Maybe it’s the cooler temperatures, or the crisp fall air– or maybe it’s seeing beautiful pumpkins and fall foliage everywhere, but this is my FAVORITE time of year! Add in a bit of spooky fun, and October is PERFECT in every way. Living in the South, October brings the relief from the heat at the exact moment that I have declared that I can’t handle it anymore. The cooler weather, Halloween around the corner– does it get any better in life than this? One of my favorite activities to do in the evenings is to get some hot chocolate, roll the windows down, and drive around looking for spooky Halloween decorations in the neighborhoods around where we live. I live for the spooky and creepy fun that this month brings. At home we deck out the inside and outside with all kinds of cobwebs, spiders, bats, pumpkins, and ghosts. I love feeling surrounded by the magic of the Halloween season!
Over the years I have loved bringing some of that same spookiness and excitement into the classroom for my students. Halloween themed science activities are both engaging and educational! Middle schoolers LOVE getting to celebrate the season with their friends at school and science provides the perfect vehicle for fun!
Here are my TOP FIVE FAVORITE HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES for Science:
1. SPOOKY SLIME– I mean, come on– can you really go wrong with slime and middle school?! They LOVE this stuff! This time of year is the perfect time to break out the ingredients to make some slime. Color it green, make it luminescent and call it Witch Snot. Your students will love this activity! Discuss the science behind Non-Newtonian Fluids, Polymers, Viscosity– there are so many things to learn with slime! Not sure how to make Glow in the Dark Slime? Check out this recipe: Glow in the Dark Slime
2. DIGESTIVE FUDGE– Halloween makes me think of all things fun and gross.
Students will love this disgusting and delicious trip through the Digestive System! This edible lab is always a hit! Their favorite part? When you get to the end and squeeze the digestive fudge out of the “rectum” and then enjoy a sweet treat. They will hoot and holler as they are grossed out and enjoy this delicious lesson. What are you waiting for?! Check out Digestive Fudge at The Thoughtful Educator on TPT.
3. PUMPKIN SCIENCE– Carve a Jack-o-lantern as a class or keep your pumpkin whole and place it in a sealed container. Watch as your pumpkin decomposes. Learn about decomposition as you watch your pumpkin mold, break down, and eventually sprout!
4. DELICIOUS DIFFUSION– Students will learn about diffusion by using candy. All it takes is a paper plate, warm water, and your favorite-colored candy- Skittles and M&M’s work perfect for this fun lab. Watch as the dye on the candy makes its way from higher concentration (the edge of the plate) to lower concentration (the center of the plate).
5. CANDY CONUNDRUM DICHOTOMOUS KEY–
Oh no! When I was trick-or-treating some of my candy fell out of the wrappers and now, I don’t know what each one is!!! Students will love using a dichotomous key to try and solve the Candy Conundrum as they poke, smash, and observe each piece. If they solve them all correctly, they might even get to eat some… This is usually one of my students’ favorite activities for Halloween. I mean, what middle schooler doesn’t LOVE candy?!
BONUS ACTIVITY: I know I said FIVE, but really– how could I leave ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE off of the list?! Students will seriously LOVE this lab as they create an impressive chemical reaction. It is always a FAVORITE for all ages. Want to amp up the fun? Do a larger scale demonstration shooting Elephant Toothpaste out of a Jack o Lantern before having students do their own experiments. This is one experiment that they will always remember!
Well, there you have it! SIX of my favorite Halloween inspired activities for the middle school science classroom. I hope you and your students have lots of SPOOKY FUN!
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