How do you teach preschoolers about Halloween?

Read “Big Pumpkin” to the children – it's one of my favorite Halloween books. Then set up a Halloween sequencing activity that works on retelling . A printable Halloween emergent reader is just what you need to practice early literacy skills. A Halloween fine motor activity would be perfect during center time, too.

How can I make my ESL lesson fun?

Here are some creative ways to spice up your ESL lessons and make them more dynamic and interactive. 1 Use games and activities. ... 2 Incorporate multimedia and technology. ... 3 Use realia and props. ... 4 Use cooperative learning strategies. ... 5 Use differentiation and personalization. ... 6 Here's what else to consider. Dec 19, 2023

How do you teach ESL effectively?

11 Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners Cultivate relationships. ... Be culturally aware. ... Teach language skills across all curriculum topics. ... Speak slowly and be patient. ... Prioritize “productive language” ... Use a variety of methods to engage learning. ... Utilize visual aids. ... Coordinate with the ESL teacher. More items...

What is Halloween simple explanation for kids?

It was believed that on the last night of October, the spirits of the dead roamed the Earth . The holiday is also called All Hallows' Eve. In the Christian church, All Hallows' Eve is the night before All Saints' Day. On November 1, All Saints' Day honors all of the Christian saints.

What is Halloween facts for kids?

17 Halloween facts for kids that celebrate the spookiest season Halloween can be traced to ancient times. ... People didn't always trick-or-treat for candy. ... October 31 isn't the only day people celebrate Halloween. ... Halloween isn't the only fall celebration. ... Jack-o'-lanterns weren't always made out of pumpkins. More items... Nov 1, 2023

What is the purpose of Halloween for kids?

To help scare off evil spirits children would dress up in costumes and make themselves scary to frighten any bad demons away. This is where we get our modern Halloween traditions of dressing up in costumes and giving gifts of sweets to children through trick or treating.

What is the history of Halloween for ESL kids?

The tradition of Halloween on 31 October comes from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain . Samhain was the Celtic New Year and they celebrated it on 1 November because that was the end of summer and harvest time (life) and the beginning of winter (death). It was also the time for ghosts to return to earth for a day.

How do you explain Halloween to a child?

Halloween takes place on October 31. It is a time when people dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and carve jack-o'-lanterns from hollowed out pumpkins . Ghosts and witches are popular costumes of the children who go from house to house saying, “Trick-or-treat!” The treat is usually candy.

How do you teach culture to ESL students?

Include authentic and diverse resources such as videos, podcasts, articles, songs, games, and art that represent different aspects of culture . Furthermore, make your cultural lessons interactive and meaningful by providing your students with opportunities to practice their language skills in relevant contexts.

ESL Lesson on Halloween (2024)

THE LESSON ON HALLOWEEN

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Halloween. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:

READ

Halloween is celebrated on October the 31st every year. It originated from a pagan holiday and the Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day. The name Halloween is a shortened version of All Hallows’ Eve. Today, it is more of a fun day for children and has largely lost its religious roots. Halloween is probably most famous in the U.S.A. Irish immigrants took it to America in the mid-1600s and it slowly spread across the country. Halloween is not celebrated in many countries around the world although many people know about it. Some Christians are not so happy that people celebrate Halloween. They believe the holiday is un-Christian because of its origin as a pagan "festival of the dead."

Halloween has many easily identifiable symbols. The colours orange and black are widely used. In particular, orange pumpkins and fires and black witches, cats and costumes are common features of this day. One of the biggest Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. This is when children knock on doors and ask for a small gift. If they don’t get anything, they’ll play a trick on the person who opens the door. Food also plays a big part of Halloween. Toffee apples are very popular and so is anything made from pumpkin. Halloween is also a popular topic for Hollywood. Many horror movies have been made about it. Because of this, Halloween is now known in many countries that never actually celebrate it.

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.

MY e-BOOK

SEE A SAMPLE

Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.	It originated from a	a.	of All Hallows’ Eve
2	a shortened version	b.	happy
3.	Irish immigrants took	c.	dead
4.	it slowly spread	d.	pagan holiday
5.	not so	e.	it to America
6.	festival of the	f.	across the country

Paragraph 2

1.	The colours orange and black	a.	trick
2	cats and costumes are common	b.	activities
3.	Halloween	c.	from pumpkin
4.	play a	d.	are widely used
5.	anything made	e.	movies
6.	horror	f.	features

LISTENING GAP FILL

Halloween is celebrated on October the 31st every year. It _________________ pagan holiday and the Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day. The name Halloween is _________________ of All Hallows’ Eve. Today, it is more of a fun day for children and has largely lost its religious roots. Halloween is _________________ in the U.S.A. Irish immigrants took it to America in the mid-1600s and it _________________ the country. Halloween is not celebrated in many countries around the world although many _________________ it. Some Christians are not so happy that people celebrate Halloween. They believe the holiday is un-Christian because _________________ pagan "festival of the dead."

