Looking for halloween crafts for the classroom or at home? These easy halloween crafts for kids and halloween activities ideas are perfect for spooky festivities with minimal prep!

Spooky season is HERE!  It’s time for Halloween parties, trick or treating and costumes. Halloween is a beloved holiday for children, and it’s a perfect opportunity to infuse creativity and fun into your classroom activities. Halloween crafts for the classroom can engage students, boost their fine motor skills , and let their imaginations run wild.

Funny story….my first classroom Halloween party as a teacher was a DISASTER.  I was 21 years old, teaching first grade and SO excited about our first classroom party.  The school didn’t have a ton of parent volunteers, so I planned the party myself.  I planned some fun Halloween Party Activities, Halloween crafts and let the kids bring treats, plus of course they had their costumes on.

I probably should have limited the treats, because….I was a LITTLE taken aback when I saw the amount of sweets that showed up the day of the party.  But hey, you only live once right?  I also decided we should have the party early instead of at the end of the day (notice that teachers NEVER DO THAT).  I wanted LOTS of time to enjoy, and for the kids not to be rushed.  Plus, we had a school Halloween parade in the morning so it made sense to have the party right after.  Or so I thought.

Can you imagine what happened?  Let’s just say…..a lot of kids, a lot of sugar, and a 21 year old teacher who NEVER HAD THE HALLOWEEN PARTY IN THE MORNING AGAIN.  You live and learn, right?

After 15 years of teaching and holding Halloween Parties, and then a few throwing them as a room mom……let’s just say I’ve mastered classroom Halloween Parties, Halloween Party Activities and a simple halloween craft or two.

So these? My top suggestions to make Halloween Party Activities run smoothly.  Most of these work for a classroom Halloween party or a small party at home before trick or treating (and they’re great for kids of all ages ).

Halloween Party Activities

Let’s talk Halloween Party Activities and Halloween Crafts for the classroom.

A couple things to consider when selecting…….

• How old are the kids? Can little kids complete this with help? Or on their own?
• What crafting skills are needed? Cutting? Small pieces?
• Do you want the fun craft to be done independently? Or will there be older children or adults to help?
• Is the craft messy? Is there time for clean up?
• Do you have time for the crafts or activities to dry if needed?
• Does noise level matter?
• Will you be inside or outside?

Halloween Party Games

My suggestion for a classroom Halloween party is always to plan a couple halloween games or fun halloween craft ideas before they break into the treats.  This year in Lydia’s class, we’ll be doing one game and one craft.  For younger kids who need a little bit more support, you can always do stations with a grown up or older student at each.  If you aren’t able to have multiple adults in the room, you can show a Halloween movie and pull small groups of kids out at a time for the Halloween crafts.

Some fun Halloween Party Games:

• Halloween Bingo
• Hat Ring Toss
• Halloween Spoon Game

Halloween Craft Activities

Now let’s talk Halloween Craft activities.  These are some of my favorites, they’re affordable and easy to implement!

Here are some easy options with craft supplies you may have on hand:

