Halloween classroom crafts ideas need to work for 20 or more kids at once. That means cheap supplies, short steps and very little mess. Every project here fits those three rules.
I chose crafts that use paper, glue, yarn and recycled items. Most take 20 to 40 minutes, so they fit one class period. Many of them also make great window and wall displays for October.
Here are 16 Halloween classroom crafts ideas for preschool through early grade school, with supplies and teacher tips.
Teacher tip: Prep all the cutting the night before for younger classes. Kids can then spend their time gluing and decorating.
In this post: 16 ideas
- Paper plate pumpkins
- Tissue paper window ghosts
- Handprint bat banner
- Paper chain monsters
- Coffee filter spiderwebs
- Torn paper pumpkin collage
- Craft stick haunted houses
- Tissue paper candy corn
- Paper bag puppets
- Accordion paper cats
- Yarn wrapped mummies
- Leaf ghost art
- Paper cup monsters
- Stained glass pumpkins
- Rolled paper wreath
- Monster corner bookmarks
1. Paper plate pumpkins
Orange paper plate pumpkins with green stems and friendly black faces are a classic for a reason. Every child finishes one, even the youngest. Plate pumpkins top most lists of Halloween classroom crafts ideas.
Kids paint the back of a paper plate orange and let it dry. Then they glue on a green paper stem and a leaf. Precut black triangles and smiles make the faces fast. Hang them on a wall in a pumpkin patch display.
2. Tissue paper window ghosts
White tissue paper ghosts on a yarn line float across the classroom window. They move a little when the heater turns on. Parents see these Halloween classroom crafts ideas from the hallway at pickup.
Each child balls up a cotton pad. Then they cover it with a square of white tissue paper. A rubber band or thread makes the neck. Kids draw two dots for eyes with a black marker. Tie the ghosts along a yarn line and tape it across the window.
3. Handprint bat banner
Black paper bats made from two traced handprints form a banner with every child in the class. It doubles as a keepsake, since hands grow fast. Banners are Halloween classroom crafts ideas that the whole group builds together.
Trace each child’s hands on black paper and cut them out. Glue the palms to a small black body so the fingers form the wings. Add big googly eyes. Punch a hole in each bat and string them on yarn with the child’s name on the back.
Good to know: Write names on the back in white pencil before cutting. It saves sorting later when 20 bats look the same.
4. Paper chain monsters
Purple, green and orange paper chain monsters with silly eyes stand on a classroom shelf. Each child chooses how tall to make theirs. These Halloween classroom crafts ideas also teach counting and patterns.
Give each child strips of three colors. They loop and glue them into a chain, following a color pattern. Add a paper face to the top loop. Short chains stand up on a shelf, while long ones hang from the ceiling.
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5. Coffee filter spiderwebs
Folded and cut coffee filters open into lacy spiderwebs for the window. Tiny paper spiders make them fun to look at. These Halloween classroom crafts ideas teach kids how folding creates patterns.
Fold a coffee filter in half three times into a thin wedge. Kids snip small triangles along both edges. Open it to reveal a web. Tape the webs to the window and add a small black paper spider to each one.
6. Torn paper pumpkin collage
A large pumpkin outline filled with torn orange paper squares makes a bright mosaic. Tearing paper is great practice for small fingers. It builds the hand strength kids need for writing.
Print a pumpkin outline on cream cardstock. Kids tear orange paper into small pieces and glue them inside the lines. Add a brown stem and a green leaf. Read about fine motor skills to see why tearing and gluing help young learners.
7. Craft stick haunted houses
Small houses made from colored craft sticks have paper windows and smiling ghosts peeking out. They look great lined up on a display table. Older kids love the building part of these Halloween classroom crafts ideas.
Glue craft sticks side by side onto a cardboard back to make walls. Add two sticks at an angle for the roof. Kids cut yellow paper windows and draw ghosts inside. Let the glue dry flat for an hour before moving them.
Save money: Buy colored craft sticks in bulk packs of 1,000. One pack covers several class projects.
8. Tissue paper candy corn
Candy corn shapes filled with crumpled tissue paper in yellow, orange and white feel soft and puffy. They look good on a bulletin board. Small children enjoy the crumpling part of these Halloween classroom crafts ideas most.
Draw a large triangle on cardstock and split it into three bands. Kids crumple tissue squares into balls and glue them in each band. Use yellow at the base, orange in the middle and white at the tip. Liquid glue in a shallow dish works faster than glue sticks.
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A witch, a ghost and a pumpkin made from paper lunch bags turn into hand puppets. Kids use them for a short puppet show after the craft. Puppets are Halloween classroom crafts ideas that add a speaking activity.
