As Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to weave social-emotional learning (SEL) into your classroom activities. This holiday provides a special opportunity to engage students in conversations about feelings, friendship, empathy, and safe choices through themed resources and books. You can create memorable learning experiences for your students that last long after the holiday by implementing these 10 BEST elementary counseling and SEL ideas for Halloween!
The Importance of Teaching SEL Skills to Elementary Students
Social-emotional learning is a vital piece of a well-rounded education. Teaching these skills helps students create important skills they will use for life, like:
- Understanding and Expressing Feelings
- Having Empathy
- Friendship Skills
- Safe Choices
Incorporating SEL into your classroom, especially with early elementary students, cannot be overlooked. SEL education lays the foundation for students to become compassionate, resilient, and socially aware individuals. With all of the festive fun Halloween offers, this holiday is a great time to explore these concepts in ways that are both engaging and memorable for young learners— and low-prep resources, books, and videos will help you accomplish this goal!
Elementary Counseling and SEL Ideas for Halloween
Check out these 10 Halloween-themed ideas to bring important SEL topics to life in your classroom this year:
Resources
These four resources are low-prep for you and engaging for your students!
1. Color the Feelings: Halloween Edition
Teach students all about their feelings with this Color the Feelings: Halloween Activity. With this resource, they learn how to identify and express five common emotions:
- Sad
- Angry
- Worried
- Scared
- Happy
Even the youngest of elementary students can begin to understand important SEL concepts as they color through this resource! This activity is also a great way to start discussions about emotional awareness and regulation in a fun, hands-on way.
2. Halloween Safe Choices Activity
Next, students learn about safe and unsafe choices with this fun Halloween-themed Feed the Friends activity.
Students consider whether or not the 54 sorting cards are bad/unsafe or good/safe choices. Afterwards, students can reflect on each choice and sign a Safety Pledge.
This activity takes about 30 minutes to complete with a small or large group and is a great choice to grab when you have a short break between lessons or at the end of the day as everyone is winding down to head home.
3. Build a Trick-or-Treater Friend Activity
With the Build a Trick-or-Treater Friend activity, students learn about friendship skills as they consider what it takes to make and keep friends.
This resource comes in 3 versions available as printables or digital learning activities:
- Cut & paste version with blank or pre-filled candies
- Print & go version with blank candies to write friendship traits on
- Write in version to allow students to write a variety of positive friendship qualities next to their trick-or-treater
To complete this activity, have your students complete one (or all!) of the four reflection questions about friendship qualities!
4. Walk in My Shoes: Halloween Edition
Next, teach your students about empathy with this Walk in My Halloween Shoes activity.
Students “put themselves in someone’s Halloween shoes” by practicing perspective-taking and empathy as they read the given scenarios and answer the questions.
This resource is differentiated with 2 versions for you already! The handout version is best for older students while the workbook version is better for younger students. Both versions are available for digital learning too!
Books & Videos
Books and videos are a great way to incorporate more difficult topics, like SEL, into teaching elementary students. Inviting illustrations and relatable characters makes concepts more meaningful and easier to understand.
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5. Spookley and the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano
This book is about a little pumpkin named Spookley who is different from all the other pumpkins in the pumpkin patch because he is square instead of round. Spookley's square shape makes him self-conscious and worried about not fitting in with the other pumpkins.
Eventually, Spookley learns that being different can be an advantage! When a fierce storm threatens the pumpkin patch, Spookley's unique shape allows him to save the day by blocking the wind and keeping the round pumpkins safe.
This book is a great resource for teaching empathy and friendship skills.
6. That Monster on the Block by Sue Ganz-Schmitt
“That Monster on the Block” is about Monster who is not happy about his new next-door neighbor, Clown. He complains about Clown to everyone, until one day he gives him a chance and discovers that he really likes him.
This book is the perfect lesson on accepting those who are different from us. Combine that super important lesson with the Halloween theme and the adorable characters, it is a TOTAL MUST-HAVE!
7. Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
This story follows a kind, friendly witch who goes on a journey on her broomstick. Along the way, she encounters a dog, a bird, a frog, and a cat, who all ask to join her on the broom. The generous witch makes room for each of them. As the broomstick becomes more and more crowded, it snaps in two!
The witch and her friends work together to devise a clever plan to outsmart a mean dragon and rebuild the broomstick. In the end, there is still "room on the broom" for everyone!
This book helps students learn about kindness and positive friendship skills in a silly, festive way.
8. Ghost Afraid of the Dark by Sara Conway
Follow Boo the Ghost as he celebrates his first Halloween with all his monster friends! He is a shy little ghost who is afraid of many things. With the help of his friends, Boo learns how to confront his fears and be brave.
This story will resonate with many students experiencing feelings of fear and help everyone learn about the power of empathy and friendship.
9. If You Ever Meet a Skeleton by Rebecca Evans
Skeletons might seem scary, but there’s really not much to be afraid of! They can’t run fast, they’re terrible at hide-and-seek, and they’re scared of everything. When a group of trick-or-treaters runs into an actual skeleton on an enchanted Halloween night, they do whatever they can get away. But what does the skeleton really want? What if they’re just looking for a friend?
This book helps students learn to face their feelings of fear and consider what it means to be a friend to others— even those who may not be like you!
10. VIDEO: The Good, the Bad and the Spooky by Jory John, read aloud by Magical Little Minds
Let your students listen aloud to this Halloween favorite! The Bad Seed’s favorite holiday is Halloween, but he cannot seem to find a show-stopping costume for the big night. He decides that since he can’t enjoy the night, trick-or-treating should just be postponed! Will the Bad Seed turn his bad mood around or ruin the run for everyone?
This story teaches children about making good choices and how their feelings and actions impact those around them. It’s the perfect length with great illustrations for little learners to follow along the entire time.
By using these 10 elementary counseling and SEL ideas for Halloween, you can rest assured that your students will grow socially and emotionally. As they practice positive friendship skills, safe choices, empathy, and managing their emotions, your classroom will become a place where SEL is lived out each day!
You might also be interested in reading:
TOP 5 Fall Counseling and SEL ideas for Elementary Students
3 Simple Ways to Teach Diversity in the Classroom
5 AMAZING Winter Counseling and SEL Ideas for Elementary Students– Plus Winter Books!
You might also be interested in these products:
Small Group Counseling Curriculum BUNDLE
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