1. Paper Plate Monsters: Give each student plain white paper plates and let them transform it into a monstrous masterpiece! Provide colored construction paper, googly eyes, markers, and glue. Encourage kids to create their own unique Halloween creatures, whether it’s a one-eyed cyclops or a multi-eyed, multi-limbed monster. They can get as silly or spooky as they like and this is definitely one of the most easy crafts for a party!
2. Spider Web Weaving: Spider webs are an iconic Halloween symbol. Create a simple weaving activity by giving the  students black yarn and a circular cardboard base. You could also reverse the colors by using a black base and white yard if you’d like.  Start by making a web design with radial lines, and let the kids weave the yarn around the spokes to create intricate spider webs. Finish with a plastic spider in the center for added spookiness.  This is perfect for kindergarten students and younger kids! It can also be done anytime of year as a spider craft during science.
3. Pumpkin Jack-O’-Lanterns: Pumpkins are synonymous with Halloween, and crafting paper pumpkins can be a great alternative to carving real ones in the classroom. Provide orange construction paper, markers, scissors, and glue. Students can create their own jack-o’-lantern faces, complete with eyes, noses, and wicked grins (for bonus points, they can add pom poms or pipe cleaners in a variety of colors).  I love a great jack-o-lantern craft for the season!
4. Witch Hat Bookmark: Combine the magic of reading with Halloween fun! Cut out witch hat shapes from black construction paper and provide colored markers, stickers, and glitter for students to decorate their bookmarks. This craft doubles as a practical item to encourage reading during the spooky season and is a great way to get into the halloween spirit (plus you can encourage some fun halloween book reading).
5. Glow-in-the-Dark Ghosts: Turn off the lights and let your ghosts glow! Provide white tissue paper, glow-in-the-dark paint, and black markers for this cute ghost craft activity. Students can create their ghostly shapes on the tissue paper, add spooky faces with the markers, and then paint them with glow-in-the-dark paint. Hang these eerie ghosts around the classroom for a hauntingly good time.
6. Haunted House Collage: Let your students design their own haunted houses using magazines, colored paper, and glue. Provide a variety of materials, including old magazines with pictures of houses, bats, witches, and pumpkins. Students can cut out these images and arrange them on a black poster board to create their spooky haunted houses.
7. Mummy Pencil Holders: Transform ordinary tin cans into adorable mummy pencil holders. Wrap empty and cleaned tin cans with strips of white gauze or white paper towels, leaving spaces for eyes. Glue on googly eyes or use black markers to draw them. These functional crafts are perfect for storing pencils, markers, or other classroom supplies.

Prepared Halloween Crafts for the Classroom

Another option? You can order pre-prepped activities.  This was always GREAT to have on hand in a pinch!

Walmart is always a great option for Halloween craft activities, they ship quickly if ordering online and right now? They’re fully stocked with affordable spooky activities.

Shop my Favorite Halloween Craft Activities: 

1. Halloween Cut Out Activity Kit: looking for a simple at home or classroom activity? This cut out kit comes prepared and ready to go.  You get 9 cut out shapes (some pumpkins and some ghosts), stickers and googly eyes.  Quick and easy art projects (this is even perfect for waiting for a meal or when you have a few minutes to fill).

2. Thumbprint Pumpkin Patch Kit: oh my gosh this is an adorable option for younger kids! They create a little thumbprint pumpkin patch on foam.  Perfect for bringing home and hanging up for the season!

3. Candy Corn Goofy Face: I love that this simple foam craft kit focuses on candy corn instead of pumpkins.  It’s a fun alternate activity and a great center idea!

4. Halloween Craft Roll Craft Kit: Isn’t this the cutest craft kit? It comes in sets of 12, so you could easily order a couple for a class set.  This is the perfect easy Halloween party activities option!

5. Monster Craft Kit: We have this craft kit at home, and it’s the perfect set it out and let them go wild option.  It’s filled with supplies, and some general starting directions for building monsters (this would be a great station in a classroom as well).
6. Animal Pumpkin Carving Kit: looking for a fun family option for Halloween Craft Activities? This carving kit is perfect for pet lovers!
7. DIY Slime Kit: I wanted to hate this kit.  But it was SO MUCH fun.  Lydia loved making all the different slime types, and this filled an ENTIRE afternoon with Halloween Craft Activities.  This is definitely an at home or small Halloween party option!
8. Foam Bracelet Kit: Looking for a simple activity for a class party? These foam bracelets are a fun, easy and also EASY TO SET UP AND CLEAN UP activity (plus they’re a great price).
9. Halloween Bookmarks Kit: Another great classroom option, these Halloween Bookmarks are SO CUTE and really easy to create for younger kids.

Looking for more options? Walmart has a TON of cute crafts for spooky season, and they keep adding new ones!