Miss Donna 4 Music

Dealing with the candy crazies!

Halloween in elementary music classrooms can be exciting, but all that candy can make kids a little extra. Here are some Halloween-themed, yet music-focused activities to keep students moving, engaged, and learning without the spooky stuff!

1. Pass the Pumpkin

I’ve mentioned this one a few times and I’ve told you about my resource in my TPT shop for this song, including the fact that I have spooky version and a non-spooky version. BUT there are lots of ways to use this song in music class on Halloween. Students sit in a circle and pass the pumpkin around, keeping time with the beat. When the music stops, whoever has the pumpkin shares a musical fact, tries a rhythm clap-back, or performs a quick movement, like a jump or clap pattern. This keeps them focused on rhythm and timing while staying active!

2. 5 Little Pumpkins Rhythm Chant

Turn the classic “5 Little Pumpkins” into a rhythm game. Teach the students the song and split the class into groups, giving each group one line of the song. Give each group a pattern to clap or tap or use some other body percussion for their line. Then perform the song by each group performing their rhythm or body percussion on just their line. By mixing movement with rhythm practice, students are active and on-task.

3. Steal the Pumpkin Rhythms

In this different take on the energetic game, place several small “pumpkins” (use cutouts or beanbags) in the center of the room. Split students into teams, each with a rhythm to clap. One student from each team races to the middle to “steal” a pumpkin and return it to their team. Before keeping it, they must clap back the rhythm they’re assigned. This combines rhythm work with movement and friendly competition.

4. Pumpkin Patch Freeze Dance

Play a Halloween-inspired but neutral instrumental piece and let students “grow” into a pumpkin patch as they dance. When the music stops, they freeze in their pumpkin poses or jack-o-lantern faces. For an added twist, call out an instrument or an instrument family, and students have to pose as if playing that instrument or one of the instruments in that family. This is a great way to reinforce musical vocabulary while keeping them moving.

By using these activities, your music classroom can be the perfect mix of seasonal fun and music learning, channeling all that extra energy in the best way possible! 🎃