Spooky season is approaching and it’s the perfect time to start planning how to make this Halloween unforgettable for your older kids.
Halloween celebrations don’t have to be exclusive to middle school students or younger learners.
High school students, with their maturity and burgeoning independence, can take Halloween fun to a new level.
As busy moms, we all need a little inspiration, so let’s explore a list of Halloween activities and games outside of school that will ensure your older kids have a great time!
Best Halloween Activities and Games for High School Students
Halloween “What’s on Your Phone” Game
The “What’s on your phone” game is a popular party game and can be easily tailored for Halloween. Here’s how you play this game:
Create a list of Halloween-themed items or tasks that might be found on a person’s phone.
This could include things like a photo of the participant in a Halloween costume, a spooky ringtone, a Halloween-themed screensaver, a saved Halloween meme, a bookmarked page of a horror novel, or even a selfie with a pumpkin.
Assign points to each item or task on your list. Items that are harder to find or more unique should have a higher point value.
Halloween What’s on Your Phone Party Game
When your high school students gather for their Halloween celebration, divide them into small groups or individuals, then distribute the list.
Participants check their phones for the items/tasks on the list within a set time limit.
When time is up, the scores are tallied. The person or group with the most points wins a Halloween-themed prize.
The “What’s on Your Phone” game is a fun way to see who is the most prepared for Halloween and can stir up laughter and competition.
Halloween What’s on Your Phone Game
It also provides a great opportunity for participants to share their unique finds on their phone related to the spooky season!
Halloween Escape Room
Escape rooms are everywhere these days, and it’s a great way to challenge students’ problem-solving skills.
Halloween Escape Room Game
While we typically associate escape rooms with math or science puzzles, why not add a spooky twist?
Halloween Escape Room Game
Halloween-themed escape rooms are available virtually and physically. You and your friends can team up to solve chilling mysteries and escape from haunted settings.
Halloween Escape Room Game
Whether it’s a haunted house escape room or a crime scene inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s tales, you’re sure to get a fright.
Zombie Escape Room Printable Kit
Remember, it’s not just about escaping – it’s about having a great time with friends!
Pumpkin Carving Party
Pumpkin carving isn’t just for the little ones; it can be a fun, creative outlet for high school students too.
Hosting a pumpkin carving party with your teen’s friends is a great way to celebrate. You could even make it a competition with bonus points for the most creative or scariest design.
Horror Movie Marathon
Hosting a horror movie marathon is an ideal Halloween activity for high school students.
Choose a mix of classic and contemporary horror movies. Provide plenty of Halloween candy and popcorn and let the scary movie fun begin!
Best Printable Halloween Movie Trivia Game Questions
Haunted House Adventure
There’s nothing that screams Halloween more than a visit to a haunted house.
Whether it’s a community organized haunted house or a professional one, it’s a great way to get into the Halloween spirit.
A trip to a haunted house is a scary, fun activity that high school students will love and remember.
DIY Halloween Crafts
Halloween is the perfect time to get creative with DIY crafts.
Older students can have fun creating their own Halloween decorations like spider webs from craft sticks, or ghostly figures from pipe cleaners and googly eyes.
These crafts not only build creativity but are also a fun Halloween activity that gets them in the spirit of the spooky holiday.
Ghost Tours
If you live in a city or town with rich history, there might be ghost tours available.
These tours can be incredibly fun and a bit educational as they often revolve around local history and urban legends.
The spookiness of being in potentially haunted locations under the cover of night adds a chilling thrill, perfect for high school students looking for a scare.
Engage with Spooky Literature
One fantastic way to celebrate Halloween is by engaging your kids with classic scary stories.
Edgar Allan Poe is a treasure trove of spine-chilling tales. Organizing a small group reading of “The Tell Tale Heart” or “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” can be a fun way for older students to enjoy Halloween while appreciating classic literature.
To make it more engaging, you can challenge students to write their own ghost story using Halloween writing prompts.
Halloween Bake-off
Cooking is a life skill and what better time to practice some baking than during Halloween.
Organize a Halloween-themed bake-off where the high school students can make creepy cupcakes, ghoulish cookies, or a haunted gingerbread house.
This can be a fun and delicious way to celebrate Halloween.
DIY Costumes and Photoshoot
Why let little ones have all the fun of dressing up?
Encourage your high school students to create their own Halloween costumes, perhaps with a friendly competition for the most creative, scariest, or funniest costume.
Once everyone is dressed up, they can have a Halloween photoshoot. With the popularity of social media, this activity is sure to be a hit.
10 Halloween Costumes You Can Make Yourself
Haunted House Exploration
Instead of the usual walk-through haunted house, why not make a game out of it?
Create small groups of friends, and dare each group to tour a local haunted house.
Make it more interesting by creating a list of Halloween items or features each group needs to find during their walk-through.
Googly eyes on a ghost? Check. Black cat crossing your path? Check. Capture each moment with a quick photo or video and share your experiences after everyone’s done.
