A school halloween party is not to be taken lightly, especially in a primary school. However, a bit of witchcraft and wizardry from the staff and a pinch of magic from the children can cast a powerful spell.
We had a haunting experience this year, which we would like to invite you to share. Come with us as we explore the realms of darkness beneath the school….. HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAA!
Sorry, I got a bit over-enthusiastic there.
School Halloween Party Idea #1 - Heart and Souls
It’s great if the kids are excited about the party because they will do their best to make it fun. With a little guidance to keep ideas relatively down to earth, the party can really become theirs.
We have a ‚buddy‘ system where an older pupil (in Year 5) is partnered with someone in Year 1 who is just starting. They help their younger buddy to get oriented in school life at the beginning of term, which in turn helps the older kids develop a sense of empathy and responsibility. At Halloween, we found that the older kids were really putting some thought into the games, discussing what might work best for the different ages of classes who would come around to play.
It wasn’t long before the Year 5 teacher was standing in the background supplying practical advice for constructing the game materials and supervising the use of craft knives and glue guns. The actual work and management were being done by the class.
So, whatever the activity or occasion, we have found that our buddy system has become a powerful asset. The older children were truly motivated by the thought of creating a fun environment for the younger ones, which in turn allowed the teachers to focus on teaching practical art and design techniques (including working to a very strict deadline!
School Halloween Party Ideas #2 - Demon Fashion
Why not hold a fashion parade instead of a best costume competition? That way, larger groups can be involved without many children sitting around with nothing to do.
You can give points for the best dance moves as well as the costumes themselves, or perhaps individual acting skills, if the children stay in character.
We rented a smoke machine and a coloured lighting unit from a local theatrical supplier for added effect. Be careful about smoke detectors though if you have them in your school. Although smoke machines do not produce real smoke, they will still activate the alarms. In many cases, these alarms are linked directly to the local fire department, so check with your school’s building management team ahead of time. If a fire crew does gatecrash your party, you may end up with a heavy fine!
School Halloween Party Idea #3 - Ghostly Games In The Underworld
If you are lucky enough to have some unused storage space, you can turn it into an underworld with games and activities as well. In our case, we have a cellar under the building which is not damp.
We covered the lights with red paper to create an infernal feel and decorated the space with a lot of fake cobwebs and spiders. Children had some traditional challenges like bobbing for apples and other, less traditional ones such as feeling their way through a spider web made of string without getting tangled in the dark or ringing any of the bells hangingfrom the string.
If you are using a space not normally used for children, you should check it for risks first. One heroic teacher went down with a dust mask and broom and cleaned out the dust so it was safe to breathe and we also moved anything in the passageways which people could trip over in he dark. For adults, we had to beware of low ceilings, although that wasn’t a problem for the kids! It was also worth spending some time there with the low lights looking for places or activities where the youngest ones might get too scared and stop having fun.
We’ve used the cellar before and word gets around. The younger ones had heard about it from those who visited our ‚underworld‘ last time. Although it wasn’t scary for these older kids anymore, they remembered it as scary, so they helped create the right atmosphere when they described it.
Later on in the day, the kindergarten comes along later to try the experience for themselves, so it’s starting to become a tradition and who knows, even a rite of passage!
School Halloween Party Idea #4 - The Devil's Kitchen
You have to have food at a party and it simply wouldn’t be Halloween without pumpkin carving! So why not combine the two? A snack buffet with some themed nibbles arranged around the carving tables helps people to mingle. Of course, the fact that the parents are with the kids means that the craft teachers don’t have to supervise every sharp knife in the room! We are very lucky to have parents who are so involved as to bring a dish like the one below:
Which brings us on to…
School Halloween Party Ideas #5 - Supernaturally Fun Parents!
OK, we admit this isn’t actually an idea, but it is something that this type of activity can promote. We mean a sense of community among parents.
Our parents represent many different cultures and this Halloween party was a good example of how they meet, mingle, get to know one another and form friendships from outside their work groups. Most parents are here because they work for international companies and have been posted here. This can mean that their opportunities to meet other people socially can be limited by language and social barriers.
School Halloween Party Ideas # 6 - That Teacher Who Is Your Secret Weapon
All primary schools need one and most have more because that’s the kind of person who is attracted to teaching primary school!
It’s the teachers who can really relate to the kids on their level. The ones who give them something they appreciate, rather than what a teacher thinks they might appreciate. They raise the bar and keep it high so that school is a place to grow and enjoy childhood. A safe, comfortable and familiar place to learn in.
