Play Home | Preschool
....sharing information &
Finger Plays, Nursery Rhymes
Ideas for Dramatic Play, Hallowe'en or anything in between!
Activity Pages for Halloween
Animal Masks for Kids
or Treating Tips for Halloween Safety
Crafts & Activities:
Start this activity early in October.
At the beginning of the month bring in a large black pot that looks like
a witches' pot! Make up or read a story about witches brew.
Inside the pot place a piece of paper with a note that reads "I am the
Witch of the West and I am out gathering ingredients for a special halloween
brew!" Throughout the month, the "witch" will deposit her special
ingredients in the pot for the kids to discover! Place the ingredients
in a sealed plastic bag - and then inside a paper lunch bag marked "Drops
of Blood"; "Owls Eyes"; etc. On Halloween, the kids can empty all
the bags and stir the brew!
1 C. Blood Drops - Red Hots
1 C. Owl Eyes - round candy (the ones that
are out at halloween (white with orange & black)
1 C. Cats Eyes - peanut M & M's
1 C. Chicken Toenails - orange cone-shaped
1 C. Colored Flies - M & M's
1 C. Butterfly Wings - dried banana chips
1 C. Earthworms - gummy worms
1 C. Cat Claws - sunflower seeds
1 C. Ants - raisins
1 C. Snake Eyes - chocolate chips
1 C. Monkey Brains - popcorn
1 C. Lizard Gizzards - thin red licorice strings
1 C. Bat Bones - pretzels sticks
Cut out the mask shape from a plastic milk
jug being careful to round corners so that the edges are not sharp.
Cut openings for the eyes - a paper hole punch works well to start the
hole. Allow children a variety of materials to create their own special
work of art. Paint (tempera mixed with a little dish detergent will
allow the paint to stick to the plastic), stickers, glitter, feathers.
You can also use a hole punch to make holes in which to attach yarn, streamers
or fabric strips to create hair, mane, etc.
Tip: When using white glue, squeeze into
saucer and allow to air a while to become less runny; when thick, popsicle
sticks can be used to spread glue.
Have the children stuff a paper bag with newspaper,
tissue paper, or scraps of paper. Twist the top around real tight
to make the stem of the pumpkin. Children can paint it orange (brown
or green for the stump). The children could also cut out triangles
for the eyes, nose and a half circle for the mouth.
Cut out pumpkin shapes from paper and let the
children paint with orange paint! Let them add black triangles (with
paper or paint).
or Treat Bags
With large paper bags - let the children color,
paint or add stickers to them. Cut long strips of construction paper,
to staple on for handle.
Draw a circle on black paper. Have the
children glue on small cut up squares of orange paper or small pieces of
scrunched tissue paper. Older children could leave space of the black
paper for nose, eyes, etc. Smaller children could add black triangles,
Help the children cut out circles for eyes
and paint, color, glue on things to make their very own halloween mask.
Paint a spring clothespin black. Let
dry. Clip a piece of black tissue paper or coffee filters (dip in
diluted black paint) ..in the pin for wings. Add small black triangles
Ask each child to fold a piece of black construction
paper in half, then dribble white paint into the crease. Ask the
kids to briefly press the paper back together, then open it - and a ghost
Tip: As an alternative, pour black paint
onto orange paper to make creepy bats and bugs!
Grocery Bag Costume & Mask
paper grocery bags
crayons, markers, paint
glue, tape, etc.
scrap paper, scrap fabric, buttons (and anything
else you can imagine!)
Depending on what you are making, cut holes
for eyes, arms, neck, etc. Use your imagination and design as you
orange paint powder
brown construction paper
Put the paint powder in the pie pan. Roll
the cotton balls around in the paint and then set aside. Spread glue
onto the brown piece of paper. Put on the orange cotton balls** (pumpkins)
and the green yarn (vines). **or just use orange pompoms!
black spray paint
black craft foam
small orange or red pompoms
glitter paint - gray (or silver glitter glue
crushed pop can
I recommend preparing the can ahead of time
for the kids! Crush the pop can - do NOT crush hockey puck style,
you want the can elongated. The bottom of the can is crushed back.
The top of the can is crushed to the front. Spray paint the can with
black paint. Let dry.
Now the kids can: Paint on eyes and mouth.