Halloween has many easily identifiable symbols. The colours orange and black _________________. In particular, orange pumpkins and fires and black witches, cats and costumes are _________________ this day. One of the biggest Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. This is when children _________________ and ask for a small gift. If they don’t get anything, they’ll play a trick on the person who opens the door. Food also _________________ of Halloween. Toffee apples are very popular and so is anything made from pumpkin. Halloween is also a popular topic for Hollywood. Many horror movies have _________________. Because of this, Halloween is now known in many countries that _________________ it.

WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Halloween is celebrated on October the 31st every year. It ____________ from a pagan holiday and the Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day. The ____________ Halloween is a shortened ____________ of All Hallows’ Eve. Today, it is more of a fun day for children and has largely lost its religious roots. Halloween is probably ____________ famous in the U.S.A. Irish immigrants took it to America in the mid-1600s and it slowly ____________ across the country. Halloween is not celebrated in many countries around the world although many people ____________ about it. Some Christians are not so ____________ that people celebrate Halloween. They believe the holiday is un-Christian because of its origin as a pagan "festival of the ____________."		version know originated dead name spread most happy
Halloween has many ____________ identifiable symbols. The colours orange and black are widely used. In particular, orange pumpkins and fires and black witches, cats and costumes are ____________ features of this day. One of the biggest Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. This is when children ____________ on doors and ask for a small gift. If they don’t get anything, they’ll play a ____________ on the person who opens the ____________. Food also plays a big ____________ of Halloween. Toffee apples are very popular and so is anything made from pumpkin. Halloween is also a ____________ topic for Hollywood. Many horror movies have been made about it. Because of this, Halloween is now ____________ in many countries that never actually celebrate it.		common door popular trick known easily knock part

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.

Halloween is celebrated on October the 31st every / all year. It originated from a pagan holiday and the Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day. The name Halloween is a shortened vision / version of All Hallows’ Eve. Today, it is more of a fan / fun day for children and has largely lost its religious roots. Halloween is probably most famous in the U.S.A. Irish immigration / immigrants took it to America in the mid-1600s and it slowly spread / spreads across the country. Halloween is not celebrated in many countries around the world although many people known / know about it. Some Christians are not so happy that people celebrate Halloween. They belief / believe the holiday is un-Christian because of its origin / original as a pagan "festival of the dead."

Halloween has many easy / easily identifiable symbols. The colours orange and black are widely used. In peculiar / particular, orange pumpkins and fires and black witches, cats and costumes are common features / futures of this day. One of the biggest Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. This is when children knocking / knock on doors and ask for a small gift. If they don’t get anything, they’ll play a trick on the person / people who opens the door. Food also plays a big part of Halloween. Toffee apples are very popularity / popular and so is anything made from pumpkin. Halloween is also a popular topic / topical for Hollywood. Many horror movies have been made about it. Because of this, Halloween is now known in many countries that never actually / actual celebrate it.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Halloween is celebrated on October the 31st (1) ____ year. It originated from a pagan holiday and the Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day. The name Halloween is a (2) ____ version of All Hallows’ Eve. Today, it is more of a fun day for children and has (3) ____ lost its religious roots. Halloween is probably most famous in the U.S.A. Irish immigrants took it to America in the mid-1600s and it (4) ____ spread across the country. Halloween is not celebrated in many countries around the world (5) ____ many people know about it. Some Christians are not so happy that people celebrate Halloween. They believe the holiday is un-Christian because of its (6) ____ as a pagan "festival of the dead."

Halloween has many (7) ____ identifiable symbols. The colours orange and black are widely used. In particular, orange pumpkins and fires and black witches, cats and costumes are common (8) ____ of this day. One of the biggest Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. This is when children knock on doors and ask for a small gift. If they don’t get (9) ____, they’ll play a trick on the person who opens the door. Food also plays a big part of Halloween. Toffee apples are very popular and (10) ____ is anything made from pumpkin. Halloween is also a popular (11) ____ for Hollywood. Many horror movies have been made about it. Because of this, Halloween is now known in many countries that never actually (12) ____ it.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.	(a)	every	(b)	all	(c)	whole	(d)	entire
2.	(a)	shorts	(b)	shortlist	(c)	shorten	(d)	shortened
3.	(a)	large	(b)	largely	(c)	larger	(d)	largest
4.	(a)	slowly	(b)	slowed	(c)	slows	(d)	slowish
5.	(a)	so	(b)	therefore	(c)	and	(d)	although
6.	(a)	original	(b)	origins	(c)	origin	(d)	originality
7.	(a)	easy	(b)	ease	(c)	eased	(d)	easily
8.	(a)	features	(b)	futures	(c)	futuristic	(d)	featured
9.	(a)	nothing	(b)	anything	(c)	thingamajig	(d)	thing
10.	(a)	as	(b)	at	(c)	so	(d)	to
11.	(a)	topics	(b)	topical	(c)	topic	(d)	topically
12.	(a)	actual	(b)	actually	(c)	acts	(d)	actuality

