10 Easy & Fun Halloween Crafts for Kids in the Classroom
Halloween is such a fun time to get creative with kids in the classroom. I love how this holiday brings out everyone’s imagination with spooky themes and bright fall colors.
Today, I’m sharing 10 Halloween classroom crafts that are perfect for students of all ages. These projects are simple, affordable, and packed with learning opportunities.
Whether you’re a teacher planning a festive lesson or a parent helping out at school, these crafts will make your Halloween season a blast.
Plus, they’re safe, use easy-to-find materials, and can be done in about an hour. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- The 10 Halloween Classroom Crafts
- How to Make These Crafts Work in Your Classroom
- Learning Through Crafting
- Wrapping It Up
The 10 Halloween Classroom Crafts
1. Paper Plate Pumpkins
Let’s kick things off with a classic: paper plate pumpkins. These are so much fun and perfect for younger kids. You’ll create a 3D pumpkin that pops off the page. Grab some paper plates, orange paint, green pipe cleaners, glue, and scissors. This craft works best for preschool through second grade.
Here’s how to do it: Paint the paper plates orange and let them dry. Cut out leaf shapes from green construction paper. Fold the plate in half to give it a 3D pumpkin shape, then glue a green pipe cleaner in the middle for a stem. Add the paper leaves to the top. Want to make it a jack-o’-lantern? Glue on googly eyes for a spooky face.
This craft helps kids practice cutting and gluing, which builds fine motor skills. It also teaches color recognition as they mix paints or choose leaf colors. I love how excited kids get when their flat plates turn into plump pumpkins!
2. Ghostly Handprint Art
Next up, let’s make some ghostly handprint art. This one is a hit with preschoolers and early elementary kids. You’ll need black construction paper, white washable paint, and some markers. It’s a simple project that feels magical.
Dip each child’s hands in white paint and have them press their palms onto the black paper. The handprints will look like floating ghosts! Once the paint dries, use markers to add eyes or a spooky mouth. For a fun twist, connect multiple handprints to form a ghost chain across the paper.
This activity is great for sensory play—kids love the squishy feel of paint. It also introduces symmetry, as they see how both hands create matching ghost shapes. I’ve seen kids giggle nonstop as they turn their hands into ghosts!
3. Spider Web Weaving
Ready to weave some spooky spider webs? This craft is perfect for second to fifth graders. You’ll need paper plates, yarn, plastic spiders, and scissors. It’s a fantastic way to practice coordination and create something creepy-cool.
Cut small notches around the edge of a paper plate to make a frame. Give each child a long piece of yarn and show them how to weave it through the notches to create a web pattern. Once the web is done, glue a plastic spider in the center. For an extra spooky touch, use glow-in-the-dark yarn.
This craft builds fine motor skills as kids weave the yarn. It also teaches patterns, as they decide how to crisscross the strands. I love watching kids focus as they create their own unique webs—it’s like they’re spinning magic!
4. Pumpkin Seed Art
Let’s get messy with pumpkin seed art! This craft uses real pumpkin seeds to decorate pumpkin-shaped cutouts. You’ll need pumpkin seeds, food coloring, cardstock, glue, and a little patience. It’s great for first through fourth graders.
Start by dyeing the pumpkin seeds. Mix food coloring with a bit of water and soak the seeds for a few minutes, then let them dry. Cut pumpkin shapes from cardstock. Have kids glue the colorful seeds onto the pumpkins to create patterns or designs. You can make mosaics or even spell out names with the seeds.
This project is awesome for teaching color mixing—kids love seeing how red and yellow make orange. It also ties into math as they count seeds or create patterns. I’ve seen kids beam with pride when their seed pumpkins turn out so vibrant!
5. Bat Silhouette Bookmarks
Who doesn’t love a good bookmark? These bat silhouette bookmarks are perfect for third to sixth graders who enjoy reading. You’ll need black cardstock, scissors, googly eyes, and glue. If you have a laminator, that’s a bonus for durability.
Cut bat shapes from the black cardstock—think simple wings and a round head. Glue on googly eyes to give the bats personality. If you want, laminate the bookmarks to make them last longer. For a fun variation, turn them into corner bookmarks that slide onto the edge of a page.
This craft encourages reading, as kids will want to use their bats right away. It also helps with precision cutting, which is great for older kids. I love how these bookmarks add a spooky touch to any book!
6. Haunted House Collage
Let’s build a haunted house collage that tells a story. This one is great for third to sixth graders and uses magazines, construction paper, glue, and scissors. It’s a creative way to recycle old materials.
Have kids cut out shapes from magazines—think windows, doors, or spooky trees. They’ll glue these onto construction paper to create a haunted house scene. Add cotton balls for ghostly figures or aluminum foil for a shiny moon. Encourage kids to make each house unique.
This craft sparks storytelling as kids describe their haunted houses. It also teaches about recycling, as they repurpose old magazines. I’ve seen kids get so into this, creating whole spooky neighborhoods!
