ceciliafelsenstein Halloween is just around the corner, and while most teachers I know are busy planning crafts and pumpkin-themed activities… I teach ELA. In high school. With students I’ve had before. So, I knew I needed something fresh this year — something fun, engaging, and still rooted in language learning.
How do I bring Halloween into my classroom without repeating last year’s activities?
We’ve already done spooky vocab and creepy haikus (you can check out my previous Halloween ELA post), so this time I wanted something different — something more interactive.
Last year we worked on stories, haikus, vocabulary (you can check my previous post). I needed to think of something different… and that’s when I came up with these ELA Halloween Games for Middle and High School.
That’s how these ELA Halloween Games for Middle and High School came to life!
They’re high-energy, vocabulary-rich, and perfect for adding a little spooky fun to your classroom without losing focus on your subject. Check them out and let me know what you think!
🎃 Halloween 5 Second Game
A fast-paced, laughter-filled game! Students must name 3 things in a given category — in just 5 seconds. For example:
- 3 Halloween candies
- 3 costumes
- 3 words that rhyme with “boo”
Warning: This one gets competitive fast!
👻 Halloween Outburst
Choose a Halloween-related category (e.g. “Haunted House Items” or “Famous Monsters”), and have students write down as many words as they can think of in 60 seconds. Then, compare with your answer list — students earn points for every word they match with yours!
🧛 Halloween Taboo
The classic party game with a Halloween twist! Students take turns helping their team guess the assigned word — but they can’t use any of the taboo words listed. It’s a fun way to encourage descriptive language, synonyms, and critical thinking.
All these ELA Halloween Games for Middle and High School are not only super fun but also great to reinformce vocabulary, creative thinking and teamwork — all while keeping the spooky spirit alive!
Want to try all of these in your classroom?
🎃 You can grab the full set of ELA Halloween Games here!
They’re low-prep, classroom-tested, and perfect for middle and high school!
