Halloween and Thanksgiving ELA Activities for Middle or High School

Looking for some educational activities during the Halloween or Thanksgiving season? Try these English Language Arts extension activities.

Halloween Writing Prompts

This resource contains 28 Halloween Themed Writing Prompts. Use for Do Now, Writing Prompt, Journal Prompt, or Creative Writing Lesson. Each activity includes a photo and a corresponding writing prompt. Prompts focus on poetry, narratives, point of view, defending an argument, descriptive writing, or characterization. Perfect fall writing activities for the middle or high school classrooms.

For a generic Fall themed activity:

This resource contains 24 Fall Themed Writing Prompts. Use for Do Now, Writing Prompt, Journal Prompt, or Creative Writing Lesson. Each activity includes a photo and a corresponding writing prompt. Prompts focus on poetry, narratives, point of view, defending an argument, descriptive writing, or characterization. Perfect fall writing activities for the middle or high school classrooms.

Halloween Charades or Draw It Cards

This resource contains 64 Halloween Charades or Draw It Cards. Great for reinforcing vocabulary, brain breaks, indoor recess, and creative expression. Classroom Games for the holidays.

Thanksgiving Charades or Draw It Cards

This resource contains 56 Thanksgiving Charades or Draw It Cards. Great for reinforcing vocabulary, brain breaks, indoor recess, and creative expression. Classroom Games for the holidays.

Thanksgiving Readers Theater Play

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Readers Theater Script and Activity. Adapted from the short story by Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women.

The Bassett children have to create a Thanksgiving feast on their own.

Includes:

Readers Theater Script

One-Pager Reading Activity

14 Reading Parts – Narrator 1, 2, 3, Mrs. Bassett, Mr. Bassett, Eph, Tilly, Prue, Roxy, Rhody, Sol, Seth, Gad, Aunt Cinthy

Holiday activity. Use as One-Act Play and/or Readers Theater for the upper grades. Adapted to script form from the original short story by Louisa May Alcott. Contains original text.

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Readers Theater Script

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Readers Theater Script and Activity. Adapted from the short story by Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women.
The Bassett children have to create a Thanksgiving feast on their own.
Includes:

Readers Theater Script

One-Pager Reading Activity
14 Reading Parts – Narrator 1, 2, 3, Mrs. Bassett, Mr. Bassett, Eph, Tilly, Prue, Roxy, Rhody, Sol, Seth, Gad, Aunt Cinthy

Halloween Movie Guides

Hocus Pocus Movie Guide (1993). PG. Halloween Classic. Educational and extension activities for students to use while viewing the movie in class. Hero’s Journey or Folklore and Legends Lesson. This resource contains a full pdf file of the product and links to Google Docs and Slides.

The Sanderson sisters have returned and Salem will never be the same. Follow Max on his Hero’s Journey to save the town’s children.

Includes:

• Hocus Pocus Movie Viewing Guide – 30 Guided Questions & 5 Discussion Questions (PDF & Google Docs)
• Answer Key (PDF)
• Movie Review Worksheet (PDF & Google Slides)
• Movie Analysis Graphic Organizer (PDF & Google Slides)
• Hero’s Journey Graphic Organizer (PDF & Google Slides)
• Movie Guide Graphic Organizer (PDF & Google Slides)
• Movie Character Analysis Worksheet (PDF & Google Slides)
• Movie Plot Organizer (PDF & Google Slides)
• Visual Note-taking Activity with Rubric (PDF)

Movie Viewing Guide for Blithe Spirit (1945). Rated G. Based on the play by Noel Coward. Great extension activities for Film Studies, Comedy, Theater, Characterization, or Dramatic Analysis Lessons. This resource contains a full pdf file of the product and links to Google Drive Documents/Slides that can be used with Google Classroom.

Charles Condomine hires a psychic to help him research his next book but is shocked when she summons the ghost of his late wife.

Includes:

• Blithe Spirit Movie Viewing Guide – 20 Guided Questions & 5 Analytical Discussion Questions (Printable PDF & Link to Google Doc)
• Answer Key
• Movie Review Worksheet
• Movie Analysis Graphic Organizer
• Hero’s Journey Graphic Organizer
• Visual Note-taking Activity with Rubric

No Prep Digital and Print Movie Guide for Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Hallowe’en Party Season 12 Episode 2. Great for British Literature, Mystery, or Short Story Lesson. Includes guided and analytical discussion questions, plus graphic organizers. This resource contains a full pdf file of the product and links to Google Drive Documents/Slides that can be used with Google Classroom.

Includes:

• Poirot: Season 12 Episode 2 – Hallowe’en Party – 20 Guided Questions & 5 Discussion Questions (PDF and Google Docs)
• Answer Key (PDF)
• Mystery Genre Graphic Organizer (PDF and Google Slides)
• Movie Review Worksheet (PDF and Google Slides)
• Movie Analysis Graphic Organizer (PDF and Google Slides)
• Visual Note-taking Activity with Rubric (PDF)

The Corpse Bride Movie Guide and Worksheets. (2005 PG) Animated. Halloween Educational Activities to use while viewing in class. This resource includes a PDF of the entire product and links to Google Docs and Slides for a digital option.

Jack, the Pumpkin King, discovers Christmas and Halloween Land will never be the same.

Includes:

• The Corpse Bride Movie Viewing Guide – 20 Guided Questions & 5 Discussion Questions (PDF & Docs)
• Answer Key (PDF)
• Movie Review Worksheet (PDF & Slides)
• Movie Analysis Graphic Organizer (PDF & Slides)
• Movie Character Analysis Worksheet (PDF & Slides)
• Movie Plot Analysis (PDF & Slides)
• Visual Note-taking Activity with Rubric (PDF)

Halloween Movie Guide Bundle. Educational Activities for students to use while viewing movies in class. Print and digital worksheets and graphic organizers in PDF, Google Docs, and Interactive Google Slides. Great for Film Studies and dramatic analysis.

Includes:

• Blithe Spirit (1945)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Hocus Pocus (1993)
• The Corpse Bride | (2005)
• Halloween Party from Agatha Christie’s Poirot | S12 E2

(Each movie guide is also sold separately.)