martes, 20 de octubre de 2009

More Halloween Ideas (quiet activities this time)

Halloween

There are lots of activities for Halloween on LearnEnglish Kids, the British Council’s site for young learners, which you can use with your students to mark the occasion.They range from a song about a Scary Skeleton to a story about a Haunted House, from a Halloween facts quiz to a selection of terrific games and activities to do! There are a variety of activities suitable for all levels. You can find the activities here: http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/

On this page you will find tips for using and extending the activities in the classroom.

Halloween words: Match Halloween pictures and words.
Tell your learners they're going to play a Halloween word game. Draw a spidergram and see if they can add a Halloween word or picture to each of the legs. Now play the Halloween words game and see if your learners can match the scary pictures with the words! How many of the words match your spidergram?
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-games-pelmanism-halloween.htm

As a follow-up activity, your learners could match the pictures and words in the printable worksheet Halloween words. Can they find all the words in the wordsearch, too? britishcouncil.org/kids-print-halloween.pdf

Quiz
When is Halloween? Where did it originate? What's a ‘treat'? If your learners are curious to know the answers to these questions, play this Halloween quiz with them! http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-games-quiz-halloween.htm

As a follow-up activity, they might like to try the ‘True or False' printable worksheet The History of Halloween to check how much they know about Halloween! britishcouncil.org/kids-print-history-halloween.pdf

The Scary Skeleton: Song
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-songs-skeleton.htm
Tell your learners they're going to listen to a song about a Scary Skeleton. Ask them what a skeleton is made of. Can they feel the bones in their hands, fingers, legs, feet? How many bones do they think they have in their bodies?! Take a guess! (Adults have approximately 206 bones, a baby has 270!)

Now ask your learners to touch the different parts of the body in sequence with the words in the song:
‘Touch your head, shoulders, neck, eyes, mouth, nose, ears, body, legs, feet, toes, knees, fingers, hand.'
Demonstrate as you say the words, and then repeat with just the words to ensure that your learners recognise the different parts of the body. Play the song and ask your learners to touch the parts of the body when they
hear them-you might have to play the song two or three times!

You could now ask your learners to touch the different parts of the body out of sequence, or play ‘Simon says', for example, "Simon says ‘Touch your feet!'" "Touch your nose!" Your learners must only do the action when the action is preceded by the words "Simon says".

Another follow-up activity might be to print off and complete The Skeleton worksheet by labelling the correct parts of the bony body! An alternative activity is to label the dinosaur on The Scary Skeleton worksheet and play the ‘Make a skeleton' dice game.

As a final activity your learners could draw and label their own picture. Depending on the age and height of your students, a life-size version can be great fun-just ask your students to lie down on 2 or 3 poster size paper and draw around them!

The Magic Spell: Story
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-stories-magic-spell.htm
Generate interest in the story by asking learners questions about magic spells. For example, who makes magic spells? What do wizards and witches use spells for? What ingredients do they put into their pots and cauldrons? What do they say as they mix the ingredients? What do they think would happen if a spell went wrong? Can your learners make a magic spell? Do they wish they didn't have to go to school?

After the story your learners could complete the printable The Magic Spell worksheet and draw and write recipes for the Teacher's and the Witch's Magic Spells!

Younger learners will also enjoy Paint it! Can they help the witch make her magic spell? Can they paint the scary ingredients the correct colour? Read and listen to find out! http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish/kids-games-paint-spell.htm

Activities to print: Magic Spells
Now it's your learners' chance to make their own spells and make their wishes come true! What do they wish they could do, or didn't have to do? What will they put into their cauldron? A sweaty shoe? Some football stickers? All their school tests? britishcouncil.org/kids-print-spell.pdf

The Haunted House: Story
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-stories-haunted-house.htm
Before reading the story The Haunted House, you could introduce key lexis by asking your learners about their home. Can they name all of the rooms? What's in the kitchen/ bathroom /study? Now read, listen and engage your learners in the pages of the story. Ask them, for example, who the 2 children are (your learners can give them names of their choice) or why Bob got a fright. What does thunder sound like? Are they frightened of
thunder? Which room will the children go into first? What will they find? Which room will they go into next? Would they go inside a haunted house? Why/not?

After the story, you could play a memory game with your learners, for example, ‘What was in the bathroom/ study?' (an octopus/a cat), ‘Where was the octopus/cat?' (in the bathroom/lab). They could then complete the printable worksheet The Haunted House, or read and draw the scary characters in the haunted house-Activities to print: Haunted Houses.

