Preschool Halloween Materials

It’s October, and in my world that means it’s Halloween all month long! I’ve always loved to incorporate seasonal materials into the classroom. I think that really fits with the idea of creating a more home-like classroom environment. Many families incorporate seasonal decor into their homes, so it makes perfect sense to do the same at school. Here are some of the supplies and materials that I love to have on hand because there are so many different ways to use them. All links are affiliates!

Large plastic bowls – These can serve so many purposes; toss beanbags into them for gross motor practice, store materials for activities, hold the pumpkin guts when your class carves pumpkins, create mini sensory experiences in them, use as mixing bowls for cooking… the list is endless!

Sticker faces – Cute little characters that children can create faces on using the included stickers. These are excellent for fine motor practice as well as spatial and body awareness. They can be left out in a center, done as a table activity, or sent home in treat bags.

Mini cauldrons – Use these little cauldrons in a sensory bin for scooping practice, or as part of a science experiment (baking soda and vinegar anyone?). The best thing about this set is that you can pull them out again in March as pots of gold for your St. Patrick’s day celebrations.

Halloween shape sponges – This sponge set includes 12 scrubby sponges. They’re a great tactile experience on their own, and can also be added to a sensory bin or used for art projects or practical life work.

Halloween shape cookie cutters – Are you really a preschool teacher if you don’t have a collection of seasonal cookie cutters? These are perfect for any sensory bin, and of course for use with play dough. They can also be used with paint to stamp the shapes on paper.

Halloween stickers – Stickers make excellent rewards, but in preschool they can be used for so much more! The precut stickers in the pack are great fine motor tools because children have to peel the paper off the back before using them. They can be used with collage projects, or children can choose a sticker to put on their paper and then attempt to draw the image from the sticker. They could also tell a story about the image on the sticker, or use them to decorate their own treat bags. With these bulk sticker sets I always caution that you should go through them first and remove any that might not be appropriate for the age group you’re working with – this is especially true with Halloween, you know what will be too scary for your students, or may raise an issue with families.

Black and orange plastic gems – These are one of my favorite sensory bin items. They are lightweight and definitely attract children, but as always should be used with supervision because of potential choking risk. I’m a huge proponent of teaching children that sensory materials never go in our mouths, but again, you know your group and what they can handle. These can also be used for math games and classroom decor.

Silicone molds – Another item with multiple uses! These can be used in a sensory bin, you could freeze shaped ice in them, put them out with play dough, use them for counting games, etc. The silicone makes them more durable for the classroom too.

Halloween shape plastic trays – I started my career in Montessori classrooms and I’ve always appreciated their use of trays for storing and displaying activities (or “work”) on a shelf. It makes it so easy for children to gather the materials they need and it’s obvious where the tray needs to be returned to when they are finished. These shaped trays are a fun way to achieve a similar result. They can also be used to corral all of the necessary supplies for a small group or table activity.

Pumpkin stress balls – These soft, squishy pumpkins are perfect for the classroom. Children can toss them to each other, hide them and find them, throw them into buckets or baskets, and roll them across the floor. They can also be helpful for children to hold and squish during group time to help increase focus and attention.

Reusable tote bags – Halloween is all about trick or treating, so making this something that children can explore through dramatic play makes perfect sense. These bags are perfect for children to use in play, they can also be helpful when hauling all of your holiday materials to and from the classroom!

Check back on Wednesday for my favorite Halloween items for teachers! If you can’t wait, then take a look at last year’s list in the meantime.