Books : Halloween #3

Halloween is getting closer and it may be too late to get hold of these books but you can check your local library for copies or make sure you have copies for next year.

Actually the next three books, all from the same author, can be read/used all year around.  They just fit into the Halloween theme and because the kids love them so much I would end up reading them everyday if I didn't associate them to Halloween.  Cheeky and crafty of me but anyone who has had to read the same book over and over again will admire my trickery!

Nick Sharratt was unknown to me until I came across a copy of his funny book 'Ketchup on Your Cornflakes'.  The style of the book was new to me but a huge hit.  Turn the bottom half of the page or the top half of the page to make funny combinations that get the kids talking.

So when I saw the author had more books on offer I picked up a couple and here are the three that you can use for Halloween.

The Foggy Foggy Forest is an easy to read book where the kids have to decide what the shadows are in the foggy forest.

First you have the silhouette and then the full colour picture.  However there are some twists and it may even be an Ogre doing Yoga....

The complicated English terms are easily translated by the children due to the lovely illustrations which means this book teaches some new English words without you having to do anything but read out loud.  Not a story book but still a great book to have in your teaching library.

I mentioned before that Nick Sharratt's 'Ketchup on Your Cornflakes' is a book made up of two halves.  Well A Cheese and Tomato Spider is in the same style.

This time around the spiders legs or head are mixed up with everyday items such as an ice-cream or as the title suggests, cheese and tomato.  Hilarious combinations that will make any kid laugh are hidden inside this well thought out book.  I can only admire the idea and hope that the author thinks up many more of these combination books because they are a huge hit!

The third and last book I want to recommend is What's in the Witch's Kitchen.  While some of the content may be a little harder for younger learners of the English language, the illustrations are so well done that you will find it easy to explain.

The fun thing about this book is the 'Magic Pictures'!  Open the fridge in one direction and there is one item but open the fridge in the other direction and you are in for a spooky surprise!

This is a must have for Halloween and another fun read from Nick Sharratt.  I haven't checked out all of his books yet but this is an author who goes out of his way to make learning funny and if you are teaching English to kids then you will know that humour always works!

Do you have any book recommendations?  Feel free to comment below and let me know!

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Halloween Songs #4 : Lots of Little Ghosts

Here is another Halloween song for your collection.  It is actually about rain but see if the kids figure that out for themselves ;)

Lots of Little Ghosts came to me on a rainy day while looking through a German songbook.  There was a song about a hundred ghosts and something about rain then I started writing.

This is a lovely moody song for Halloween but also a great song for those rainy days when you just want to curl up and hide.  Make sure you sing quietly when the ghosts aren't making a sound and get a little louder when they give you a fright!  Also let the kids hide around the room during the chorus or just hide behind their hands.  Be creative and make the song even more fun to sing!

The lyrics complete with the guitar chords can be found here.   There is also a recording of Lots of Little Ghosts to listen to below.  A reminder : This is just me being recorded by a phone so it is not the best quality but hopefully enough for you to hear the melody.

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Halloween Songs #3 : The Halloween Song

For a lot of kids (and adults) Halloween is all about dressing up.  The chance to be something else for a day, to put on a costume, make-up or maybe even a wig!  It is always fun to decide and make/buy an outfit and be different.

The Halloween Song is just about that.  Wanting to be something else and being able to finally dress up.  All about the various choices and having a chance to celebrate Halloween.

I wrote this one myself and hope you enjoy the song.  Feel free to change the Halloween items to fit your needs.  I am sure I have missed some monster or creature!  This is a great song to learn all the possible creepy scary beings you can be for Halloween.

The lyrics complete with the guitar chords can be found here.   There is also a recording of The Halloween Song to listen to below.  A reminder : This is just me being recorded by a phone so it is not the best quality but hopefully enough for you to hear the melody.

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Halloween Arts & Crafts #4

One of the most important things to make for Halloween is a Trick or Treat Bag to collect the sweets ;)  Every year I try and make something a little different or unusual and here are a few of my past successes!