Finally, take it in turns to play ‘I-Spy'. If there's a table in the room, for instance, you could say, "I spy with my little eye something beginning with ‘t'". Your learners now guess what you can see beginning with the letter ‘t'.

Alternatively, play the online game Haunted House, Levels 1 and 2, and see what your learners can spy in the
haunted house! http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-games-haunted-house.htm

If your learners enjoyed this story, why not encourage them to make up a horror story of their own, with the help of Story Maker: http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-writing-storymaker.htm

A Howling Halloween: Story
Before reading the story, brainstorm the topic of Halloween parties. Ask your learners if they've ever been to a Halloween party. Who/what did they dress up as? What did they wear? Did they look like the scary characters in the Halloween Costumes games? Tell them about a party you've been to and the costume you wore-can they guess which scary character you were?! Who would they like to dress up as this year?
http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-stories-howling-halloween.htm

After reading the story your learners could do the printable A Howling House worksheet. britishcouncil.org/kids-stories-howling-halloween-activity.pdf. Alternatively, if they enjoy project work, they could plan and prepare their own Halloween party! They might like to decorate their room with black and orange paper chains cut in the shape of bats and pumpkins, for example, or design their own personal party invitations. In Activities to print:Halloween Party they can find some great party ideas, from costume-making (how about a fancy dress show with a prize for the scariest costume?!), to Halloween games and recipes for party food and drinks! Why not let them create monstrous menus and make the food and drinks themselves?! britishcouncil.org/kids-print-halloween-party.pdf

Finally, don't forget some ‘Trick-Treating'! A ketchup, pepper and yoghurt cocktail would make a terrible ‘trick' for an unlucky victim, but a toffee apple-what a treat!

Carolyne Ardron

lunes, 19 de octubre de 2009

HALLOWEEN GAME IDEAS:

HALLOWEEN CRAFTS: EASY TO MAKE GHOST (PLAYSCHOOL AND JUNIORS) KIDS)

2 White Facial Tissues
7 inch piece of string, ribbon, or yarn
Black Marker

Take one tissue and crumple it up into a ball. This ball will be the center of the ghost's head. Place the ball on the center of the other tissue and wrap it around the ball. Tie the string around the ghost's neck (not too tight). Draw the eyes and mouth on the ghost. Flair out the bottom of the ghost so it will stand! Or use a longer piece of string and hang from the ceiling.


Envelope Ghost Puppet

Supplies Needed:
White Envelope
Scissors
Pen

Instructions:
· Seal the envelope.
· Draw a ghost lengthwise on the envelope. The ghost can just be a flat-bottomed oval with two circles for eyes.
· Cut off the bottom edge of the envelope.
· Put the ghost puppet on your hand and go scare somebody.




HALLOWEEN STORYTELLING: Courderoy’s Halloween VICTORIA SOL V)

MATERIAL NEEDED
Bathroom scales
3 Pumpkins
Picture Flashcards
Word Flashcards
1. Pre Teach the following words by using FLASHCARDS:
TREE – LEAVES - PUMPKIN – CANDLE – JACK-O-LANTERN -GHOST- MONSTER – WITCH – BAT - TRICK OR TREAT – COSTUME – This will later facilitate understanding of the story in English
2. Children match the words to the pictures using blue tak on the board.
3. Storytelling by the teacher and children lift the flaps.
4. Weigh the pumpkin: a) Encourage each child to estimate the weight of the pumpkins by holding them (heavier, lighter, the same). b) Encourage children to guess the weight of the pumpkin. Record guesses on the board. Children use the bathroom scale to weigh the pumpkins. c) give sweets to winners and to losers as a prize.




Halloween games

Pass the Orange
Don't use your hands!


Line up in teams. The first person in each team is given an orange to place under his chin. He must pass the orange to the next in line but neither may use his hands. The first team to get the orange all the way to the last person is the winner. If the orange drops, just pick it up and continue from there.

Air Balloons
Use black and orange balloons.

Get into a circle and start the balloon going around from player to player keeping the balloon in the air at all times. The youngest will enjoy seeing if they can keep the balloon moving for the time it takes to sing a song or listen to a piece of music.

Older guests can try this variation. Before he can bat the balloon each player must call out a word (no repetitions, please) to fit an agreed upon theme. The theme could be Halloween words, kinds of Halloween treats, creepy creatures, or... well, you get the idea. And don't be too particular. If I yell "ladybug" in time to bat the balloon, it counts as a creepy creature!

