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| photo credit: http://thefunnyplace.org/tag/halloween-comic/ |
Halloween is not really celebrated in Japan so most students don't have any idea what Halloween is. Hence, some teachers ask ALT's to do a special Halloween lesson. And even if they don't ask, it would still be fun to do something related to Halloween.
Most schools have a lot of restrictions though. No activities beyond the classroom. No treats allowed. No costumes. No scary stuff. Teachers just expect a simple but fun Halloween lesson.
With all these restrictions, here are some Halloween Lesson Ideas I've done in my own classes:
Lesson Idea 1: Trick or Think
Since you can't do trick or treat, replace it with "think." This means students get to choose whether they will do a trick or they will answer a question.
In my classes, I prepared a list of simple tricks that students can do. Examples: Make a star using a rubber band, draw Doraemon, make a paper boat or plane, hit a target (dart-style but using ball), singing an English song, etc.
For the Think, I just asked general information questions that students can answer. Examples: What's the capital of Japan?, mathematical equations, names of their teachers, science and history questions, etc.
Materials: Things you'll need for the trick part
List of questions for the think part
Procedure:
1. Divide the class into groups. (I usually divide them in rows.
2. Ask the Japanese English teacher to choose Trick or Think for the first students in the row.
1. Divide the class into groups. (I usually divide them in rows.
2. Ask the Japanese English teacher to choose Trick or Think for the first students in the row.
3. The student who can answer the question or do the tasks the fastest gets 3 points, the second one gets 2 points while everybody who accomplished the task gets 1 point.
4. The group who got 3 points can choose whether the next challenge is Trick or Think.
4. The group who got 3 points can choose whether the next challenge is Trick or Think.
5. The group with the most points win. To really make it a perfect halloween game, give them Halloween stickers as a prize.
This is a perfect activity if you're given the whole class time to do your lesson.
Lesson Idea 2: Monster Buster
The premise of this activity is to hunt and collect monsters like the 90's cartoon Ghost Busters. Apply this premise to whatever language pattern you're teaching.
Here are my own lessons using Monster Busters:
A. First Grade: Lesson 6B, Total English
Target Language: Q: Where is the ~~?
A: It's in ~~.
Material: Information Gap Worksheet
Procedure:
1. Student A asks, "Where is the witch/goblin/vampire/ghost?"
1. Student A asks, "Where is the witch/goblin/vampire/ghost?"
2. Student B replies:. "It's in the (whatever place in the worksheet)"
Student B can also say "It's not here" if the monster on his worksheet is different from what Student A asked.
3. Student A and B switch roles then finds other students.
4. Student will continue interviewing until all monsters are found. (I only used 4 monsters).
4. Student will continue interviewing until all monsters are found. (I only used 4 monsters).
B. Second Grade: Giving Directions
Target Language:
Q: How can I get to the ~?
A: Go along the street. Turn left or right . You can find it on your left or right side.
Q: How can I get to the ~?
A: Go along the street. Turn left or right . You can find it on your left or right side.
Material: A simple community map. Places should be drawn in pairs
(ex: bank and school on the same side)
Procedure:
1. Students where they will hide their monsters in the map. (ex: bank, school, store)
2. Student A asks, "How can I get to the witch/goblin/vampire/ghost"?"
1. Students where they will hide their monsters in the map. (ex: bank, school, store)
2. Student A asks, "How can I get to the witch/goblin/vampire/ghost"?"
3. Student B gives direction
4. Student A guesses in which the monster is hiding. If his guess is correct, he'll get an image of a monster. If not, no image will be given.
4. Student A guesses in which the monster is hiding. If his guess is correct, he'll get an image of a monster. If not, no image will be given.
Simply put, just try to integrate different kinds of monsters in your lesson. Remember to use funny or clipart versions of the monsters. (Shoot me an email if you need a worksheet.)
Lesson Idea 3: Sorting Hat Quiz
This idea is of course from Harry Potter. If you only need a Halloween feel for your lesson but doesn't want to interrupt regular lessons, this activity is meant for that.I used this for a review with the 3rd graders.
The goal of this activity is for all students in the same group to wear the sorting hat. The first group who can pass the hat wins.
Materials: 2 sorting hats, a list of review questions
Procedure:
1. Divide the class into 2 equal groups.
1. Divide the class into 2 equal groups.
2. Call the first students in each group. Let them wear the sorting hat.
3. Ask a question. The student who answered first can sit down and pass the sorting hat to the next person in his group. The other student must stay until he can answer first. (Or I let a student sit after three missed questions.)
4. This question and answer continues until one group finished.
An alternative is to use one hat. The student who can grab the hat first, can answer the question. I did this alternative because one of the hats I made was ripped.
For more Halloween Ideas. check these sites:
Whatever lesson you'll do, keep in mind to make it fun. Halloween should be fun that's why we say:
Happy Halloween!
