Quick question for you: Where does a ghost go on Saturday night?
Answer: Anywhere he can boo-gie!
Ah, it’s that time of year again! Piles of candy, fun costumes, spooky stories, and if you’re really lucky, cheesy Halloween jokes. With all this fun and excitement going on, it can be tough for students to stay focused on the math world of integers, slope, and graphs. But with just a few adjustments, we can help students stay on top of math while having fun. Use these Halloween math strategies and resources to enjoy the season while staying on track with the math.
1- Cheesy Halloween Jokes
A great way to inject a little whimsy and Halloween fun is with Halloween jokes. Add them to your whiteboard, class website, or sprinkle them throughout your lesson. Here’s a link to a great collection of Halloween jokes. Be warned- they are extra cheesy. Which, of course, makes them extra awesome! Here’s a few examples:
Q: Where do baby ghosts go during the day?
A: Dayscare!
Q: What kind of protozoa likes Halloween?
A: An amoeboo!
I mean, how great are those?! I can just hear the groans from my students now!
2-Halloween themes in math problems
When you ask math questions throughout the week leading up to Halloween, embrace the seasonal, and don’t be afraid to be a little silly. Some topics to consider:
- pounds of candy
- odds of surviving a zombie apocalypse
- time spent trick or treating relative to candy received
- anything with costumes, ghosts, haunted houses, and of course, pumpkins.
3- Incorporate Halloween themed math resources
A few years ago I had a hard time finding a fun math activity for my students to do for Halloween. But now, there are more and more resources readily available for teachers. Whatever you’re currently studying or reviewing with your students, you’ll likely be able to find a Halloween math resource. And just like that, students will be a bit more engaged and enthusiastic than they would with a non-seasonal version. Weird, I know. But year after year that’s exactly what I see with my students.
These printable resources available now in our shop address several topics that students always need more practice with:
Halloween Comparing Functions- Color by Answer gets students practicing comparing functions, with an added bonus of a simple coloring break. Just this simple nod to the season gets students a little more into their practice and they really enjoy the break from traditional practice.
These 2 proportions mazes are a great way to practice solving proportions. With the Halloween clipart, it adds a bit of fun. If you can copy it onto orange paper, well, that’s even more awesome!
Cute Halloween graphics + one step equations practice adds up to fun, festive math practice. I’ll be using these two mazes for cyclical review in my classroom.
What better way to get practice with the distributive property than this fun Halloween themed maze? I love the spiderwebs on this maze- they just fit!
Another great way to practice math at Halloween is with this Order of Operations Riddle activity. It’s cheesy and fun, while also reviewing this important skill.
Finally, another important skill that my students always need more practice with is adding integers. These two math mazes will get students more practice and make them even more confident when working with positive and negative integers.
If you’re looking for a collection of printable resources that would make great math centers or practice activities for this time of year, all six of these resources are together in one bundle at a steal of a deal!
Embracing Halloween
I hope these ideas help you navigate this Halloween season. To read even more easy ways to bring Halloween fun into the middle school classroom, plus 2 great freebies, check out “13 Halloween Math Activities.”
Here’s one more cheesy Halloween joke- feel free to impress your colleagues, students, friends, and family with its awesomeness!
Why didn’t the skeleton dance at the party?
He had no body to dance with.
Thanks so much for reading! Until next time.