Glue on pompom for the nose. Cut out ears (triangles) and wings from
black craft foam. Outline wings with gray glitter paint. Glue
ears and wings to can.
Attach magnets to back of wings for use as a
fridge magnet. You could also attach a string for hanging.
round shape sucker/lollipop
Drape lollies with a tissue, tie them with string
at the base of the lollipop. Decorate or draw on faces with markers.
white tissues or paper napkins
cotton balls or add't tissues rolled into a
ball (about 1")
Place cotton ball in center of tissue, and bring
tissue up on all sides and tie with string. Draw on face with markers.
To hang: attach a piece of string to neck - make a ghostly mobile!!
large plastic soda bottle
sheets of gauze (cheese cloth works great,
wiggly eyes or black felt eyes
Thin down white glue with water. Dip gauze
sheets into glue and drape over the soda bottle. Shape into a ghostly
figure. Let dry. When dry, remove bottle and add eyes.
Hang from a string or display on a shelf for a spooky decoration.
You can easily make a larger one from cheese cloth and hang outside!
white lunch bags
black construction paper or black felt
Children cut out and glue on their black eyes,
nose and mouth. You can add white streamers or gauze from the bag
for a more goulish look!
Children can cut out a simple ghost pattern
and glue cotton balls onto their ghost. Add wiggly eyes and hang
with string/fishing line from the ceiling.
Help the children cut out areas for the eyes,
nose and mouth from the middle of the paper plate. Provide tissue
paper, construction paper, dried pasta, and other materials for them to
create their own masks.
Pumpkins (to use with song "Five Little Pumpkins")
Let the children draw and cut out their little
pumpkins from orange construction paper. Use a black marker or pencil
crayon andhelp them draw on faces. Glue to a wooden dowel or popscle
stick and recite the "Five Little Pumpkins".
Have the children use a black non-toxic ink
pad to make fingerprints on a piece of paper. Have the children draw on
eight legs on their finger prints to represent spiders.
Paper Plate Spiders
small paper plate (head)
large paper plate (body)
black streamers (legs)
white construction paper or googly eyes
black tempera paint
Staple the smaller plate to the larger plate.
Have the child paint both sides black. Then add black streamers for legs
and white construction paper for eyes (or goodly eyes). Hang them from
the ceiling using fishing line or string.
Webs With Paint & Marbles
White tempera paint
Black construction paper
Aluminum pie plates
Fill a small bowl with white paint. Drop in
the marbles to coat. Cut circles out of black construction paper that will
fit into the pie plates. Place a couple of marbles on the paper. Roll the
marbles around by tilting the plate. The white paint trails make spider
webs. When the paint is dry, put a spider sticker in the middle.
Use white paper to form 5 paper chains (arms,
legs, and body), and then connect to make a skeleton. Trace children's
hands and feet on white paper, cut and glue to the ends of the arms and
legs. Cut an oval shape and draw on the face. Hang him up!
Make orange playdough using orange flavored
koolaid for the color. Add pumpkin seeds to the dough for textured fun!
Small brown paper bags
Yarn or other decorative materials for hair
Newspaper for stuffing
Crayons, markers, or tempra paint
Construction paper for arms and feet
Scraps of fabric for clothes (optional)
Make a face on one paper bag. Glue on hair.
Cut the bag in half and put newspaper inside the bag for stuffing. Tape
or staple bottom to close. Stuff the second paper bag for the body. Cut
construction paper to make arms and feet. Glue head onto the body. Cut
fabric for clothes. Glue onto the paper bag. Stuff the second bag with
newspaper. Tape closed.
Fold a piece of black construction paper in
half. Help the children trace their handprint onto the paper (with the
wrist at the fold of the paper). Cut out & unfold paper. You will have
a "double handprint" that looks like a bat with its wings spread
open. Add wiggly eyes and hang from the ceiling (use fishing line and the
bats will appear to "float"!)
Songs, Finger Plays & Nursery
Five little pumpkins were sitting on a gate.
The first one said, "It's getting mighty late."
The second one said, "There are witches in
The third one said, "I really don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run, run, run."
The fifth one said, "It's Halloween fun!"
"Whooo" went the wind, and out went the light,
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of
A Little Pumpkin
to the tune of "I'm A Little Teapot"
I'm a little pumpkin, short and stout,
Packed full of seeds that you can scrape out.
