Halloween, in our home, kicks off the season of celebrating what I like to call: Homeschooling Through the Holidays. We achieved this easy mindset shift by simply adapting our academic homeschool activities. You can begin with a little planning before Halloween.
Halloween is one of the most exciting and creative holidays of the year! It’s a time for costumes, candy, and, of course, writing! Easy academic shifts you make can include researching or making costumes, crafting decorations, and using Halloween writing prompts. Whether you’re going trick-or-treating, attending a costume party, or just staying home to hand out candy, there are plenty of ways to make this Halloween both a learning experience and one to remember. These Halloween writing prompts will help.
A Little Halloween History
Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”). The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
By the ninth century, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In 1000 A.D., the Catholic church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It is widely believed today that the church was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday.
All Souls Day was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion, began to be called All-Hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.
Halloween Writing Prompts
If you’re looking for some spooky writing prompts you can use in your homeschool, then you’ve come to the right place. Writing prompts are a great way to inspire imagination in your children. They can come up with unique characters and stories each day leading up to Halloween.
Whether you’re writing a scary story, a horror movie script, or just want to get into the Halloween spirit, these Halloween writing prompts are sure to spark your creativity.
- Describe the Halloween costume that was your favorite to wear or the most creative Halloween costume you ever saw.
- What is your favorite Halloween-themed book, movie, or TV show?
- Create a story about a witch (or other Halloween character) who lives in a small town. How does she use her powers to influence the townspeople?
- Write a story about a mysterious figure who appears every Halloween night. Who is this figure, and what secrets does he hold?
- What is your favorite Halloween candy?
- If you had to choose one type of Halloween decoration, what would it be?
- Write a story about a haunted house that has been abandoned for years. What secrets does it hold?
- Create a character who finds an ancient spellbook in the attic. What magical adventures does this character have?
- If you could have any superpower on Halloween, what would it be?
- Write a recipe for a new Halloween treat.
Ideas for Using Writing Prompts
Creative writing prompts are a great way to get your creative juices flowing. They can help you come up with new ideas for stories, poems, or essays. But how can you use creative writing prompts effectively? Here are a few ideas:
Use Them to Explore Different Writing Styles
If you’re feeling bored with your writing, try using a creative writing prompt to explore a different writing style. This can help you find a new way to express yourself and make your writing more interesting.
Use Them to Challenge Yourself
If you’re looking for a challenge, try using a creative writing prompt to write something you’ve never written before. This could be a different genre, a different style, or a different subject matter.
Use Them to Share Your Work with Others
Once you’ve written something using a creative writing prompt, you can share it with others. This could be on your blog, in a magazine, or even in a book. Sharing your work can help you connect with other writers and get feedback on your writing.
Halloween Countdown Chain
A favorite activity in our homeschool is to create a Halloween countdown chain that contains a different Halloween writing prompt each day.
Creating your Countdown Chain
Making a countdown chain is a fun way to keep track of the days before a holiday, like Halloween, going on vacation, or a birthday! Kids and adults think they are more fun than just crossing days off on a calendar.
Paper chains are easy to make and take no time at all. The best thing about making these versatile decorations is that you more than likely have everything you need at home.
Supplies Needed
- colored paper (construction paper works best)
- scissors
- tape
- markers
- writing prompts
Decide how many writing prompts you want your kids to complete before Halloween. I have shared 10 ideas with you.
Cut paper strips and write one prompt on each. After you prepare all the strips, it’s time to assemble the chain.
Begin by taping the ends of one strip together to make a loop. Thread the next writing prompt through that loop and tape. Continue interlocking each strip with the previous one. When you finish, you have your Halloween journal prompt countdown chain.
Each day, for 10 days before Halloween, carefully remove a strip and use the journal prompt for a quick writing activity.
Want a set of FREE Halloween paper strips you can use for this project and other ideas for Homeschooling through the Holidays? Visit Happy Hive Homeschooling
Families celebrate Halloween in many different ways. Some may host a Halloween party, while others may go trick-or-treating. Some families may even watch scary movies or carve pumpkins together. Regardless of how you celebrate, enjoy these writing prompts as much as the candy!
Check out this post for 10 Awesome Candy Free Treats for Halloween!
