That are NOT Halloween-themed!
There are so many fun and cute ideas for music class to celebrate Halloween! But what if you don’t celebrate halloween??
I teach at a Christian church school and we do not celebrate Halloween, so every October I try to find fun music activities that are not related to Halloween or that I can modify to take out the Halloween element. Maybe you’re in the same boat? Or maybe you just don’t like Halloween. Or maybe you have sensitive students in your class that find Halloween too scary.
Here are 5 fun musical activities you can use all month long that are NOT Halloween themed but still very seasonal.
1. Pass the Pumpkin
This song is traditionally a Halloween-themed song but in my TPT shop, I have created 2 versions of the song that can be used for Halloween or just fall: a spooky version and a non-spooky version. This is a great little song that you can use to introduce minor sounds and you can keep it simple for younger kids or add an instrument element for a little challenge for older kids.
The spooky version mentions the word “spooky” and it includes a loud BOO! at the end. For the non-spooky version, I changed the word “spooky” to the word “minor” and remove the BOO! But students still get to enjoy learning about minor sounds. I always tell my students major songs sound happy and minor songs sound sad.
For younger students, we pass a pumpkin around the circle to the steady beat and whoever has the pumpkin on the last word of the song is out! That’s it!
For older students, there are a few rhythm ostinatos that go with the song. It starts the same way, where we pass the pumpkin around the circle but this time instead of being out, the student with the pumpkin at the end of the song gets to choose an instrument that matches a rhythm and they play that rhythm/instrument the next time the pumpkin goes around. They continue playing through the next 3 rounds, each time we add another student on the instrument crew, all of them playing their own rhythms together, until all 4 instruments are being played. After that we start all over with a new growing instrument crew.
Check out a video description here!
2. Autumn Comes
This is another lovely fall song in a minor key. I love playing this one in a minor key and then also in a major key and then ask the kids what the difference is in the sound between the two. It’s also a great song to go over 3/4 time and I generally use this one with older kids.
We sing the song, we talk about minor keys, and practice feeling the 3/4 beat and how it feels different than a “normal” 4/4 beat. Then we add instrument ostinatos with several different parts/groups and put it all together. Most of the instrument parts are rhythm but there are a couple melodic ones too. Sometimes I also have students write the letters of the notes on the staff and play the melody on glockenspiels and sometimes I teach them the chords and have them play them on boomwhackers or piano if there’s a student in the class that plays piano.
Check out a video description here!
3. 5 Little Pumpkins
This is a cute little song for younger students. I usually have all the kids act out each of the 5 pumpkins together, then I choose 5 students to come up to the front of the room and each one gets to sing and act out a pumpkin on their own. Then I’ll rotate and have a couple different groups of 5 do it so all the students get a chance to act out a pumpkin on their own. Some teachers use this as just a chant but I’ve turned it into a simple melodic song. Check out my video to hear the melody and see the movements thats I’ve added! Very simple, no prep, and the kids love it!
Check out a video description here!
4. Fall Recorder Fun
This one is for students learning to play recorder. I break the class up into small groups and each group gets a bag full of cards. There are pumpkin cards that have rhythms on them and leaf cards with recorder letters (no notes on staff for this activity). Then I have each group choose 6 pumpkins and 6 leaves, assign one leaf to each pumpkin, put them in any order they want, and then they play their “composition” for the class. I have this resource in my TPT shop and there is a composing worksheet included if you want to have students write it down. While it goes quicker and easier with small groups, you could also have each student create their own as well.
Check out a video description here!
5. Steal the Pumpkin
This is also in my TPT shop and is super simple! I print out 2 sets of pumpkin rhythm cards and spread each set out on a table. Then I divide the class into 2 teams and have them sit in a line (like they’re riding on a bus). Then I clap or play one of the rhythms and when I say “GO” the first person on each team, races to their table to find the correct rhythm. The first one to get the correct rhythm wins a point for their team. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins! My classes are relatively small so 2 teams works just fine for me but if you have bigger classes you could always make more teams and print out more cards.
Check out a video description here!
Keep students having fun in October!
These October music activities focus on developing core musical skills such as rhythm, steady beat, playing instruments, and engaging with music through movement. By weaving in the excitement of the autumn season (even without Halloween elements), you’re keeping students motivated and involved while reinforcing essential musical concepts.
Whether you’re teaching recorder basics, guiding students through steady beat exercises, or engaging them with a fun chant, these activities will keep your class moving and learning—all while enjoying the festive fall atmosphere!
Miss Donna 4 Music 