The group that ticks off the most items wins a Halloween candy jackpot!
Photo Halloween Scavenger Hunt for Teens
Host a Thriller Dance-off
Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance is synonymous with Halloween. It could be a fun activity for high school students to learn and perform the dance.
There are many tutorials available on YouTube that can guide them step by step. Once they’ve mastered the moves, they can have a dance-off or even perform it as a group.
Halloween Themed Book Club
For those who enjoy a good scary story, consider organizing a Halloween-themed book club. High school students can read classic horror novels or modern thrillers, then gather to discuss them.
Books could include classics like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, or something more modern like Stephen King’s The Shining.
This can be a great way to promote reading while getting into the spirit of Halloween.
Spooky Story Writing
Here’s a game idea that combines a Halloween activity with creative writing.
Choose a spooky theme, set a time limit, and see who can come up with the most terrifying short story.
You could use story starters or Halloween writing prompts to spark ideas. For an added twist, write the stories in the first person.
Make it even more authentic by using an old-fashioned typewriter or scrawling the tales by candlelight.
Gather round and share your spooky stories – the scarier, the better!
DIY Halloween Film Fest
A DIY Halloween Film Fest is another perfect way to spend the spooky holiday with your high school friends.
Make a list of the scariest horror movies, from classics to new releases.
And, with internet access being so common, you can organize a virtual watch party if you’re unable to gather in person.
Don’t forget to rate each movie at the end for added fun. If you want to take it a step further, consider creating your own horror short film.
It’s a great chance to challenge your creativity and maybe even recreate scenes from tales like Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” or Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Horror-Themed Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a classic game that never gets old, especially with a Halloween twist.
Hide Halloween-themed objects around your neighborhood or local park and create clever clues to lead the participants to them.
Turn it into a race, where the first team to find all the objects wins a prize.
Throw in some horror elements like a fake crime scene or areas inspired by urban legends to make it even more exciting.
Difficult Halloween Treasure Hunt Clues
Halloween Karaoke:
Who doesn’t love a good karaoke session? Spice it up this Halloween with spooky songs. Think “Monster Mash,” “Thriller,” or “Ghostbusters.”
Dress up, belt out your favorite spooky tunes, and rate each other’s performances. It’s all in good fun!
In conclusion, there’s no shortage of ways to make Halloween exciting for high school students.
Whether they’re writing a spooky story inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, solving riddles in a Halloween-themed escape room, or getting scared in a haunted house, they’re sure to have a great time.
It’s all about incorporating their interests and encouraging their creativity. So, don’t be spooked by the challenge of planning Halloween for older kids.
Embrace it, and make this spooky season one they’ll remember!
Frequently Asked Questions:
My high school student is not a big fan of horror or scary activities. What are some less scary Halloween activities?
Not all Halloween activities have to be scary! They can participate in a pumpkin carving party, a DIY Halloween crafts session, or even a Halloween-themed bake-off.
They could also be part of a Halloween-themed book club, where they can choose to read mystery books rather than horror.
What are some community-based Halloween activities that high school students can participate in?
Many communities organize haunted houses or ghost tours which high school students can attend.
Additionally, there might be Halloween-themed escape rooms available in your community.
It’s always a good idea to check with your local community center for any organized Halloween events.
How can I incorporate educational elements into these Halloween activities?
Several of these activities have an educational component.
For instance, the spooky literature engagement not only exposes students to classic authors like Edgar Allan Poe, but it can also help improve their close reading skills.
Similarly, DIY crafts and a Halloween bake-off can help students learn new skills while having fun.
I am worried about the safety of my kids while participating in some of these activities like visiting a haunted house or going on a ghost tour. What safety measures should I consider?
If safety is a concern, ensure that your kids go in a group and have a means of communication like a cell phone.
Additionally, only choose reputable and well-organized events that prioritize the safety of their attendees.
How can I ensure that these activities are age-appropriate for high school students?
Most of these activities are quite suitable for high school students.
However, for activities like horror movie marathons, make sure to choose movies that are appropriate for their age group.
If in doubt, you can always check the movie ratings and reviews before selecting.
Are these Halloween activities expensive to organize?
The cost can vary depending on the activity. Some, like a DIY crafts session or a movie marathon at home, can be quite affordable.
Activities like visiting a professional haunted house or going to an escape room can be more expensive.
Plan ahead and choose activities that fit your budget.
How can I make these activities more engaging and fun for high school students?
High school students love challenges and competition.
Make the activities more engaging by introducing a competitive element, such as a prize for the best ghost story, the most creative pumpkin carving, or the winning team in the scavenger hunt.
Can these activities be done in small groups or are they intended for larger parties?
The beauty of these activities is that they can be adjusted for any group size, from small gatherings to larger parties.
For example, a spooky story writing session, DIY crafts, or pumpkin carving can be done individually or in small groups.
On the other hand, a horror-themed scavenger hunt or a Thriller dance-off could be perfect for larger groups.