Spookiest Science Learning Ideas!
What I love about science is that it is messy, tasty, and can totally be campy! Theming science lessons around a single holiday, subject, or idea is one way our students and my own kiddos learn. Since it is almost Halloween, there are plenty of opportunities to make science a little scary, a tiny bit spooky, and maybe a lot silly!
I saw some of these kits and lesson plans (and made one myself!) and thought that they were great to pair with Halloween.
Bat Anatomy Kit
This bat dissection kit is so…cool! I saw it on Instagram first. I don’t know if my phone is listening or what, but my five year-old is recently obsessed with bats and I just happened to come across it. I ordered it and holy moly, my kiddo was more smitten with me than before! It isn’t a real dissection. Instead, it is a simulation, but I love the accuracy, especially of the fingers-yes, the bones under bat wings are fingers. Of course, he was a little young and need my help, but a kiddo who is a little older can manage it independently. Pair it with some books about bats or this video, and you have a great lesson!
You can order by clicking the picture.
Potion & Strategy Game
Cauldron Quest is great for a few reasons. A lot of the current STEM kits are potion-making kits. That is fantastic and all, but I really appreciate when lessons, activities, and games integrate various levels of learning. After all, that is one of our own key missions/values. Anyway, this isn’t just an “open the box” and mix chemicals together kind of activity. Instead, it is a cooperative game (yay for social-emotional skills!) that requires strategy and problem-solving to even get the chance to make the potion! I also really love seeing how my kids add on to the pretend stories each time they play it. I have kids and students that are different ages and they all seem to enjoy the game and enjoy creating new stories. You can always add more potions too!
Order by clicking the picture!
Haunted House STEM Challenge
Lastly, and especially great for older kids, including tweens and teens, is something I do every year. I created this haunted house STEM challenge that requires using different materials and following certain parameters. You can totally scale it down for younger students though. The challenge includes making the scariest haunted house meaning you have to put it up to a vote and you can include the whole class, or neighbors, or extended family. It reminds me of a gingerbread house but not perishable! In addition, there is a bonus language arts activity should you want to extend your kiddo’s learning. Again, there is a nice blend of engineering work, physics, and art. It has to be scary and it has to be aesthetically pleasing while checking off all the requirements!
Download by clicking on picture!
Have a berry scary Halloween!