7. Mummy Wrapped Candles
Time to wrap some mummies! This craft turns empty toilet paper rolls into mummy candle holders for LED tea lights. You’ll need toilet paper rolls, gauze, googly eyes, glue, and LED candles. It’s perfect for fourth to seventh graders.
Wrap the rolls with gauze, leaving small gaps for that mummy look. Glue on googly eyes to bring the mummy to life. Place an LED tea light inside for a glowing effect. Want a colorful mummy? Paint the rolls before wrapping them.
This project ties into history lessons about mummies and ancient Egypt. It also introduces 3D design as kids figure out how to wrap the gauze. I love how these mummies light up the classroom with spooky charm!
8. Witch Hat Treat Holders
Who can resist a witch hat that holds candy? These mini witch hats are perfect for second to fifth graders. You’ll need black and purple construction paper, tape, and some stickers for decoration.
Roll the paper into small cones to form the hat shape. Tape the edges to secure them. Decorate with stickers, ribbons, or star cutouts. Fill the hats with small candies for a sweet surprise. This craft is quick and so much fun.
It’s a great way to teach geometry, as kids work with cones and measure paper. It also helps with fine motor skills as they tape and decorate. I’ve seen kids light up when they get to take their candy-filled hats home!
9. Monster Paper Bag Puppets
Let’s make some silly monster puppets! This craft is a favorite for preschool through third grade. You’ll need paper bags, markers, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and glue. It’s perfect for sparking imagination.
Decorate the paper bags with monster features—think big eyes, wiggly antennae, or colorful fur. Use markers for details, glue on pom-poms for texture, and add pipe cleaners for arms or horns. Once done, kids can use the puppets for a class monster show.
This project encourages dramatic play and storytelling. Kids love making up stories about their monsters. I’ve watched whole classrooms turn into monster theaters with this craft!
10. Candy Corn Garland
Finally, let’s string together a candy corn garland to decorate the classroom. This one works for first through fifth graders. You’ll need white paper, yellow and orange paint, string, and tape.
Cut out candy corn shapes from the paper—triangles with rounded edges. Paint them in the classic candy corn colors: white at the top, orange in the middle, yellow at the bottom. Once dry, tape the shapes to a string to create a garland. Hang it around the room for instant Halloween vibes.
This craft teaches patterns as kids layer the colors. It’s also a great way to decorate on a budget. I love how festive the classroom looks with these garlands swaying!
How to Make These Crafts Work in Your Classroom
Now that you’ve got the crafts, let’s talk about setting them up. I like to organize materials in stations around the room.
For example, put all the paper plates and paint in one spot for the pumpkin craft. This keeps things tidy and saves time. Plan for 5–10 minutes to set up, 30–45 minutes for crafting, and another 5–10 minutes for cleanup.
If you’re working with younger kids, pair them up for trickier crafts like the spider webs. For safety, stick to child-safe scissors and non-toxic glue. Always keep an eye on the little ones during cutting or painting.
Want to show off the kids’ work? Create a Halloween craft display in the classroom or hallway. Pin up the ghosts, hang the garlands, and set out the mummy candles. It’s a great way to celebrate everyone’s creativity!
Learning Through Crafting
These crafts aren’t just fun—they’re packed with learning opportunities. Here are some ways to tie them into your lessons:
- Math: Use the witch hat cones to teach about shapes or measure the paper for accuracy. Count pumpkin seeds or create patterns with the candy corn garland.
- Science: Talk about spider webs and how spiders build them. Or discuss pumpkin seeds and how they grow into plants.
- History: Connect the mummy candles to lessons about ancient Egypt. You could even talk about the history of witches in folklore.
- Language Arts: Have kids write stories about their haunted house collages or perform skits with their monster puppets.
You can also encourage teamwork by having kids work in pairs on bigger projects like the garland or collage.
To boost creativity, let them personalize their crafts—maybe a monster with three eyes or a pumpkin with a silly grin. The possibilities are endless!
Wrapping It Up
There you have it—10 Halloween classroom crafts that are sure to make your October spooky and fun.
From paper plate pumpkins to monster puppets, these projects are easy, affordable, and full of learning. I hope you’re as excited as I am to try them out! Grab your supplies, set up your stations, and let the kids’ creativity shine.
Want to share the fun? Post photos of your crafts on social media or try adapting these ideas for other holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
If you need more inspiration, check out Pinterest for Halloween craft ideas or visit your local dollar store for budget-friendly supplies.
For safety tips, look up child-safe crafting guidelines on educational websites. Have a blast making these spooky creations, and happy Halloween!
Emily Harper is a kitchen decor expert and interior designer with a passion for creating stylish, functional spaces. As a busy mom, she understands the importance of a kitchen that works for both family life and design. With 6 years of experience, Emily specializes in transforming kitchens into inviting, practical spaces. She’s known for her ability to blend trends with everyday needs, helping families create kitchens that feel like the heart of the home.
