Top 5 Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary

Kristy Johnson
Oct 5, 2022
4 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

October is one of my favorite months of the year. I love the fall and the spookiness that comes along with it. This is also the time of year when we are reviewing the four operations in math -Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division. We have taught the skills and are now able to do fun activities to review.

As we enter into October, I wanted to share my favorite October activities for upper elementary students with you This post includes activities that span grades 3-6 across all subjects! Make sure to sign up for the October math freebie at the bottom!

Top 5 Halloween Activities for Upper Elementary:

1. Multiplication Code Breakers

If you have been around a while, you know I love code breakers. These are perfect for getting students to practice their multiplication facts while cracking the answers to themed jokes.

For October, I have THREE sets that we always use. Each set has multiple code breakers. These three sets last us all month. First, I have our Halloween Code Breakers that have fun Halloween jokes. Second, I have our Fall Code Breakers, which have fall-themed jokes. This is perfect if you have students in your classroom who do not celebrate holidays, or if your school does not allow it. Lastly, I have the Day of the Dead Code Breaker set, which, instead of jokes to crack, students learn facts about this special day and the reason it is celebrated.

If you love these and want digital, no-prep activities for holidays throughout the year, you should check out the Holiday Fact Fluency Bundle! With this bundle, you will get engaging fact fluency code-breakers for 12 different holidays and seasonal themes!

2. Color By Number Word Problems

The second type of activity I love using in October is our Halloween Color by Number Word Problem set. Students have to solve word problems in order to color the images correctly. There are THREE color by number sets for students to practice their word problems. Set one is addition and subtraction, set two is multiplication, and set three is division. Students can use various strategies taught to solve the word problems.

If your students need more practice with multi-step word problems. This set of Addition and Subtraction Multi-Step Word Problem Color-by-Numbers is what you need. While these are made for 4th grade, they are a perfect enrichment activity for 3rd graders or as a review for 5th graders!

3. Hands-On Math Centers

It is so important for students to have the option to have hands-on activities in math! This allows them to move around and really think, versus just working with worksheets and technology. During October, I love having my students practice with these Fact Family Puzzles so they can review the connection between multiplication and division. The stronger their understanding is of the connection, the stronger their math building blocks are. The second hands-on math center I love for October is the Candy Corn Factors. This set helps students learn all the ways to multiply to get a number. They can be used for strictly talking about multiplication facts, or they can be used to list out factors of whole numbers up to 100.

If your class is ready to get up and moving, these Halloween Math Scavenger Hunt Task Cards can be set up around the room and give students a chance to practice their multiplication with Halloween word problems. These cards cover multiplication problems that range from 2, 3 and 4-digit by 1-digit, and 2-digit by 2-digit.

4. Cross-Curricular Science & Writing

My 4th graders have always loved this Simple Machines October Writing Activity. In October, we work on narratives in writing, and in science we study force and simple machines. I combined these to create a cross-curricular activity. Students have to write a story about being trapped in a pumpkin, and they must use a simple machine to get out.

If you are looking for an engaging STEM activity for October, have your students create Pumpkin Catapults! The Pumpkin Catapult STEM Challenge takes students through the engineering design process as they plan, build, and test a launcher that has to send a candy pumpkin at least a foot.

5. Math Notes & Worksheets

Many times, we need to keep the routines of class the same, but want to add a seasonal aspect. This is where I like to incorporate notes and worksheets with a fall theme.

Working on factors and multiples? This Factors and Multiples Worksheet set is perfect for fall time. It gives students lots of practice with factors, multiples, and divisibility rules with a pumpkin theme.

Teaching 6th grade? Digital notebooks are great for students to review current topics during math centers, for homework, or when a substitute is in the room. This Rates & Ratios Fall Digital Notebook is perfect for October and follows 6th grade Common Core standards. Students work through slides with a variety of question types in order to show their understanding of rates and ratios.

Need decimal work? The Pumpkin Decimal Challenge has students add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals through real-world word problems and then crack a code on some jokes with their answers.

FREEBIE ALERT!!!

Do you love FREEBIES?! Grab differentiated Candy Corn Multiplication Worksheets to use with your students for the month of October! They are perfect for morning work, math centers, sub plans, homework, and so much more!