Pumpkin Bags

This is a messy one but really fun for kids who need or like that kind of thing.  First you need some paper bags.  We bought ours but there are some shops that have plain bags that you can collect.  You can even ask a shop for free bags even if they have a logo on one side.  They may actually be happy for the free advertisement.

To make the pumpkin you need some wool.  I used a wool that was mainly orange but had streaks of yellow and green in it.  You can't see it very well in the picture above but it looked really cool.  You could use lots of different colours if you want but after all the classic pumpkin is orange ;)

Help the kids draw a pumpkin shape in pencil on the bag.  Otherwise you will just have a mess that will resemble a smashed pumpkin ;)  Then dunk strips of wool into a watery glue (Marvin) mixture and lay them on the bag and leave them to dry.  Tip : Don't mix the glue with too much water because it will just get the bag very wet and will take longer to dry.

When the pumpkin is dry all you need to do is cut out some eyes, a nose and mouth and maybe a little green stalk.  All done!

I am pretty sure that wallpaper paste would also work.  An easier and less messy version would be to just put glue on the bag and let the kids add the wool but that isn't as much fun ;)

Black Cat Boxes

This is one of my favourite ideas up until now and it all came about because I didn't want to throw my Whiskas cat treat boxes away.  They looked too cool to just put in the bin and so I kept collecting them and hoped that one day I would have a use for them.  Then Halloween came along and my moment came!

Of course if you aren't a cat owner you won't have access to these boxes but maybe you know someone who does or you can even ask the parents.  The boxes are pink but I took off the labels and we painted them black.  Be careful what paint you use for this.  A lot of paints will just flake off so I used an Acrylic paint.

When the paint was dry we added wiggly eyes, tissue paper ears and nose, black bast for the whiskers and painted on a mouth.  The cat also got a nice black pipe cleaner tail which you can just about see on the side.

The result was better than I expected and the kids loved having their own witch's cat!  They even called them 'Wilburs' like the cat from their favourite series, Winnie the Witch.

Please note that these boxes are not very big and will not hold a lot of sweets.  This is good for us because we only give out a certain amount which fit in this box nicely.  There is a bigger size but they aren't the kind my kitties prefer so make sure you collect the ones you really want.

Pumpkin Boxes

After making the cat boxes I decided to start collecting the cat treat boxes from a different company called Multi Fit.  They are round in shape and I hoped I would also find a use for them someday.  I love to recycle stuff if I can.  It is good for the kids to see that they don't always need something new and that old stuff can still be useful!

Anyway, with Halloween on the way I came up with this idea!  The Pumpkin box!  Really easy to make and I think they look pretty cool!

I just peeled off the labels and painted the box orange.  I used black moosgummi (foam rubber) to cut out the eyes, nose and mouth and then added a green pipe cleaner to the top.  Later I added some black stripes/markings with a permanent pen because it looked a little bland.  Now I think it looks great.

I didn't have to glue on the face because I added the pieces while the paint was still wet!  So maybe you want to get your kids to cut those pieces out before painting.

Once again these boxes aren't big but big enough for our treats.  You could also use other containers you have lying around.  Maybe there is a food product in your country that has the right shape?  Always be on the look out for things you can use again.

Do you have any Treat bags arts & crafts ideas you want to share? 

Feel free to add them in the comments section!

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Halloween Songs #2

There are so many great songs you can sing during the Halloween season.  These songs are not written by me but are songs I found over the years that you may have even seen somewhere else.  Of course I may have adapted them slightly by changing words around but I won't call them my own.

The Ghost in The House is sung to the tune 'The Wheels on the Bus'.  A song that is well known and easy to find guitar chords for if you want to play along.  You can make up your own verses with the children or prepare some of your own before singing the song with them.  Try and come up with some actions to make this one more fun for the kids.

If You're a Witch is a Halloween song sung to the tune of 'If you are Happy and You Know it'.  A song everyone knows.  There are so many variations of guitar chords for this one that you really need to find ones you are happy with.  Some are harder than others or just plain complicated while some don't quite sound right.

