halloween games {for the classroom}

We received our classroom volunteer sheets last week from the PTO. I help out every year in the girls' classrooms. This year I'm in charge of coordinating the Halloween party for Natalie's class and I'm the homeroom parent for Ainsley's class. One thing I noticed in planning the Halloween party last year for Ainsley's class is many of the game suggestions online require a large space or are geared for home-based parties. Class parties tend to be held - in the classroom! Trying to do a three-legged race or playing ghost tag with 25 kids in a classroom filled with desk and cubbies is quite impractical. This year, I want to have fun games that can be done in a small space. In case any of you are in the same boat, I thought I'd share 10 fun games I found while surfing the net last week. Some I've modified and some are listed exactly how I found them. Happy Halloween planning!

10 Halloween Games for Classroom Parties:

1. Pin the Wart on the Witch (via Family Crafts) 

Similar to "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" - kids pin the wart on the witch's nose. Draw a witch on poster board. With green construction paper, make "warts" for each child to tape to the witch, as close to her nose as possible. You can find printables for similar games like pin the tail on the cat, pin the nose on the pumpkin, and pin the spider on the web here. 

2 .Halloween Toss Game (via bhg, pictured above): 

Decorate your recyclables as pumpkins with construction paper. Have the kids toss a ping-pong ball into the cans. Go here for a printable perfect for wrapping your cans. 

3. Bandage the Mummy

This game is meant to be played by everyone at the same time. Break the kids into even teams. Use rolls of toilet paper and see which team can wrap their "mummy" up the fastest. 

4. Eyeball Search (via Family Crafts)

Fill a large bowl with cooked spaghetti noodles. Have kids close their eyes and find as many eyeballs (ping-pong balls) as they can in a limited amount of time. The one who finds the most wins.

5. Halloween Bingo (via Family Crafts)

Bingo is a great game for all ages. Go here for a free printable from Family Crafts or find seasonal games at stores such as Target.

6. Witch’s Hat Ring Toss: (inspired by Martha Stewart Living) 

Wrap orange plastic sports cones in black construction paper. Put a larger circle below to make the brim of the hat. Have the kids toss pool diving rings, glow necklaces, hoola-hoops, or any other ring-type toys you have lying around over the “hats.”

7. Halloween Twister: (via bhg, pictured above)

Modify a twister mat or make one of your own with Halloween shapes like bats, pumpkins, black cats, ghosts, etc.

8. Nosey (via Martha Stewart Living)

Halloween games of disguise survive in many old sources, and they don't necessarily involve elaborate costumes. In "Nosey," the party guests are divided into two groups and sent into adjoining rooms. A curtain or heavy sheet with a small slit in it is hung in the doorway. One of the players sticks his or her nose through the slit, making sure nothing else shows. Then the game leader chants, "The witches have stolen somebody's nose. Who does it belong to, do you suppose?" and everyone on the opposing team attempts to guess the owner of the nose. If correct, the guessing team scores a point and the opposing team must present another nose for their regard. If the guess is wrong, then the guessing team must now start offering up noses -- which, it should be noted, can be very hard to recognize without any accompanying features!

9. Pop Goes the Pumpkin: (via Martha Stewart Living, pictured above)

Make a board of orange balloons shaped like a pumpkin. (optional: put candy inside the pumpkins as a prize for whoever pops it). Have kids throw darts at the board to pop the balloons.  For full details on how to make this game, please visit Martha Stewart Living here.

10. Witches Stew Game (via Spoonful, pictured above) 

Cut a variety of halloween shapes out of light construction paper (cats, ghosts, pumpkins, bats, etc.). Give each child a small plastic bowl and straw. See who can suck up the most shapes and put them in their bowl in a set amount of time.