HALLOWEEN CRAFTS and PARTY IDEAS
(excerpts from Storytell posts)

1) EASY halloween crafts that can be executed with 30 kids at a time in 30 minutes:
We usually have a make-and-take craft activity at the library most weeks. The crafts are simple things kids can make with no help from staff, so they can come in anytime, go to the make-and-take station and make something neat. Here are a few ideas:
Ghost pencils. Use a cotton ball, a tissue, rubber band and a pencil. Put the cotton ball on top of the eraser, drape the tissue over it, fasten with rubber band. Draw on eyes and mouth with a black pen or marker. Spooky friend to take to class!

Toothpick skeletons on black paper. All you need is glue, toothpicks, and black construction paper. They glue on their skeletons in any shape they want. I'd precut skeleton heads for them--just a basic oblong shape would do. You could also let them cut the heads out themselves, of course. And maybe add yellow paper moons.

Paper baskets are very easy to make. Cut a piece of paper into a square, then fold in three, then in three again the other way. Cut along lines at the corners and fold up. The piece you cut off to make the square can make the handle. It's easy to see once you've foled the paper though. Once you have the basket cut out, fold the ends up and fasten with tape or staples. Then you can decorate with stickers, paint, whatever you want. I'd make the baskets orange or black and decorate with cut-uot ghosts, pumpkins, bats, etc. Just one idea. They could use the baskets to put story ideas in. There are some great online ideas and patterns too. A search on +"Halloween crafts for kids" should bring you more than you can use. Here's a few good
ones:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/halloween/halloween_crafts.html (pumpkin paper plate mask is cool)
http://rats2u.com/halloween/halloween_crafts.htm

For the older kids, I think I am going to ask them to collect either a Louisiana ghost or family ghost tale. Tell one of your own to them first, a story that is supposedly true. Talk about that, how people told them and why, about some historical Louisiana ghosts. You might have them use some of the standard oral history questions to get their family members talking and remembering. Asking someone straight out if they ever saw a ghost or heard a ghost story may not draw a response. They might need time to think about it, or some other memory might remind them. Of course, most kids know a local legend or remember something someone told them. I remember last year a class of eighth graders who began telling a flood of ghost stories after listening to my stories. I told some from my holler, some from state history. It was enough to get then thinking and comfortable enough to tell their own stories. Trust has a lot to do with it, I think.

2) Ghosts - use lollipops or wadded up paper ball, a napkin and string to create a ghost. An extra long piece of string lets them hang it. (Not recommended for lollipop ghosts since it could become a semi-hurtful "weapon".) I have a fun story about a little ghost who couldn't groan and how he learned to groan.

3) Pumpkins - Use paper lunch bags. Wad up newspapers and stuff the bag. Tie with green yarn and decorate with construction paper to make a jack-o-lantern.

4) Spiders and webs. Cut center out of a paper plate. Punch holes around the inner side of the circle. Weave yarn or string back and forth to make a web. Twist 4 short pieces of black pipecleaner together. Bend and position legs. Glue on wiggle eyes. Put spider on the web.

5 ) Snakes. Fold 2 strips of paper back and forth over each other to form an accordian folded piece of paper. Cut out a construction paper head and tongue and glue it on the snake. These can be made out of newspapers or magazines--the glossy pages work the best.

6) Skeletons - Use q-tips to form a skeleton. Some of them are cut. I can't remember how the head is made but if it sounds interesting, I'll look in my files for more specific information. The disadvantage of this craft is cutting q-tips and keeping pieces separate.

7) Have you thought about the last session for each group being a spooky storytelling swap? Turn the lights down low. Light a jack-o-lantern. (Use a glow stick inside if candles are not approved for inside the building.) Let the children take turns telling the stories.

8) Just in time for the ghoul-filled day; games, treats, party tips, etc. Some ideas to go along with the tellings. FamilyFun: Halloween Parties:
http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/halloween_ms_parties/
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(Updated 11/24/04; 9/29/08)