When you're all finished, then I'll be,
The cutest jack o'lantern you ever did see!
One little, two little, three little witches
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches.
Slide around the moon without any hitches,
Heigh, Ho, Hallowe'en's here!
When goblins prowl
Make fingers walk.
And hoot owls howl,
Make goggles with hands
Cup hands around mouth
When witches fly
Flutter hands in air
Boys and girls, don't shake with fear
It just means Hallowe'en is here!
A big black cat with eyes so green
Point to eyes
Went out on the night of Hallowe'en.
He saw a witch.
Bring fingertips in a
peak over head.
He saw an owl.
Form circles around eyes
with fingers and thumbs
And then he began to "Meow, meow, meow."
Make a mask with hands.
See my big and scary eyes,
Thumb and index fingers
make owl's eyes.
Get ready for a big surprise.
Turn them upside down
backwards, put them on and peer out.
Five fingers bend down
one at a time.
Five little goblins on Hallowe'en night,
Made a very, very spooky sight.
The first one danced on his tippy-tip toes;
The next one tumbled and bumped his nose;
The next one jumped high up in the air;
The next one walked like a fuzzy bear;
The next one sang a Hallowe'en song.
Five little goblins played all night long!
What am I? A face so round,
Form circle with hands.
And eyes so bright,
A nose that glows,
My, what a sight!
A fiery mouth with a jolly grin,
Touch mouth and grin.
No arms, no legs, just head to chin.
Shake arms and legs,
touch head and chin.
I Were a Witch
If I were a witch,
I'd ride on a broom
One fist rides on top
of other, waving through the air
And scatter the ghosts
With a zoom, zoom, zoom!
Five little ghostesses,
Sitting on postesses,
Eating buttered toastesses,
Greasing their fistesses,
Up to their wristesses.
Oh, what beastesses,
To make such feastesses.
Bat, bat, come under my hat,
And I'll give you a slice of bacon;
And when I bake, I'll give you a cake,
If I am not mistaken
shredded carrots or shredded cheese
peanut butter or cheese spread
Round cookie cutter (or upside down glass)
Using the cookie cutter, cut out a circle from
a slice of bread. Spread peanut butter or cheese spread over the
entire circle. Cut two slices of banana for eyes. Place a few
raisins for nose and mouth. Cut celery pieces to use for eyebrows
and/or ears. Use shredded carrots or cheese for curly hair.
Let the children be as creative as they want. you can add new ingredients
and let the children experiment.
green and red M&M's
Spread the frosting on the cookie. Place
the two green M&M's on as the eyes. Place the red one on as the
nose. Cut the licorice into small pieces (about an inch) and place
them on as whiskers. Put on a small amount of the frosting on the
bottom of (2) candy corns and place them on the top of the cookie as the
melted butter or margarine
Let the children separate the biscuits and shape
each like a ghost. Roll them in melted butter and then in cinnamon/sugar
mixture. Bake as directed on package.
Bugles Snack food
Spread cheese on crackers. Top each cracker
off with a Bugle to complete the effect.
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
5 1/4 oz. mini marshmallows
thin licorice strips (black or brown)
With an adults help, melt chocolate in the microwave
or double boiler until melted. Stir until smooth. Add marshmallows. Place
by spoonfuls on waxed paper. Decorate with licorice "legs". Let dry. Nuts
and raisins can be added. Makes about 16 spiders.
two 16 oz containers of nondairy whipped topping
30-oz can of pumpkin pie filling
crumbled graham crackers
3-oz plastic cups
Mix together the whipped topping and the pie
filling in a large bowl.
Spoon the mixture into the cups. Top each cup
with graham cracker crumbs and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Sherbet Ice Cream
In a blender, place 1 1/2 ounces of unsweetened
frozen orange juice, 1/4 cup unsweetened frozen apple juice concentrate,
1 cup of nonfat milk and 3 1/2 cups of water. Blend well. Pour mixture
into a baking pan and place in the freezer. Stir thoroughly every hour
for 6 to 7 hours. Makes 16-20 small servings.
thin red licorice (mouths)
Give the kids a chunk of velveeta cheese to
roll into a ball. Add the raisins, licorice and parsley features.
Serve with crackers for a nice snack!
*Beary* special thanks to
for the wonderful graphics for this
Copyright © 1999-
Child's Play All rights reserved.