7 Fun Halloween Science Activities for Middle and High School

I get it. We’ve all been there. Halloween’s approaching, and while it’s tempting to let the kids just revel in the season’s festivities, we also don’t want to set aside meaningful learning. Fun Halloween science activities that include REAL science are difficult to find. Pinterest if full of cute craftivities that look “sciency” but they lack rigor…. especially for secondary science classrooms.

To solve that problem, I wanted to create some Halloween-themed science activities that will not waste your instruction time with “fluff.” Think of them as that perfect middle ground: they include Halloween-themed activities but also come packed with real, hands-on science. From exploring nocturnal creatures’ behaviors to understanding the physics behind pendulums, these activities are both engaging and educational. And trust me, it’s such a relief to have something that speaks to the season while keeping the learning gears in motion.

Hope this helps during the Halloween hustle.

1. Halloween Bingo

Looking for a fun Halloween game or incentive? Halloween Science Bingo is just the ticket! Made for middle and high school students, it combines relevant science facts associated with Halloween. Whether you’re planning a class party or looking for a fun incentive, this print-and-go game hits the mark! Perfect for class parties, incentives or just some fun!

What’s Included:

• 30 Unique Bingo Cards
• 1 Teacher Calling Card with prompts and answers

Here are some example prompts from the calling card:

• Ancient Egyptians removed this organ through the nose during the mummification process to prepare a body for the afterlife. (Brain)
• A fear of the dark, often heightened during spooky nights. (Nyctophobia)
• The fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is notorious for infecting ants and taking control of their behavior, making them behave like this Halloween icon. (Zombie)

2. Pumpkin Pendulums Force and Motion

This Halloween science experiment is a fun physical science or physics lab with a fun fall, pumpkin twist. Use candy pumpkins as weights on pendulums to investigate the variables that affect a pendulum’s frequency. This lab is very low prep and uses easy-to-find materials. Students love it and it is a Halloween science activity that includes REAL science, not just fun!

Five Pumpkin Pendulum Activities:

• Activity 1: Does the height from which a pendulum drops affect its frequency?
• Activity 2: Does the weight of a pendulum’s bob affect its frequency?
• Activity 3: Does the length of a pendulum’s string affect its frequency?
• Activity 4: How does energy transfer between coupled pendulums?
• Activity 5: How does energy transfer between two pendulums that wind around each other?

3. Fun Forensics Blood Spatter Activity

Step into a crime scene investigation without the scare factor. Introducing students to the principles of blood spatter analysis in forensics, this hands-on experiment allows them to replicate blood patterns, analyze them, and even craft their own crime story. It’s the ideal activity for those looking to introduce forensics in a fun and educational manner. This activity includes blood spatter analysis, graphing, the creation of mock crime scene evidence (for students!), and story creation. This one will interest all of your students!

4. Halloween Candy Hexagonal Thinking Activity

This is a great way to use Halloween Candy for a fun and attractive nutrition comparison. Perfect for Halloween, the day after trick-or-treat, or anytime! This activity provides students an opportunity to explore the nutritional content of popular Halloween candies. This is a fresh take on research projects that allows students to make connections and collaborate with peers. The matrix created through the collaboration part of this project is perfect for Bulletin Boards. Also….teachers find this to be a very engaging Sub Plan for science classes.

5. Nocturnal Animals Hexagonal Thinking

Discover amazing nocturnal animal adaptations with this engaging and collaborative hexagonal thinking activity! Take a deeper look into the distribution, habitat, niche, diet, behavior, adaptations and challenges faced by nocturnal and crepuscular animals. This is a fresh take on research projects that allows students to make connections and collaborate with peers. The matrix created through the collaboration part of this project is perfect for Bulletin Boards. Also….teachers find this to be a very engaging Sub Plan for science classes.

6. Halloween Bullying Prevention

Use this social-emotional learning activity as an object lesson this Halloween to teach anti-bullying tactics to your middle or high school students. This Halloween activity combines social-emotional learning and science! Through chemistry, students will learn how to make a fog chamber that fits inside of their jack-o-lantern and then learn how to “fog” a bully. This activity is perfect for the classroom, parties, or family fun night!

7. FREE: Nocturnal Animals Hexagonal Thinking with Chat GPT

Discover amazing nocturnal animal adaptations with this engaging and collaborative hexagonal thinking activity! Students use Chat GPT to research the distribution, habitat, niche, diet, behavior, adaptations and challenges faced by nocturnal and crepuscular animals. After using Chat GPT to research their assigned animal, students then validate the information by cross-referencing, which is recorded on a student checklist worksheet.

Wrapping Up…

These Halloween Science Experiments aren’t just holiday fillers; they are genuine, enriching, science-themed activities. Each one offers its unique twist, combining the festive spirit of Halloween with foundational scientific concepts.

If you’re an educator looking for innovative ways to spice up your Halloween lesson plans, this bundle on TPT is a must-have. Not only will you be bringing the fun of Halloween into your classroom, but you’ll also be ensuring that your students are engaged in meaningful learning. The perfect combination of spooky and smart! 🎃