You can also make up your own verses for this song.  Ask the children what other creepy things they can be and what sounds they make.  You can also use actions or just strange noises.  Try and keep things funny.  Kids always like funny!

I'm Not Afraid is a nice chanting song.  I am pretty sure the melody I use is similar to something else I have heard but right now I can't remember what.  However this is a nice one to chant.  Maybe make up actions that involve stamping, clapping or slapping your legs in time to the chant.  Make up new verses with the children to get them involved and interested.

Lastly, my favourite and a favourite of all the kids I have taught over the years is, The Witch on Halloween.  This is sung to the melody for 'The Farmer's in the Dell'.  Feel free to swap out the characters in this one.  Maybe you are making pumpkins or vampires so use them in the song instead.

This is one is particularly good song for the kids to play along with.  Sit in a circle and pick a Witch.  As you sing her verse she goes around in the center of the circle.  When you finish singing 'wants a cat', the child/witch can then pick herself a cat to go with her.  This continues until you have five children in the middle.  At the end the five go around and scare the rest of the children.  The last person picked (in my version the spider) gets to pick the next witch.

A tip :  If you have 20 kids playing then make sure you leave this song with five rounds so nobody gets left out.  Adapt the song if you have more or less kids.  For example, if I had a full group of all 24 kids I would play the song four times and have 6 verses.  Then all the kids would get a turn.  Make sure they don't pick someone that has already played along.

Another tip : Make headbands/crowns with the characters on or have a witches hat etc.    Then the kids can dress up as they play/sing!

Are there any songs you enjoy singing for Halloween?  Feel free to share!  

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Halloween Arts & Crafts #3

It is finally October and I am really excited about making more Ghoulish crafts!

Every year I try and do something new but there are certain items that I like to make again and again because they just look so good.  Sometimes I have to make something new because I have some of the children two years running.  They would be annoyed if I made the same thing with them two years in a row.  Sure it would be boring for them as well!

Anyway, here are some more of my past attempts ;)

Origami bats are fun to make but aren't easy.  The younger kids had some problems with this craft but I am sure there are easier and harder levels of folding to make a bat.

They make great decorations for the room and it is really fun to see what kinds of faces the kids draw on them.

Handprints and fingerprints can be transformed into the cutest animals as well as monsters and ghosts.  An online search will help your creativity.

In the one picture you will see some creepy fingerprints.  These figures were made to compliment the song lyrics we were singing.  The handprint ghosts were certainly spooky.  Good for your kids portfolio as well as hanging on the wall.

Spiders webs are difficult to make but they really look good.  You need a hoop of some kind.  Then you have to tighten at least 4 pieces of wool/string across the hoop (dividing it like a sliced pizza!).  Then you weave a final, longer, piece of string around the previously added strings.  

You can also make a spider out of coloured pipe cleaners to hang on your spiders web.  Add some wiggly eyes to make them look a little less scary!

I have a couple of more ideas to share with you!  They will be posted soon!  If you have any input or questions then please feel free to post in the comments section!

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Books : Halloween #2

Halloween books may actually be my favourites.  It isn't the 1st of October yet but I am itching to get my trusty friends back out of the cupboard and start reading them to this years group of kids.

My first post about Halloween books was all about Winnie the Witch.  This time around there some more witches but also some creepy crawlies and something for the younger children.

The Witch's Children are three youngsters who haven't quite got the hang of their magic skills.  What starts off as a good deed ends up in chaos and the children have to ask for help to get everything fixed.

The book pictured is the first release and there are two more installments,The Witch's Children Go To School and The Witch's Children And The Queen.

Well written with wonderful illustrations, these books remind children who the most important person is and that they can always go to her for help.  Even if she is a witch! ;)

Next up, Aaaaarrgghh! Spider!

This is a favourite of mine even though I hate spiders.  The story is so funny and the kids always love it and ask it to be read again and again.

If you read this one right, with some drama and loudness, you will get some great reactions from the children.

