If you know me even a little or follow my blog at all, it’s easy to see that I LOVE all things Halloween {except for the candy…isn’t that weird?!?!?}.
{{{BUT}}}
Keep reading for how I KEEP IT REAL @ Halloween Time…
We all know that Halloween makes the kiddos go loopy: costumes, parades, and candy, OH MY! This year, more than ever in the past, I used the excitement of Halloween and the month of October to harness and channel student focus. Also, we all know that Halloween can be a controversial subject, so as you’ll see, we spent a lot of time doing research and close reading to de-bunk and/or find scientific evidence to disprove most of the spooky myths surrounding this holiday.
Let me tell you…it has been a month of AMAZING classroom activity. The students have been SO INCREDIBLY intrigued and invested, and I can’t wait to share the activities I created and scrounged to help make the most of the candy-crazed month that is October!!
At the past two schools I’ve been at, we are allowed to have parties, but tying in some sort of academics is strongly encouraged, and I love doing so! YEARS ago {like 6 or more….I lose count now} I started doing a MAD SCIENCE LAB themed Halloween party. It was an instant hit. The kids and parents LOVED it, the party ran WITHOUT A HITCH, and students were engaged in hands-on science that covered TONS of science standards….all while having a blast & getting a little messy in the process.
These are just a collection of my favorite, most tried-and-true experiments and activities used to SUPPLEMENT your core science instruction on the topics of matter and physical/chemical changes. You might want to use these as a way to pique student interest and inquiry and then expand upon that “wonder” with further, more in-depth instruction and experiments. Check out the slides below for details on the experiments jam-packed into this mad science matter mini-unit {say that 3 times fast!}.
Create a live explosion in your classroom! With only 3 ingredients, this experiment demonstrating a chemical reaction packs a lot of BANG for its BUCK!
Using raisins or chocolate sprinkles {both are recommended}, students watch as Alka-Seltzer & carbonated club soda make these “rat droppings” bounce & dance about!
Have students put on their smocks and dive in hands-first to this gooey, gross experiment in changing states of physical matter! This OOZE changes from liquid to solid, and then liquid again based on student interaction with the substances!
This experiment results in a YUMMY treat for everyone as well as TONS of changing states of matter observations! Observe ingredients change from solid, to liquid, & then solid again!
Protect your eyes & look KOOKY while doing it! Students LOVE creating Mad Scientist goggles, but these double as eye protectants during experiments, too!
Pre- and post- observations, vocabulary, how-to instructions, and MORE are included as versatile recording sheets to accompany your experiments! Just PRINT & GO!!!!!
“WE SURVIVED HALLOWEEN SALE!” All Halloween products are newly
REVISED, IMPROVED, & 20% off through FRIDAY. Stock up for NEXT YEAR!
