Imagine if you dare, a frightful night when spooky creatures roam the dark streets. Witches cackle, skeletons rattle, and goblins dance through the streets, demanding candy at every door! This, my brave friend, is Halloween! And what better way to start the spooky fun than with the book Scary, Scary Halloween? It is a delightful blend of mild scares and Halloween fun, perfect for fun Friday. Keep reading for some spook-tacular resources, ideas, and activities for the book Scary, Scary Halloween.
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About the Book
Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting is a charming and spooky children’s book that captures the essence of Halloween night. The story follows a group of mysterious, unseen narrators as they observe trick-or-treaters, dressed in various costumes, prowling through the eerie streets. With its rhyming text and suspenseful atmosphere, the book builds a sense of tension and anticipation, while Jan Brett’s adorable illustrations add to the spooky mood. In the end, the narrators are revealed to be a family of cats, watching the festive night from under the house.
Reading Activities for the Book Scary, Scary Halloween
Reading to young children should be a fun and engaging experience for everyone. We suggest reading the story multiple times over several days. Always begin with a brief introduction to spark excitement. As you read, pause occasionally to ask questions. Be sure to include text dependent questions. Encourage students to think about the answers and share their thoughts with a partner.
Text Dependent Questions
Including text-dependent questions in your read-alouds is a fantastic way to boost comprehension and set the stage for thoughtful book discussions in your kindergarten classroom. These questions help students focus on text, encouraging them to listen closely and think critically about what they’re hearing.
Here are some examples of text dependent questions.
- Do you think the skeletons, ghosts and witches are real? What are they doing?
- Who are the prowlers of the night?
- Who is narrating?
For more ideas on using text-dependent questions and making your read-alouds more engaging, check out 3 Steps to Create Meaningful Experiences Through Read Aloud. We also offer an Interactive Read Aloud resource specifically for the book Scary, Scary Halloween—read on to see how this resource can save you time and bring extra engagement to your read alouds!
Interactive Reading Resource for Scary, Scary Halloween
Bring your read-aloud to life with this engaging 3-day Interactive Read Aloud for Scary, Scary Halloween!
This resource comes complete with:
- 3 days of detailed lesson plans with book introductions, text dependent questions, vocabulary, and common core standards
- 14 differentiated writing pages
- Story elements anchor charts
- Cute and fun craft to decorate your classroom or send home to showcase student work
This resource aligns with the science of reading. It is research based, easy to implement and aligned with the common core standards.
Writing Activities for the Book Scary, Scary Halloween
After reading and discussing the book, ask your students to write about it. I recommend modeling and using word banks. This can also be a great opportunity to use Interactive Writing.
Here are some writing prompts you can use.
- What was your favorite part of the story?
- How do you feel about Halloween?
- What part of the story is scary?
- What is your opinion of the book and why?
Here are some FREE writing templates for you to use.
Graph Your Favorite Halloween Candy
Here’s a simple, hands-on way to bring math to life in your kindergarten classroom—using candy! Make a favorite Halloween candy graph. Start by asking your students to predict which candy will be the class favorite. After they’ve shared their guesses, let them choose and enjoy one candy (and keep the wrapper!).
Now, it’s time to create a graph. Have each student place their wrapper in the correct column on a big chart, arranging them neatly so everyone can see the results clearly. Once all the wrappers are in place, it’s time to dive into the math! Start by counting the wrappers in each column to find out which candy was the class favorite. Then, get those mathematical minds working by asking questions:
- Which candy was picked the least?
- Which candy has the most wrappers?
- Are any columns the same?
- How many are there altogether?
- What would happen if we combined two different candies?
- How many chose a candy bar as their favorite?
This activity helps with counting, comparing, and even a little addition—all in a fun way that feels more like play than work!
Science Activity for the Book Scary, Scary Halloween
Did you know that Cats’ eyes glow in the dark because they have a special part in their eyes that acts like a mirror? This special part, called the tapetum, reflects light, even if there isn’t much of it. So, when light hits their eyes at night, it bounces back and makes them look like they’re glowing. This helps cats see better in the dark!
Here’s a simple way to show your students why cats’ eyes seem to glow in the dark! You just need a few simple materials. Start with a large can with a shiny, reflective inside (those big coffee cans work great). Next, cut a circle out of a black garbage bag, big enough to cover the top of the can, and make a slit in the center. Secure the circle over the can with some tape, and now you’ve got your demo cat eye! Turn the can so your students can see the slit. Now have a student shine a flashlight at the slit while the rest of the kids watch the magic happen. They’ll see how the light bounces off the shiny surface inside, similar to how light reflects off a cat’s eyes at night.
Here’s the best part: once you’ve introduced the concept, add the can and flashlight to your science center. The kids can explore it themselves, and you’ll be amazed at how many of them want to try and “make the cat’s eye glow” over and over. It’s a hands-on way to get them excited about science, and who knows? You might even spark a lifelong curiosity about how things work!
Easy Snack for the Book Scary, Scary Halloween
Here’s a fun and easy snack recipe that your kindergarteners will love making—and eating! Perfect for little hands, this treat is both simple and tasty, making snack time extra special.
- Spread peanut butter or sunflower seed butter (for nut-free option) on round crackers.
- Add a slice of banana.
- Place a raisin in the center of each banana slice to create the “cat’s eye.”
- Eat and enjoy!
Cute Cat Craft for the Book Scary, Scary Halloween
No Fun Friday is complete without an adorable craft, and this kitty cat project is perfect! It’s easy, fun, and turns out so cute. Be sure to model each step for your little ones—we recommend making the cats together step-by-step, so everyone can follow along and create their own little masterpiece.
Preparing the Cat Craft for Your Students
To get this cat craft ready for your kindergartners, start by folding pieces of gray or black construction paper in half (hamburger style) for each student. On the open end, draw a large semi-oval, which will become both the cat’s head and other features. Pre-cut green rectangles for eyes, black squares for pupils, pink squares for noses, and thin white strips for whiskers. Having these pieces pre-cut will save time and make the activity easier for your little ones.
Making the Craft with Your Students
Begin by showing your students how to cut out the semi-oval from the construction paper, explaining that both pieces will be used: one as the cat’s head and the other as its tail and ears. Next, model how to carefully trim the corners of the green and black rectangles to make rounded eyes and do the same with the pink square to create a nose. Then, demonstrate where each piece should be glued on the head, and finish by showing how to draw a mouth and place the whiskers. Taking it step-by-step ensures that your students feel confident and can create their very own cats with ease.
More Fun Friday Activities
We hope you enjoy these activities for the book Scary, Scary Halloween. We absolutely love using picture books—wonderful, captivating picture books—to create meaningful learning experiences for children. If you’re looking to plan a full day of fun centered around a fantastic story, explore some of our other Fun Friday book ideas!
Let us know if you use any of these fun resources with your kids. We love seeing pictures and hearing about how other classes enjoy these activities.