But beware!  Every time I read this one there is a sudden rise in the spider population in work but all the children start screaming Aaaaarrgghh! Spider! Out! You! Go! and it makes it all worth while ;)

Make sure you check out some other books by this author.  She has some really nice ones out there and each book so far has always been a hit.  I am still collecting but I can highly recommend What the Ladybird Heard as well as The Princess and the Wizard.

Spot is a classic and I remember reading his books when I was young.  They are simple and are over quickly but younger children will really appreciate the pace.

Spot's Halloween has the basics and won't scare your kids.  It is also good for the older Kindergarten age to go over what they already should know in terms of Halloween vocab.

A definite must have for teaching Halloween, counting and much more.  Spot comes in all shapes and sizes and there are also books focusing on Easter and Christmas.  Good books to have in your collection for every festivity.

Do you have any book recommendations?  Feel free to comment below and let me know!

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Books : Halloween #1

Books are a great way to teach English to children but you have to find the ones that the kids really enjoy.  Over the years I have bought and read so many books but there are always ones that stand out.  These are the books that the children ask for again and again.  The ones that they convince their parents to buy in their Mother tongue or sometimes even in English.

Every Halloween has me grabbing the Winnie the Witch series by Valerie Thomas.  Actually I want to start reading them now even though it isn't October yet!  I think I have all of the books in the series and already ordered the latest release!

Winnie the Witch and her cat Wilbur are fun, interesting and unforgettable.  The illustrations by Korky Paul really bring the story to life and the little details in these picture books will have the kids looking at them for hours.

I always let the kids say the spells with me and even add special movements if Winnie only says Abracadabra.  The children love waving their pretend magic wands around five times or even ten times before shouting the magic word.  Counting, colours and much more are involved in these stories and you can teach many a topic using these books.

My children also love to see the pictures that are on the inside covers.  They are drawings from children all over the world and I always have to tell them the names, ages and country of the artists who have been picked for each book (found at the beginning of the book).

There is also a Winnie the Witch song/chant.  I end the song with a nice 1, 2, 3, Abracadabra! (see below) and try and use as many hand movements as possible.  Also try clicking your fingers or clapping with the chorus.

I highly suggest trying these books with all ages.  Even the adults like them ;)

I am not sure how many other languages the books have been translated into but the German versions are fun because Winnie is called Zilly and her cat Wilbur is called Zimbargo.  This amuses the kids and it is also nice if you can the version in your local language to not only compare but to make sure the children understand the whole story.

If you are buying the books new then look for the collections.  There are various options available with 6 books in 1 or 3 in 1.  On Amazon I also saw a nice package of 5 books with some activity books included that release in October.

Do you have any Halloween book suggestions?  Feel free to comment and share!

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Halloween Songs #1 : Ghosts Wanna Be Loved

Halloween is a fun time and even though it isn't celebrated here in Austria as much as in the UK and USA the kids love singing along and having a party.

Over the years I have sung a lot of different Halloween songs but since I learnt to play the guitar I have been writing my own songs.

This Halloween song is one of my favourites and the kids love it.  I came across the beginning/idea on an internet search (can't remember where!) and it reminded me of that Cyndi Lauper song, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

Ghosts Wanna Be Loved was born!  Click on the link to get the text and you can listen to a recording below.

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Halloween Arts & Crafts #2

It may seem a little early to be thinking about  Halloween already but it is always good to be prepared!  Also it is nice to decorate a little during the weeks before the spooky day arrives!

Ghost Lollipops

Very simple and a nice treat!  Just get some lollipops (round ones would better!) and then you need an old white sheet or tissue paper.  Wrap the white fabric/paper around the lollipop so that it hangs down like a ghost.  Use wool or string to tie the ghost together.

You can get the kids to cut the materials and also practice making knots.  Let them draw a face on their ghosts to make them even more spooky.



Pumpkin Window Deco

This is a nice activity for younger children and also a nice decoration if you have windows that need some Halloween/Autumn colour.

I drew the border on brown paper and let the kids cut out the shape themselves.  Baking paper was stuck on the back and then orange pieces of crepe paper or tissue paper were stuck on.

