Fun Halloween Ideas for ESL Classrooms
Looking for fun and effective Halloween activities for ESL or EFL students? October is the perfect time to add seasonal lessons that build vocabulary, grammar, and speaking confidence. The best part? These low-prep Halloween ESL resources keep your class engaged, save you planning time, and give English learners meaningful practice while enjoying the holiday spirit.
Table of Contents
- Halloween Board Game: Name Two Things
- Halloween Vocabulary & Writing Pack
- Find Someone Who – Halloween Edition
- Halloween Vocabulary Bingo
- Halloween Charades
1) Halloween Board Game: Name Two Things
Teachers often struggle to find speaking activities that keep the whole class engaged without requiring hours of prep. This Halloween Board Game solves that problem by getting students to draw a card and name two things that match a seasonal prompt (e.g., “Name two things you can see in a haunted house”).
It’s an easy way to practice vocabulary building, fluency, and critical thinking—all while having fun. Use it for warm-ups, center rotations, or even as a quick review before a holiday party. Students stay engaged because every round is different, and you save valuable time since it’s print-and-go.
2) Halloween Vocabulary & Writing Pack
If you’ve ever wished for a resource that reinforces seasonal vocabulary while integrating grammar practice, the Halloween Vocabulary & Writing Pack is for you. It includes a picture dictionary, themed worksheets, and writing prompts that encourage students to use new words in context.
This is especially helpful if you teach mixed-level classes—lower-level learners benefit from visual supports, while higher-level students can expand into writing sentences and short paragraphs. Because the pack is ready to print, you can use it for independent practice, homework, or quick sub plans when you need them most.
3) Find Someone Who – Halloween Edition
Sometimes, teachers just need a no-prep speaking activity that gets everyone out of their seats. The editable Halloween Find Someone Who does exactly that. Students mingle, ask questions, and find classmates who fit Halloween-themed prompts (e.g., “Find someone who carved a pumpkin this year”).
This activity supports conversation practice, listening comprehension, and social interaction. It’s ideal for large groups, icebreakers, or Halloween classroom parties when you want structured fun that still delivers meaningful language practice.
4) Halloween Vocabulary Bingo
No seasonal unit is complete without Halloween Bingo! This Halloween ESL Bingo set comes with 30 unique boards and calling cards so the whole class can play together. Teachers love that it reinforces listening skills and vocabulary recall in a way students don’t even realize is “work.”
It’s perfect for fast finishers, small-group centers, or a full-class reward activity that still provides valuable language exposure. Plus, since everything is pre-made, you can focus on managing the game instead of creating materials.
5) Halloween Charades
Sometimes students need a way to practice verbs and action words that feels playful. The Halloween Charades game includes 40 cards featuring costumes, characters, and spooky actions. It’s a great way to get students moving while practicing oral language and fluency.
Because it’s flexible, you can use it with small groups, the whole class, or even as a brain break. Teachers love that it encourages shy students to participate, and it helps channel classroom energy in a positive way—especially during the excitement of October.
6) Halloween Finish The Sentence Card Game
If you love games that combine grammar practice, vocabulary building, and student creativity, this one is a classroom favorite. The Halloween Finish the Sentence Game works like a mix between Mad Libs and UNO. Students take turns drawing colorful cards with sentence starters and categories such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
For example, a student might draw a card that says: “The monster is so ___.” and then use an adjective card to complete it with something silly, spooky, or surprising. The results are always unique — and often hilarious — making this activity an instant hit during October lessons.
Teacher Benefits:
- Low-prep, just print and play.
- Perfect for grammar review and sentence structure practice.
- Encourages speaking and listening in a fun, low-pressure way.
- Great for mixed-ability groups since students can give simple or complex answers.
This game is perfect for October centers, small groups, or party day activities. Students love competing to create the funniest or spookiest sentences, and you’ll love how naturally it reinforces parts of speech and sentence building skills.
Get the Halloween Finish the Sentence Game here or grab it in the Halloween ESL Games Bundle.
Save with the Bundle
Instead of piecing together activities, save time and grab the Halloween ESL Games Bundle. It includes all six resources, covering vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills. Teachers appreciate that it’s a complete seasonal toolkit—you can plan multiple lessons, differentiate for mixed levels, and know your students will be engaged throughout October.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages and levels work best?
These activities fit elementary to middle school English learners (A1–B1). Bingo and Charades are beginner-friendly, while the Board Game, Find Someone Who, and Writing Pack challenge pre-intermediate students.
How long does each activity take?
Most take 10–20 minutes, but you can extend them into 30–40 minute lessons with pre-teaching, writing extensions, or group rotations.
Do I need color printing?
Not at all. While color looks fantastic, all resources print clearly in black and white for budget-conscious teachers.
Any editable or digital resources?
Yes—Find Someone Who is editable in PowerPoint, so you can tailor prompts to your learners’ needs. The rest are ready-to-print PDFs for easy prep.
How do I use these with mixed-level groups?
Pair stronger speakers with beginners, provide sentence frames, and pre-teach key vocabulary. For advanced learners, add timers, require full sentences, or assign follow-up writing tasks. Differentiation is built in.
Grab the Free Haunted House A–Z Activity
Need a fun October warm-up? Enter your email below to download a Haunted House A–Z vocabulary freebie. It’s a quick, no-prep way to get students brainstorming Halloween words—and you’ll also get fresh ESL teaching tips delivered weekly.
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Created by Hot Chocolate Teachables — fun, ready-to-use resources for ESL and EFL teachers who want engaging, low-prep activities that actually work in the classroom.
