I love Halloween! Maybe it’s the Autumn, or maybe it’s because of childhood memories of bonfires, games, and carving scary faces in turnips. But finding engaging Halloween science activities for 6th grade that aren’t messy isn’t easy. Until now!
Colored slime? I mean, sure, but it’s been done to death. And I don’t fancy the cleanup. The mess isn’t worth it, in my opinion.
You want something simple right? Something that’ll keep the kids engaged without the fuss, prep and cleanup. Is there something else I could do that keeps both me and them happy? Ideally, that’s not messy and involves no extra work for me. Well, that’s a tough call.
So, what do I want for my Halloween Science Activity?
- It’s got to be easy.
- Ideally, it’ll be no prep.
- It needs to be educational.
- It must be engaging.
- And it should be fun (without chaos).
- And….I want my kids to leave class with smiles on their faces saying “wow”!
How do you tick all those check boxes?
Well, I reuse a sub plan that I have.
Whaaat? That’s a buzz kill.
Wait my scary science friend. Read on and see.
Would your kids be interested if you mentioned that there are animals made of glass? Or how about a theory that 30 scientists proposed recently that octpouses are so alien they may have come from outer space? Or what about vampire bats? Did you know vampire bats hold grudges? Or that their bodies have evolved to shed excess water from all the blood they drink so they can fly away quickly? Or what about a parasite that eats a fish’s tongue and then becomes the tongue? These are the SCARY STORIES AROUND THE CAMPFIRE. Remember those? Campfire stories are some of the most captivating – and scary. You know the ones – those caution stories you hear, but they just aren’t true. Except these are!
This isn’t just a Halloween gimmick—it’s the real deal! These are the kind of creepy-cool facts that keep students hooked.
When they read about these real-life “monsters,” answer comprehension questions, and reflect on what they’ve learned, you’re ensuring they’re learning without the stress (for you) of a typical “fun day”.
Does that sound like a win to you?
Halloween Science Activities for 6th Grade Worksheets / Reading Passages
These Halloween science lesson plans take the following form.
The kids read a prepared non-fiction article about one of the above (or zombie crickets or the wonderfully named crypt-keeper wasp). Once they’re done reading, they answer questions about the passage.
Does this engage them? Will they leave class with a smile on their face and say “wow”?
Want to see for yourself? Grab this Zombie/Vampire Bats Reading Comprehension Sub Plan.
Oh, and here’s a freebie! Download a free sub plan that you can use this Halloween. It’s just a taste of how much fun your students will have—even when you’re not there. Who says Halloween science activities can’t be exciting and productive?