The bottom flap of the bag becomes the mouth. Kids glue paper features on top of the flap and the body below. Give each table a choice of three characters. Use the puppets to retell a simple Halloween story.
10. Accordion paper cats
Black paper cats with accordion folded bodies and curly tails bounce when you touch them. Yellow eyes give them a friendly look. They stand on their own, which kids love.
Cut two strips of black paper and fold them over each other into an accordion spring. Glue a cat head on one end and a tail on the other. Curl the tail around a pencil. Add yellow paper eyes and a pink nose.
11. Yarn wrapped mummies
Cardboard mummy shapes wrapped in white yarn come out a little different for every child. Wrapping takes focus and keeps kids busy. Mummies are calm Halloween classroom crafts ideas for the end of the day.
Cut a simple person shape from cereal box cardboard. Tape the end of the yarn to the back. Kids wrap the yarn around and around in any direction. Glue two googly eyes on top of the yarn.
12. Leaf ghost art
Pressed fall leaves painted white become little ghosts on black cardstock. Each leaf shape gives a different ghost. This craft pairs well with a nature walk.
Take the class outside to collect flat leaves. Press them in heavy books for a day. Kids paint each leaf white and add a black face once dry. Glue three or four ghosts on black paper for a frame worthy display.
Good to know: Fresh leaves curl as paint dries. Pressed leaves stay flat and hold paint better.
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13. Paper cup monsters
Paper cups become silly monsters with paper arms, big eyes and wild hair. No two monsters look alike. It is one of the most creative Halloween classroom crafts ideas, since kids design their own.
Turn a paper cup upside down and paint it any color. Kids add arms, horns, teeth and eyes from paper scraps. Pipe cleaners make springy arms. Use leftover cups from a class party.
14. Stained glass pumpkins
Tissue paper pumpkin suncatchers glow in the window on sunny days. The orange and yellow light fills the room. Of all the Halloween classroom crafts ideas here, they glow the most.
Cut a pumpkin frame from black paper. Kids stick small squares of tissue paper onto clear contact paper inside the frame. Seal it with a second sheet of contact paper. Tape the finished pumpkins to a sunny window.
15. Rolled paper wreath
A wreath of rolled paper tubes in orange, purple and black surrounds a smiling pumpkin center. It makes a fun class door decoration. Each child rolls a few tubes, so everyone takes part.
Roll strips of paper around a pencil and glue the ends. Glue the tubes in a ring on a paper plate with the center cut out. Add a pumpkin face in the middle. Hang it on the classroom door with ribbon.
16. Monster corner bookmarks
Folded paper corner bookmarks shaped like monsters slip over the corner of a page. They are useful long after October. These Halloween classroom crafts ideas also get kids excited about reading.
Fold a square of paper into a corner pocket using a simple origami fold. Kids add teeth, eyes and horns from paper scraps. Each bookmark takes about 15 minutes. Send them home with a library book.
Planning Halloween classroom crafts ideas for a big group
Set up stations with four to six kids each. Put all supplies for one craft on a tray, so nothing gets lost. Rotate stations every 20 minutes for a craft afternoon.
| Age group | Best crafts | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool | Paper plate pumpkins, tissue candy corn, torn paper pumpkin | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Kindergarten | Handprint bats, coffee filter webs, paper chain monsters | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Grades 1 to 3 | Craft stick houses, accordion cats, corner bookmarks | 30 to 40 minutes |
Easy Halloween classroom crafts ideas with little mess
Glue sticks, tissue paper and yarn make the least mess. Save paint for days with extra helpers. Put a plastic tablecloth under each station and keep wet wipes nearby.
I always plan one no paint craft per day. It keeps cleanup short before recess or pickup.
More ideas: Hosting a class party after crafts? These Halloween party ideas include easy games for kids.
Halloween classroom crafts ideas for displays
Window ghosts, coffee filter webs and suncatchers look best on glass. Plate pumpkins, mummies and leaf ghosts suit hallway boards. Puppets, cats and haunted houses work on a shelf or table.
FAQs about Halloween classroom crafts ideas
What are the easiest Halloween classroom crafts ideas for preschool?
Paper plate pumpkins and tissue paper candy corn work well. They need only glue, paper and a plate.
How do I keep costs low for a full class?
Use recycled cups, boxes and paper. Buy craft sticks and tissue paper in bulk.
How long should a class craft take?
Aim for 20 to 40 minutes. Younger kids lose interest after about 20 minutes.
Can these crafts be sent home the same day?
Glue stick crafts can. Painted or heavily glued crafts need a night to dry.
Are these crafts safe for all ages?
Yes, with child safe scissors and glue. Skip small beads and googly eyes for kids under three.
Written by Stephanie Fallis
Mom and homemaker who shares budget friendly DIY projects, decorating tips and gardening ideas for busy families.
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