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At any given moment during the month of October, thousands of classrooms are participating in Halloween-related activities. One class might be carving a pumpkin or decorating their room, while another might be planning and creating costumes. While these activities are certainly fun and worthwhile, there is one topic that should never be overlooked when it comes to Halloween: Safety.
While safety probably isn’t #1 on the list of students’ favorite Halloween-related subjects, there are ways to make it more interesting and interactive (which is key for keeping attention). Since I’m a music therapist, the teachers often look to me when it comes to this! Here are just a few ways that I approach the topic of Halloween safety.
- Start with a song. Naturally, I like to introduce any activity or discussion with an appropriate tune, and in this case it might be one of my own, like Halloween Day, or one of many other Halloween Songs or Safety Songs offered by Songs For Teaching®.
- Ask for student input. I like to make up a little chorus asking students to share specific information, which in this case would be along the lines of, "What is one way to stay safe on Halloween?" Asking that question in the form of a song not only grabs the students’ attention, but they can join in asking their peers to contribute ideas.
- Make a list of ideas. As each student shares his or her thoughts, write them down (or have a student volunteer to do so). Make sure to add any important points that the students leave out. A completed list should include : stay with an adult at all times, throw away any candy that is unopened or not in a sealed package, and look both ways before crossing the street, at the very least.
- Turn that list into a song. What is one of the best ways for children to retain information? By putting it to music, of course! So let your list become the lyrics, and then come up with a catchy melody (or use the melody from a familiar song) to accompany those lyrics. Sing the song with your students throughout October so that by the time Halloween arrives, they know all of the ways to stay safe by heart.