It’s that time of year again…cough cough the BEST time of year! Okay, maybe my birthday being so close to Halloween has something to do with that strong opinion, but it really is such a cozy time of year that starts off the holiday season in such a festive way.

When I taught kindergarten in the classroom, I was always searching for ideas for our classroom parties. If you’re a teacher, you just get it. Some ideas look great on Pinterest, but they aren’t actually practical for little learners. Also, so many ideas on there are a mess and not easy to prep.

Parents- if you come up with ideas as a classroom helper for the upcoming Halloween/Fall party, please consider this idea to not stress out your child’s teacher. It is easy to prepare, affordable, mess free, and extremely easy for students to play – even the littlest of learners.

Click on the image to go to product on TPT

This resource includes 24 picture-supported charades cards with simple, action-based prompts like “Can you act out stirring a cauldron?” and “Can you walk like a zombie?” Each card features a sentence and a corresponding visual to support non-readers and emergent readers.

To help students stay engaged and on track, this resource also comes with a picture matching recording sheet featuring checkboxes. Students can guess the action being performed and check off their guesses as they go…making this a great tool for classroom management, tracking, and participation.

The recording sheet that goes along with this game is perfect for young learners in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. So many games online include activities that just aren’t age-appropriate for the group they’re intended for. That’s why I love using this game with younger students…the rules are simple, the directions are easy to follow, and everyone can focus on having fun (without constant teacher intervention).

And of course, even though this is a game, it still reinforces important skills (so if your principal is a bit of a stickler 😉, here are a few goals you can highlight):

Turn-taking and social interaction

Oral language and vocabulary development

Gross motor movement

Listening and observation skills

This activity is perfect for:

• Halloween centers or stations
• Whole-group class games
• Brain breaks and movement activities
• Morning meetings or party days
• Sub plans and early finishers

I hope this idea helps take a little stress off your plate this season. Whether you’re a teacher prepping for a classroom party or a parent volunteering to help, remember, simple can still be meaningful (and fun!).

Have the best time celebrating this cozy, festive season with your students!

Love,

Meredith (Miss Meredith Made)