Wiggle worm race

Divide the group into teams with the same amount of people in each team. Everyone in each team lines up and forms a 'worm' by putting their left hand between their legs and the person behind them grabs that hand with their right hand. Then they run at a given signal to the other end of the playing area and back. The first team to return 'intact' wins!


Who's Got the Pumpkin


Place everyone is a circle and toss a mini pumpkin to one person, they throw it to the next, and so on until the music stops. The person who is caught holding the pumpkin has to leave the circle. The last one left is the winner and keeps the pumpkin!
(we can change the object, use a ball instead and the winner receives some sweets)




Mummy Wrap
Divide guests into pairs Give each pair a roll of toilet paper. One person wraps the other with the paper, first one to empty their roll wins. Prizes to the first team who empty the roll.

halloween bingo: con los personajes de las scary stories (witches, etc) creamos un bingo.

staring your partner out: gana el q logra q su compañero se ria con sus creepy faces.

Lista de Materiales:
Muchos rollos de papel higienico (depende del nuemrod echicos q vengan)
white sheets of paper + pencils or pens. (for bingo)
manzanas y una palangana o balde

Pin the face on the pumpkin

Using a large piece of orange poster board draw a pumpkin as big as the poster board. Draw triangle eyes and nose with a black magic marker. Using material as a template draw a pumpkin mouth with teeth. Use the template to trace on construction paper as many mouths as you think you will need.
Blindfold the person playing giving them a pumpkin mouth with tape on the back . Then spin him or her around but facing the pumpkin at the end. Have them try to stick the mouth onto the pumpkin where they think it should be. Have a big X marked where it should go.
The person with the mouth loses to the X is the winner.

Ghost-Centration:
Object of Game: To guess pairs of hidden objects. Like the "Concentration " game.
Preparation:
1. Take twelve post-it notes.
2. Using a crayon or marker, number each post -it note from one to twelve on the front, non-sticky side.
3. On the other side, put on two cars each the words: Ghost, Pumpkin, Witches, Goblins, Treats and scarecrows.Make sure each pair not in numerical order.
4. You can make up any pairs of names you want.
5. Put the post-its on a wall in two or three rows in numerical order.
Playing the Game:
1. Each player takes a turn asking for two numbers to be turned over.
2. If there is a match, the player wins a piece of candy.
3. The play goes on to the next player whether or not a match is made.

Pumpkin Bowling:
Object of Game: Knock over the bowling pins. Make a strike or a spare.
Preparation:
1. Select several small pumpkins about four to six inches in diameter. You need extras in case a few split or break.
2. Place plastic (children's set) of bowling pins several feet away on the lawn or floor of the room.
3. A great alternative to bowling pins are plastic liter bottles. Let the kids decorate them with Halloween objects before the game.
Playing the Game:
1. Measure off several feet.
2. Give each child two tries to knock down the pins.
3. I strike is worth two pieces of candy.
4. A spare is worth one piece of candy.

Penny Pitch:
Object of Game: To pitch a penny into a pumpkin.
Preparation:
1. Method #1: Carve out a pumpkin (or two,or three) and line the inside with plastic or aluminum foil.
2. Make the top opening big.
3. Method: #2: Use several small plastic pumpkins(Less messy)
Playing the Game:
1. Place the pumpkins a couple feet away.
2. Give each player ten to twenty pennies.
3. Every time a penny goes into the pumpkin, a piece of candy is won.

Scary Stories:
Object of Game: Tell a chilling tale or two.
Preparation: None
Playing the Game:
1. Sit around in a circle in a dark room, with a flashlight in the middle of the circle. We do not recommend candles as it can be dangerous with the kids.
2. One player starts the game by saying "Once there was......" and makes one or two sentences. It should relate to and build upon what was previously said.
3. The next person to the right then adds to the story a couple of sentences. Go around the room at least once.
4. Try to make the stories scary or gross.
Tips and Ideas, start with:
Once there was an old man walking through the graveyard.......
Once there was an old lady who look so much like a witch.........
Once there was a shadow.................
Once there was an erie sound that was like...........

Ghost Hunter
Game for teams:
Get lollipops, ribbon, paper, tissue paper, and select 5-10 Halloween terms. You may want a styrofoam base to stick the ghosts into during the game.

Divide party guest into Ghost Hunting teams of 3-5 kids per team, the number per team may be based the ages of the kids.

Each team is given clues to find ghosts that can be hidden outside or inside. Note: Don't place all the ghosts together or the kids will grab the first ghost they see rather than find the ghost you want them. Also, tell them not to untie the ghosts until after the game is over. So send them off to different areas. You'll want 1 ghost per guest or a specified number per team, but have extras so each child gets a ghost.