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	Halloween is dbteacrlee on October the 31st
2.	a shortened erovisn
3.	its religious rtsoo
4.	it slowly epsadr
5.	because of its ironig
6.	latiesfv of the dead
Paragraph 2
7.	easily identifiable mlysosb
8.	orange nmpsuikp
9.	Halloween ticevsiita
10.	play a krcit
11.	apples are very apprlou
12.	rhrroo movies

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	holiday of All Saints’ Day. The name Halloween is a shortened version of All Hallows’ Eve. Today, it is more
( )	for a small gift. If they don’t get anything, they’ll play a trick on the person who opens the door. Food also plays a big
( )	topic for Hollywood. Many horror movies have been made about it. Because
( )	of a fun day for children and has largely lost its religious roots. Halloween is probably most famous in the U.S.A. Irish
( )	black are widely used. In particular, orange pumpkins and fires and black witches, cats and costumes are common
( )	countries around the world although many people know about it. Some Christians are not so
( )	part of Halloween. Toffee apples are very popular and so is anything made from pumpkin. Halloween is also a popular
( )	happy that people celebrate Halloween. They believe the holiday is un-
( )	of this, Halloween is now known in many countries that never actually celebrate it.
( 1 )	Halloween is celebrated on October the 31st every year. It originated from a pagan holiday and the Christian
( )	immigrants took it to America in the mid-1960s and it slowly spread across the country. Halloween is not celebrated in many
( )	features of this day. One of the biggest Halloween activities is trick-or-treating. This is when children knock on doors and ask
( )	Christian because of its origin as a pagan "festival of the dead."
( )	Halloween has many easily identifiable symbols. The colours orange and

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	year every 31st the October on Celebrated.
2.	for It of day more fun children is a.
3.	in celebrated not is Halloween countries many.
4.	happy Christians that are people not celebrate so.
5.	Christian its holiday - of The un because origin is
6.	symbols Halloween many identifiable has easily.
7.	black The are colours widely orange used and.
8.	gift Children knock on doors and ask for a small.
9.	plays Halloween a big Food part also of.
10.	Many made horror about movies it have been.

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

THE HALLOWEEN SURVEY

Write five questions about Halloween in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about Halloween for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Halloween . Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Halloween . Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Halloween . Write about what will happen on this day around the world.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

ANSWERS

Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

Allow me to dive into the fascinating world of Halloween with a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm. I have a comprehensive understanding of the historical origins, cultural evolution, and contemporary significance of this widely celebrated event.

Firstly, Halloween, observed annually on October 31st, has a rich history rooted in both pagan and Christian traditions. It emerged from the convergence of a pagan holiday and the Christian All Saints' Day, with the name "Halloween" being a shortened version of "All Hallows’ Eve." Over time, it has transformed into a predominantly secular and enjoyable day for children, distancing itself from its religious roots.

Irish immigrants played a crucial role in popularizing Halloween in the United States during the mid-1600s, gradually spreading its customs across the nation. While it is a major cultural phenomenon in the U.S.A., Halloween is not universally celebrated, although its awareness is widespread in many countries.

Notably, Halloween carries distinct symbols, with the colors orange and black prominently featured. Orange pumpkins, fires, and black witches, cats, and costumes are iconic elements associated with this day. Trick-or-treating is one of the most recognized Halloween activities, where children knock on doors, seeking small gifts, and play tricks if their requests go unanswered.

Controversially, some Christians express reservations about Halloween due to its pagan origins and association with a "festival of the dead." Despite this, Halloween has become a global phenomenon, permeating popular culture and the film industry, with numerous horror movies dedicated to its theme.

Now, let's delve into the provided concepts used in the article:

Origin of Halloween: The article mentions that Halloween originated from a pagan holiday and the Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day, evolving into the secular celebration we know today.
Spread of Halloween in the U.S.A.: Irish immigrants introduced Halloween to America in the mid-1600s, and it gradually spread across the country.
Controversies: Some Christians object to Halloween, considering it un-Christian due to its pagan origins and association with a "festival of the dead."
Symbols of Halloween: The colors orange and black, along with pumpkins, fires, witches, cats, and costumes, are widely associated with Halloween.
Trick-or-Treating: A significant Halloween activity where children knock on doors, ask for small gifts, and may play tricks if they receive nothing.
Halloween and Popular Culture: Halloween is a popular topic in Hollywood, with numerous horror movies dedicated to its theme, contributing to its global recognition.

The information provided in the article covers the historical, cultural, and controversial aspects of Halloween, offering a comprehensive overview of this intriguing celebration.