Fall weather and Halloween spell lots of fun, themed projects and games for kids in after school programs. We’ve gathered some activities and crafts for a spooky good time!
Active Halloween Games for After School Groups
Staying active is one of the best ways to enjoy a season that often comes with candy! Help students burn off some of that Halloween energy with any one of these five activities.
Skeleton Tag
Get out four cones for boundaries and scatter students inside them to prepare for this fun game. The goal is to tag as many people as possible and avoid being tagged. Every player is “it” and every time someone is tagged they “lose a bone.” View the full activity setup and rules here.
Werewolf’s Tail
All you’ll need is open space, four cones for boundaries, and scarves/flags for this game. Pair players up and have the player wearing the flag or scarf stand behind the other with hands on their partner’s shoulders. The object of the game to protect your tail! Read the full instructions and set-up here.
Jack-o-Lantern Boogie
Teamwork and communication make this ball game a great time. Group students into sets of 5 and have each group stand in a line. The goal is to successfully pass a large ball from the front of the line to the back without dropping until the music stops. Check out the rest of the setup and rules here.
Halloween Ghost Hunters
Get out your cones to set up a playing field and for this unique game of speed-walking tag. Ghost Hunters try to tag the Ghosts and then the tagged and tagger switch roles! Read on to see the rest of the challenges and instructions for this Halloween activity here.
Trick or Treat Tag
Set up the playing field, and get out some fluff balls. One player stands in the middle as the “Candy Monster” and the “Trick or Treaters” line up at the edge of the field. They ask the “Candy Monster” if he/she is hungry and then make a mad dash for the other side! Anyone tagged loses their “candy” and becomes a “Candy Monster” themselves. Read more about the full game here.
After School Group Ideas for Halloween Arts and Crafts
For those days when the group is ready to get creative, check out these options for Halloween arts and crafts projects that everyone is sure to b-oooo and ahh over.
Crafty Bats
This Halloween project incorporates creativity into learning about bats, one of the most unique creatures on our planet. All you’ll need is black cardstock, wiggly eyes, beads, glue, scissors and pencils. Check out the example project and full instructions here.
Ghost Necklace
Students can dress up with some boo-tiful Halloween accessories after completing this Ghost Necklace project. All it takes is construction paper, yarn, a hole punch, black markers, scissors, tape, and a little spooky-themed creativity. See how to put together this craft here.
Boo! Puppets
There are few things that bring out the Halloween spirit better than a creepy or friendly creature puppet. With a little creativity and potentially some glitter, your after school group can make spook-tacular Halloween-themed puppets for acting out stories. Check out the full lesson plan here.
Halloween Characters
Combine some Plast’r Craft, wiggly eyes, scissors, paint and glue with a toilet paper roll to make these friendly or creepy Halloween characters. Check out the lesson plan here, and get your group’s creativity flowing with this Halloween craft.
Beware! Bat Cave
Bats love caves, and this fun project allows each artist to create their own bat cave for Halloween decor. Take some glue, markers, paper pads, recycled cardboard boxes, string, scissors and tape together to make and decorate a bat cave like the one shown in the example here.
More After School Program Activities and Ideas
To see more ideas for activities and crafts you can implement with your after school group, take a look through the other blog posts on our site. We have a great collection of ideas for games and art projects that are enjoyable for groups of all ages.
