun, certain rules still apply. For example, remind them to treat their classmates and the decorations with respect, listen to the adults in the room attentively, not to raise their voices too loudly, and to be mindful of safety rules (e.g., not running in the classroom).

You can also create a list of party rules and display it in the classroom for reference throughout the event.

2. Organize Fun and Engaging Activities

A well-structured Halloween party with engaging activities will help keep the excitement focused on positive experiences. There are plenty of free resources available online to help you plan your activities. Here are some ideas:

• Pumpkin Decorating: Download printable pumpkin templates for students to color and decorate.
• Halloween Bingo: Find free Halloween-themed bingo games online.
• Halloween Games: You can find many ideas online including some fun Minute to Win it or STEM challenges that take careful concentration. Pass the pumpkin, played like the game hot potato, can be done in a circle.
• Craft Stations: Create different crafting stations, like making creepy popcorn hands, making a Frankenstein pudding, making homemade slime or decorating mini pumpkins or bookmarks. They key to as successful rotation is in the timing of the activity. It is also important to be sure to have lots of helpers in the room if possible and have crafting materials prepared in advance. It's very important to have a plan in place as to where the students will put their crafts when it is time to switch.
• Whole Class Activities: These are great to maintain crowd control during the excitement of the day. In this way, you can have eyes and ears on most students and the timing of activities is usually more manageable. Most crafts you may want to do can be done as a class with good planning for how to distribute the supplies quickly.
• Scavenger Hunt: Organize a simple indoor scavenger hunt with clues or riddles.
• Storytime: Share spooky or funny Halloween stories to captivate their attention.

Check websites like TeachersPayTeachers for free activity ideas and printables. There are a few links to free and paid resources below.

3. Provide Healthy Snacks

Halloween is often associated with sugary treats, but you can maintain a calm classroom atmosphere by offering healthier snack options. Provide apple slices, carrot sticks, cheese sticks, popcorn, cider and plain donuts alongside some fun, Halloween-themed snacks like "boo-nanas" (banana ghosts) or "clementine pumpkins."

This can help balance the sugar rush and keep students more focused and energized.

4. Plan a Transition Activity

As the party comes to a close, plan a calming transition activity to help students refocus. A popular choice is a "quiet time" where students can do a Halloween word search or work on Halloween coloring pages. This activity serves as a bridge between the party and the return to classroom routines.

I always use a round of Halloween I Have, Who Has?? The first student reads the first card aloud and then every child must listen and stay focused, because they may have the next card. It works like a charm to get your students settled down for the next set of party directions or to get back to learning activities.

Of course it is great to throw in a few crowd-pleasing activities where students are able to get up and moving like dancing to Halloween music or having the popular wrap a mummy in toilet paper race!

No matter what you choose, any activities outside of the normal day are bound to get students REALLY excited for a short time but that's part of the fun of a party! 

At any time during the party that you need listening ears and eyes on the teacher, you can always call out:

 "Hocus Pocus! Everybody Focus!" 

5. Review Classroom Expectations Afterward

After the Halloween party ends, gather your students for a quick review of the classroom expectations discussed earlier. This reinforces the idea that even during fun events, respect and proper behavior are important. Take a moment to commend the students for their good behavior during the party and explain how it contributes to a positive learning environment. 

By implementing these five tips, you can have a successful and calm Halloween party in your elementary school classroom. Remember to plan engaging activities, set clear expectations, provide healthy snacks, and include transition activities to help students refocus. Don't forget to utilize free resources available online to make your party planning easier and more cost-effective.

Have a spook-tacular time celebrating Halloween with your students!