Spooky Science: Halloween Activities for Science Teachers

As Halloween approaches at the end of this month, why not bring a touch of spooky fun into your science lessons? With these ideas and resources you already have in the classroom, plenty of activities are on offer. Read on to discover our ideas for science classes ranging from EYFS to KS3. 

1. Potion Making (EYFS and KS1 Science) 

Children love the idea of making ‘potions’, and this activity idea gives them a chance to explore liquids, colours and textures in a fun and relevant way. Set up stations with different ‘ingredients’ (like baking powder, vinegar, food colouring and biodegradable glitter) and let your pupils mix them up and observe what happens. 

Link to curriculum: Exploring materials and their properties. 

Activity tip: Ask your pupils what they think will happen as they mix up their potions. You could focus on simple vocabulary like ‘bubble’, fizz’ or ‘change’. 

2. Glow-in-the-dark skeletons (KS2 Science) 

Let your pupils explore human biology by constructing glow-in-the-dark skeletons. If you can get hold of some, provide glow-in-the-dark paint and a template of the human skeleton for pupils to paint. As they do so, discuss the names of the bones and their purpose in the body. Then, turn down the lights and cover up any windows to see the skeletons come alive! 

Link to curriculum: The skeletal system. 

Activity tip: Test your pupils’ knowledge by asking them to label the main bones on their skeleton after they’ve completed the activity. 

3. Pumpkin dissections (KS1 and KS2 Science) 

Pumpkin carving is always popular at this time of year, and it can double as a more unusual yet effective science lesson on plants. Provide pumpkins to groups of pupils (perhaps cutting them open for them) and let them explore its seeds, pulp and outer skin. Ask them to count seeds, compare pumpkin sizes and discuss plant growth. 

Link to curriculum: Plants, life cycles and seeds. 

Activity tip: Use this opportunity to link to plant life cycles by discussing how a pumpkin grows from a seed and what conditions it needs to thrive. 

4. Slime time! (KS1, KS2 and KS3 Science) 

Everyone loves slime! Have your pupils create their own slime using glue, boric acid and water, watching as the mixture transforms from a liquid to a stretchy solid. For KS3 pupils, you can discuss the chemistry behind polymers and how cross-linking changes the properties of materials. Keep an eye out for DE’s slime recipe, which we’ll be posting on social media next week!

Link to curriculum: States of matter, mixtures and solutions. 

Activity tip: After making the slime, challenge the pupils to classify it as a liquid or a solid. KS3 pupils could write down their observations of the slime’s properties and compare it with other materials. 

5. Shadows and spooky shapes (EYFS and KS1 Science) 

Halloween is the perfect seasonal opportunity to explore shadows. Use Halloween-themed cut-out shapes like bats, ghosts and pumpkins to explore how light creates shadows. Shine a torch on the cutouts and ask your pupils to observe how the shadows change based on the light source’s distance and angle. For younger pupils, this activity helps introduce the concept of light, dark and shadows, while older pupils could experiment with shadow sizes and make predictions. 

Link to curriculum: Light and shadows. 

Activity tip: Create a shadow ‘guessing game’ by having your pupils guess which object creates the shadow before revealing the shape.