Halloween is a magical time of year, especially for young learners exploring English as a second or foreign language. With a sprinkle of creativity and a dash of fun, you can turn this holiday into an engaging learning experience. Here’s a lesson plan using my Halloween No PREP Games Mega PACK and the «Ten Timid Ghosts» book companion to captivate your 1st and 2nd graders. 🎃👻
I began by creating a Halloween-themed atmosphere in your classroom; decorate with pumpkins, ghosts, and bats to spark excitement. Explain the significance of Halloween using simple language, and introduce the lesson’s theme by exploring Halloween vocabulary and stories.
Step 1 & 2: Introducing Vocabulary & Story
I started with the Card Game from the Halloween Mega PACK. This activity is perfect for introducing or refreshing Halloween-related vocabulary. Using picture cards to help students associate words with images, words like «ghost,» «witch,» «pumpkin,» and «spider» can be introduced here.
I played a few rounds of memory games before introducing them to «Go Fish Halloween,» encouraging students to use full sentences when asking for cards, e.g., «Do you have a ghost card?». Players take turns asking other players for cards to form sets of four matching cards.
Then, I introduced the Ten Timid Ghosts book. This story is filled with rich language and a sequence of events that naturally incorporate Halloween vocabulary. I read the story aloud, pausing to ask questions and encourage predictions. After reading, I engaged students in a discussion about the story, asking questions like, «What happened first?» or «Why were the ghosts timid?» This helps reinforce vocabulary in context.
For this story, I created a fantastic retelling story + book companion activities that I used in every lesson of the unit.
Step 3: Practicing Language Skills
Now, it’s time to dive into the creative and interactive activities from the Mega PACK. These activities will help students practice their language skills in a fun and engaging way.
Creative Writing with Dice: Have students roll dice to create silly Halloween-themed sentences. This activity encourages creativity and sentence structure practice.
Idioms Matching: Introduce common Halloween idioms and have students match them with their meanings. This is a great way to expand their understanding of figurative language.
Talking Cards: Use these to prompt students to speak about their favorite Halloween costumes or traditions. Encourage full sentences and sharing in pairs or small groups.
Cootie Catcher: A fun, interactive way to practice vocabulary and simple questions. Students can make predictions or answer questions about Halloween.
Riddles and Orientation Game: Challenge students with Halloween-themed riddles and partner them up for the orientation game, where they must use directional language to find hidden treasures.
Dominoes and Unscramble Words: These activities are perfect for reinforcing vocabulary and spelling in a playful manner.
Witch’s Potion Writing: Encourage students to write their own potion recipes using Halloween vocabulary. This activity can be both creative and hilarious!
Draw Half and Halloween Sudoku: These are great for practicing symmetry and logical thinking while keeping the Halloween theme alive.
Step 4: Bringing It All Together
End the unit with a Spiderweb Hidden Message and Category Vocabulary Definitions FLAPS activity. These will help consolidate the vocabulary and concepts learned throughout the lesson. Students uncover hidden messages and categorize vocabulary words, reinforcing their understanding and retention.
By using these engaging activities and resources, I was not only teaching vocabulary but also fostering a love for the English language through the magic of Halloween. This lesson plan is designed to be flexible, so feel free to adapt it to your students’ needs and classroom dynamics.
Celebrate with a Freebie!
As a token of appreciation and to celebrate the end of the Halloween unit, gift your students a Happy Halloween Bookmark FREEBIE. This little treat not only serves as a keepsake but also encourages reading beyond the classroom.
Happy teaching and have a spooktacular Halloween! 