The children then added a face and a nice green stem.

Pumpkin Jack'o'Lanterns

We have something called Laterne Fest here (more about that later) and one year I combined it with Halloween because they are so close together and due to the fact that this one takes a long time to make with a group of kids.

It is your typical paper mache from newspaper and wallpaper paste.  I collected free newspapers and you can buy wallpaper paste at any DIY store.  You also need a balloon to get the shape.

When you have everything make sure you have a nice thick paste and that the newspaper is torn into strips.  Then it starts getting messy and fun!  Make sure you have some kind of protective clothing for the kids!

Paste the balloon and add the paper.  Keep doing this until the balloon is completely covered and has a few layers on it.  The let it dry.  This can be tricky...I usually tie some wool to the end of the balloon and leave them hanging around somewhere.  If you can do this on a Friday you will have nice dry ready to paint paper mache balls on Monday.

Pop the balloon, paint the pumpkin and then out the face when the paint is dry.  Put in a candle (a fake battery one is better and safer) and you have a nice Jack'o'Lantern.  If you want to use this for Laterne Fest then you can add a wire or wool holder to the top so the kids can carry it around.


What spooky stuff do you make for Halloween? Feel free to comment!

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Halloween Arts & Crafts #1

There are so more different arts & crafts projects out there to make for Halloween. Here are some of my previous efforts with the kids!

Monster Bags

The must have for any trick or treater.  I ordered white paper bags but I am sure you can use any paper bag that you get from the store.  After painting the bags and letting them dry the kids cut out the eyes, nose, mouth and ears from coloured paper.

Each bag was different and each one more scarier than the next.

Ghost Bags

Spooky and easy to make.  These bags were much smaller and didn't have handles.  Much better for parties that aren't going to offer a huge amount of treats.

Just get the kids to make a white upside down hand print and let them add a face.  Make sure the paint dries before adding anything else to the design.

Some glitter added to the drying paint makes these bags really sparkle.

Pumpkin Pompoms

This is an art project for older kids. A great way to help fine motor skills and train concentrate and patience.  Oh and they make great decorations.

If you have never made pompoms before then you will want to try it out yourself first.  Here is a video that shows you how.  Make sure you have enough wool and cardboard and thats all you really need.  I used two different shades of orange to make the pompoms less boring and also made a piece green so it really could be a pumpkin ;)

The faces are just paper stuck on.  Get the kids to draw the face first and then cut and stick.  I had some wiggly eyes going spare which made the pumpkins look even better.

Nespresso Spiders

I have a Nespresso coffee machine and hate throwing those used capsules away.  After seeing people make jewelery with them I decided I could also use them in Kindergarten.

Just empty and clean out the capsules and get the kids to jump on them.  This is really fun for them.  If you have a workbench then you can even let them hammer them flat.

I used two capsules per spider.  Front and back.  The pipe cleaners are glued in between the two capsules and the string to hang them up is also glued between the capsules.  Wiggly eyes look best on the spider and a piece of paper for the mouth.

You don't have to use dark coloured capsules but I found the black, brown and grey ones looked the best.

 Nespresso Bats

Not much different to the spiders.  Two capsules with the wings made out of black paper glued between them.  Also add some string between the capsules if you want to hang the bat up.

The wiggly eyes are easy to apply and the kids also added vampire like teeth cut out of white paper.

Easy to make and let the kids stamp the capsules themselves.  Just don't let them cut open and clean the capsules.  The sharp edges are not to be messed with.

Franken Monster Game

We had a big delivery and it is really hard for me to throw away such a nice big box.  I drew a monster on the one side and the kids helped me paint him.  We cut out the mouth and made a hole on his t-shirt and used this as a throwing game.

Actually we used pumpkin pompoms (see above) as balls and awarded five points for a pumpkin in the mouth and one point for every pumpkin the kids managed to get through the bigger hole.

Do you have any Halloween ideas you would like to share?  

Feel free to send them to me at MyKindergartenPlace@gmx.net

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