Halloween

Math and Numbers

Halloween Monster Math (with Googly Eyes)

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Who knew a dollar store package of googly eyes could be used for some much Halloween fun and learning? Today, we used the eyes for some Monster Math.

halloween patterningBecause the googly eyes were different sizes, the first thing we did was sort them into groups. Little Sister helped make 2 groups, one group of ‘weally’ big eyes and one group of smaller ones.

Big Sister noticed that the small eyes were two similar sizes, but some were a little big bigger, so she made 3 groups. She used them to make a pattern of very small, just small, and really big.

halloween-math-monsterAfter they had sorted and played, I gave them some monster shapes cut out of bright paper and let them put eyes on the monster. For both kids, we practiced some counting. Little Sister wanted the big googly eyes with one little eye to be the baby.

While Little Sister had a nap, Big Sister and I played a game. Using a monster each as our playing board, we would shake a dice. Whatever number the dice showed, we would put that many eyes on our monster. This was both a counting and a matching activity. If there were 4 dots on the dice, we had to put 4 eyes on the monster.

halloween-monster-mathWe take for granted that the number 1 is 1 item but kids have to make this connection from their experiences. When our monsters had too many eyes, we played again, but this time we could only get one of the big googly eyes if we shook 1 on the dice. Now, the single dot was the best shake instead of the lowest one.

Sorting, patterns, counting, matching and more made for a number of monster math activities. Any math monsters at your house?

Nature Activities

Nature Halloween Scavenger Hunt for 5 Senses

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This activity combines the real world and the imaginary, with a scavenger hunt in nature that kids can do for items that have a special Halloween twist. Kids may even find things that we wouldn’t think of as they look and listen all around for magic. They can smell and touch too, if appropriate, and when they get home, maybe they can taste some nature? What else can you find for Halloween in nature?

halloween-hunt

Holiday Activities

Halloween Monster Mash Moves and Action Songs

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Halloween is moving closer and closer so it’s time to get kids moving too. Movement and action are priorities for kids, not just for physical health but also for brain health. Here are a few Halloween action songs that have lots of moving and a little bit of still when needed.

If You Are A Monster and You Know It
(tune of If you’re Happy and You know it)

Halloween Action SongsIf you are a monster and you know it, wave your arms.
If you are a monster and you know it, wave your arms.
If you are a monster and you know it,
Then your arms will want to show it,
If you are a monster and you know it, wave your arms.

The monsters can also stamp their feet, take big steps, jump up high, and any other actions kids can think of for monsters.

You can pick other Halloween creatures and actions too. e.g. If you are a dragon and you know it give a roar. If you are a witch and you know it, fly around. If you are a bat and you know it, swoop and fly. If you are a pirate and you know it, walk the plank. If you are a skeleton and you know it, shake your bones. For a quiet rest: If you are a turtle and you know it, go in your shell…

Halloween Fun
(tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb)

We are ghosts flying ’round, flying ’round, flying ’round.
We are ghosts flying ’round, without a sound. Shh! (tiptoe around)

We are witches stirring brew, stirring brew, stirring brew.
We are witches stirring brew, we’ll cast a spell on You! (shake arms)

We are monsters big and hairy, big and hairy, big and hairy.
We are monsters big and hairy, oh so scary! (make big monster bodies)

We are kids on Halloween night, Halloween night, Halloween night.
We are kids on Halloween night, ready to Trick or Treat. (pretend to knock)

(Save this verse for last or use if the adults need to catch their breath.)Halloween songs for kids

We are pumpkins big and round,
big and round, big and round.
We are pumpkins big and round,
sitting on the ground. (just sit)

When moving is combined with songs it adds even more challenge to coordination. Moving requires both physical and mental flexibility. Songs can help with rhythm and give clues about the actions. Here is a video of a 4 year old singing If You Are a Monster. Does your child know this song?

Holiday Activities

Halloween Costumes Dress Up Children’s Fun and Learning

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Kids don’t need a magic wand to transform themselves into superheros, princes and princesses, fairies, knights, animals, pirates, warriors, robots, scary creatures, and movie characters. They only need a costume and Halloween is the biggest costume party of the year. Kids do not only dress up at Halloween; often, they do it all year long. … Continue reading Halloween Costumes Dress Up Children’s Fun and Learning →

Sensory Activities

Halloween Sensory Bin Invites Play & Learning: Googly Eyes

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Sensory bins are a wonderful play experience for kids that stimulate the senses and encourage children’s development and learning in a number of ways. Halloween sensory bins can be made with a variety of objects, such as plastic skeletons, witches, bats, and other toys, fuzzy pompoms in black, yellow, and orange, squishy snakes and spiders, … Continue reading Halloween Sensory Bin Invites Play & Learning: Googly Eyes →