Each ghost is a lollipop covered with tissue paper, tied with ribbon with a letter written on the ghost. Use a marker a add eyes and a mouth to the ghosts.

Send the kids with clues off to find ghosts. Example Clues: I live near the large tree in the backyard or At night I come out from under Mr. Wilson's favorite chair. Fun, increase difficult with age.

Each team will return with 3-5 ghosts with letters. The corresponding letters will spell or help spell a mystery word that relates to Halloween. See the 2 versions below:

Young kids: Use words where all the letters are given: bat, witch, cat, hat, broom, ghoul etc... One team at a time, take the letters and mix them up. The Ghost Hunting team whose ghosts are being used get the first try to guess the mystery word. If they guess the word correctly they get a point, if they miss the word the other teams have a chance to get a point. Have them raise their hand if they know the answer, 1 guess per team. If no team guesses the word, then a simple clue is given and the process is repeated until the word is guessed. If there is a tie have a tie-breaker mystery word that is a little harder. Offer a small prize for the winners.

A little harder: In this version the letters on the ghosts only give clues to the mystery Halloween word. Word Examples: pumpkin, headless, horseman, haunted, goblins, Sleepy Hollow, etc... Arrange the letters in correct order leaving spaces for missing letters. The Ghost Hunting team whose ghosts are being used get the first try to guess the mystery word. If they guess the word correctly they get a point, if they miss the word the other teams have a chance to get a point. Have them raise their hand if they know the answer, 1 guess per team. If no team guesses the word, then a simple clue is given and the process is repeated until the word is guessed. Again have a tie-breaker word just in case and offer a prize for the victors.


Pumpkin Bowling - Great for Classrooms and Parties
Supplies: 3 small pumpkins, 30 empty 2 liter clear soda bottles, 1 can white spray paint, 1 permanent black marker, a bag of gravel or pebbles{placed in bottom of bottles}

Ask friends and parents of the guests to save empty, clean 2 liter soda bottles for your party. Give them a date of at least 1 week to have bottles turned in by. Spray paint the soda bottles white and draw eyes and mouths on the bottles once dried. Add about a cup of sand or pebbles in each bottle so they will stand without falling over.

Divide students and guests into several teams of 3-8 kids each... line up and take turn at bowling over the Ghosts ! The small pumpkins are the bowling balls I did this 2 years ago-- they LOVED it ! The kids that got a Strike, received another attempt to bowl a strike. If they did bowl another strike they received a prize. Thanks - Tonya

Pin The Wart on the Witch
Similar to Pin the tail on the Donkey, instead of a tail use gum as the wart! Draw a witch's face on a piece of poster board. Blindfold each child as his/her turn arrives, spin, point in the right direction. The closest piece of gum to the wart on the witches face wins.

Halloween Corners Game (Good for ages 3 - 8)
Stick up large Halloween themed pictures (ie witch, bat, ghost and black cat) in the four corners of a room. Play some music and when it stops, each child runs to a corner (if you have small numbers you can limit the number of children in each). The music operator without looking then calls out one corner. The kids in that corner are out. The last person left is the winner.
Apple-Snapping

Push a dime or other coin into the side of an apple. Hang the apple by string from the ceiling. Without using your hands try to bite the dime from the apple. This can also be played with two people trying to bite the dime at the same time. The one who does, gets to keep the coin.

Pass the Orange
Don't use your hands!

Line up in teams. The first person in each team is given an orange to place under his chin. He must pass the orange to the next in line but neither may use his hands. The first team to get the orange all the way to the last person is the winner. If the orange drops, just pick it up and continue from there.

Push the Peanut
A mighty slow race!

Give each racer a toothpick and a peanut (in the shell). Their job is to use the toothpick to push and roll the peanut from the starting line to the finish line. This can be played on the floor or on a table. On the floor or carpet, you can mark the starting and finish lines with masking tape. On a table just go from one end to the other.

Note: With younger children, you may want to use a cocktail straw instead of the toothpick to avoid any possible injuries during all the excitement.

Peanut Sipper
The peanuts should be in their shells.

Give each player a drinking straw and a paper cup. Everyone gathers around a pile of peanuts. Each then sucks through her straw to move peanuts from the pile into her cup. Set a timer for one minute -- the winner is the one with the most peanuts in her cup when the timer rings.

MORE HALLOWEEN GAMES

HALLOWEEN GAMES FOR KIDS

Look for ideas in www.youtube.com

Some videos are included here, but you can look for others by searching HALLOWEEN PARTY IDEAS FOR KIDS