🎃👻 Happy Halloween 👻🎃
Hello my wonderful students! Halloween's coming, it is not only an English-speaking celebration, but also a cultural event that is now part of Spanish schools and kindergartens.
Although Halloween originally comes from English-speaking countries, in recent years it has become very popular in Spain together with our “El Día de Todos los Santos”. Vaya, que quién no celebra ya halloween?...
Our children see pumpkins, costumes, and decorations everywhere.
👉 That’s why it’s a great opportunity for us as teachers to:
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Connect real-life experiences with classroom learning.
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Introduce English vocabulary and traditions in a meaningful way.
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Show that celebrations can be different but equally fun in every culture.
OJO!!!! Watch out!!!!! 💡 Always a Happy, Non-Scary Approach (son bebés, no los asustéis....)
It’s very important that Halloween activities in nursery schools are friendly and fun, never scary. No deben dar miedo!!!!!
Children at this age are still learning to distinguish fantasy from reality, so we should avoid fear and focus on joy, imagination, and creativity.
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Express emotions like surprise, curiosity, or fear safely.
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Develop empathy (“The ghost was scared too!”).
Por ejemplo, podemos ayudar a su desarrollo emocional y social no solo encouraging children to talk about feelings🧡 but also using Adjectives like happy, scared, brave, funny.
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Room on the Broom (Julia Donaldson)
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Go Away, Big Green Monster! (Ed Emberley)
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Ten Timid Ghosts (Jennifer O’Connell)
💬 Tips for a positive Halloween:
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Use friendly images (smiling ghosts, funny witches, cute monsters).
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Tell stories with happy endings where everyone learns something or becomes friends.
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Avoid dark classrooms or frightening decorations: use colours, laughter, and songs instead.
🎨 Learning about Halloween Through Play and Creativity
Halloween gives us a chance to work on fine motor skills, art, and imagination.
Ideas:
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Monsters using toilet paper rolls or recycled materials.
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Mask-making🎭 (cats, ghosts, bats) with paper plates and paint.
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“Monster dance”: move like different creatures to music.
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Role play: pretend to be friendly witches or animals and act out simple scenes in English. Wait, wait,....I have an idea,...can you guess???????????? Yes, I'll explain the task ,below.. Vaya, esto sí que os ha asustado!!!! BOOOOO!
More Ideas:
What about "COSTUMES"? ¿¿A quién no le gusta disfrazarse por Halloween?????
🎪 Storytelling Workshop: Finger Puppet Theatre
🎯 Objective
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Create and perform a short Halloween-themed finger puppet play using simple English.
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Practice storytelling techniques suitable for young children.
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Incorporate repetition, rhythm, and gestures to make the story engaging.
Integrate a song related to the story to reinforce language learning
🧾 Task Description
In small groups (3–4 students), prepare a 3–5 minute finger/ puppet story for preschool children.
Your task includes:
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Story Creation or Adaptation
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Write a short, simple Halloween story with clear structure:
beginning – problem – solution – happy ending.Example, The Beast and The Beauty and the Beauty could be the monster
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Use repetitive, child-friendly language (A2 level or below).
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Puppet Making
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Make simple (finger) puppets (paper or cardboard).
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Include 3–5 characters (e.g. witch, pumpkin, ghost, cat, bat).
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Performance Script
Prepare a short dialogue using simple English and lots of repetition.
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Include sound effects (e.g. “Whooo!”, “Boo!”, “Ha ha ha!”).
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Song Integration
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Add one Halloween song at the beginning or end to make it interactive.
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Performance & Reflection
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Present your story to the class (as if to preschoolers).
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After performing, discuss:
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How did you adapt the language for young children?
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What skills could children develop through this story?
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🎃 Example Finger Puppet Story: “The Little Lost Ghost”
Characters:
👻 Little Ghost
🎃 Pumpkin
🐈 Black Cat
🧙 Witch
🗣️ Dialogue Script Example
Narrator: It’s Halloween night! The Little Ghost is flying in the dark forest.
Little Ghost: Oh no! I’m lost! Boo-hoo! Where is my home?
Pumpkin: Hello, Little Ghost! Why are you crying?
Little Ghost: I can’t find my home!
Pumpkin: Don’t worry! Let’s ask my friend, Black Cat!
Black Cat: Meow! I can help you. Follow me through the forest.
Tip-toe, tip-toe…
Witch: Ha ha ha! Who goes there?
Little Ghost: It’s me, Little Ghost! I’m lost.
Witch: Don’t be scared. I know your home! It’s the haunted house on the hill.
Little Ghost: Yay! Thank you, my friends!
All together: Happy Halloween! Boo! 👻🎃🐈🧙
🎵 Song Example: “Five Little Pumpkins”
(Perfect to open or close the story — simple rhythm and gestures.)
Lyrics:
Gestures:
🎃 Hold up fingers for each pumpkin.
💨 Sway hands for wind.
🙈 Cover eyes for “out went the light.”
🏃 Wiggle fingers for “rolled out of sight.”
🧠 Language Focus
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Vocabulary: ghost, pumpkin, witch, cat, forest, home, Halloween, lost, scared, help.
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Structures:
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“Who are you?”
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“I’m a…”
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“Don’t worry!”
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“Let’s go!”
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“Happy Halloween!”
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📚 Assessment Criteria
| Criteria | Excellent (5) | Good (4) | Satisfactory (3) | Needs Improvement (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creativity & Design | Puppets and props are original, colorful, and engaging. | Puppets are clear and appropriate. | Some effort in design. | Minimal effort. |
| Language Use | Clear, repetitive, age-appropriate English. | Mostly suitable English. | Some complex or unclear sentences. | Hard to understand. |
| Performance Skills | Expressive voice, gestures, strong engagement. | Good energy and clarity. | Some expression, limited variety. | Monotone, low engagement. |
| Teamwork | Smooth cooperation, equal roles. | Minor imbalance. | Uneven participation. | Poor collaboration. |
| Integration of Song | Song fits story naturally and enhances learning. | Song included but not integrated. | Minimal effort. | No song. |
Instructions:
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Listen carefully while your classmates perform.
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Write your answers in Part 1, no talking during the play!
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After the performance, complete Part 2 with your opinions.
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Be kind and respectful in your feedback: we are all learning! 💛
