Lost In Pizzaland: Halloween, Part 1: Week 7 October 18-October 24

This week is all about Halloween!

CandleEyeBra

Crafts:

CandleEyebra

Supplies Needed: Black Construction Paper, Hole Puncher, Mod Podge, Black Paint, Paintbrush

Tear a sheet of black construction paper into about a dozen small rectangles that measure roughly 1 1/4 inch by 1/2 inch.
Use a hole punch to add two eyes to each piece.
Brush a portion of a plain, glass votive holder with Mod Podge, affix a paper rectangle, then paint more Mod Podge over it.
Add the other pieces the same way, making sure the edges overlap.
When the candleholder is dry, use a tiny paintbrush and black paint to add little round pupils inside the eyes. (1)

Pillowcase Smock

Supplies Needed: Scissors, Twelve or Fourteen Brads

Cut a shallow 9- or 10-inch-wide slit for the head and about a 6 1/2-inch slit for each arm.
Have your child try it on. Fold up the bottom hem to make the smock a comforable length. Mine folded up about 5 inches, which created nice, deep pockets.
Make a few pencil marks to show where the hem should be, and take it off your child.
Secure the folded hem all around the edge with several columns of four or five brads(found in the scrapebook aisles of craft stores).
They should go right through it; if not poke a hole with a large needle first.
Flatten the brads' edges once they're through both layers of fabric.
Line dry to last longer. (1)

Bat-O-Lanterns

Supplies Needed: Black Acrylic Paint, Hole Puncher, Miniature Pumpkins, Glue Dots, Black and White Craft Foam, Black Duct Tape, Toothpicks, Wooden Skewers

Cover work area with newspaper. Paint pumpkins black and allow them to dry completely.
For each bat, snip two identical eyes from the white craft foam and use the hole punch to make pupils. Glue eyes to pumpkins with glue dots.
Cut matching pairs of ears and wings from the black craft foam(wings are about 6 inches long). Attach the ears by taping a toothpick to the back of each one, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of the toothpick exposed, then inserting it into the top of the pumpkin.
Finally, tape a skewer to the back of each wing, leaving a 2-inch point exposed, and push it in place.(1)

Light-Up Spider

Supplies Needed: Egg Carton, Black Duct Tape, Glossy Black Acrylic Paint, Hole Puncher, Black Pipe Cleaner, Battery Operated Tea Lights

Punch two eyes and eight leg holes (four on each side) into each egg cup
Cut the pipe cleaners in half. Insert them through the leg holes and secure them on the inside with short lengths of duct tape. Bend the spider legs, then fold over the ends to make the feet.
Wrap the sides of the tea light in the black duct tape. Insert the light, bulb side up, into the cup, and use more duct tape to secure it in place, leaving the on-off switch uncovered. (1)

Shivering Shakers

Supplies Needed: Small Clear Jar with Tight Lid, Small Halloween Toy or Figure (Halloween Pez), Thick Tacky White Crafts Glue, Clear Corn Syrup

Glue the toy to the inside of the lid with thick tacky glue and let it dry overnight.
Fill the jar almost to the top with corn syrup. If the syrup seems too heavy for the glitter or confetti, add a drop or two of water.
Sprinkle confetti, glitter, wiggle eyes, or whatever you want to float in syrup.
Put glue all around the top of the jar, screw on the lid with the glued-on figure onto the jar and let glue dry.(2)

Cat-On-A-Stick

Supplies Needed: White, Pink, and Black Construction Paper, Craft Stick and Yarn

Cut four identical circles from black construction paper. Glue two circles to one side of a craft stick and two to the other side to form the body and head of the cat.
Cut ears, eyes, and mouth from white and pink paper and glue them to the head.
Glue pieces of black yarn to the face to make whiskers, and add a piece to the back of the cat for a tail.

Jumping Spider

Supplies Needed: Paint Stirrer, Black Paint, Poster Board, String, Black Or Brown Construction Paper, Twist Tie

Paint a paint stirrer black.
Draw and cut out a large circle from black poster board. Cut slits around the outside of the circle.
Wrap string around the circle, catching it in the slits, to create a spider web. Tape the ends of the string in place on the back.
Tie one end of a length of string to the end of the paint stirrer. Glue this end of the stirrer to the back of the circle, keeping the string loose.
To make the spider, draw the head and body shape on brown or black construction paper. Cut this out and use it as a pattern to make a second shape. Lay four twist ties across the body of one spider shape. Tape the centers of these ties to the spider's body. Glue the other spider shape to the first, covering the ties. Bend the ties into legs. Add facial features.
Poke a hole in the center of the spider's body. Push the loose string through the hole to the back of the spider. Knot the string and tape it on the back.
To play, hold the web by the paint stirrer handle and flip the spider into the web so that in lands in a standing position.

Invisible Ghost Card

Supplies Needed: White Construction Paper, Crayons, Water Color Paint

Fold a piece of white construction paper in half to make a card.
Use crayons to draw an October scene. Press hard. Leave space to add your "invisible ghost".
Use a white wax crayon to draw the outline of your ghost. Color the ghost in completely with the white crayon.
Inside the card, use a pen to write: "Paint this card with blue watercolor to find a ghost playing peek-a-boo!"
The ghost will appear when painted with the blue watercolor.

Ghost Pops

Supplies Needed: White Coffee Filters, Lollipops, Ribbon, Felt-Tipped Markers

Wrap a coffee filter around a lollipop and tie it with a ribbon.
Use marker to draw a face for the ghost.(1)

Five Little Pumpkins

Supplies Needed: CardBoard Egg Carton, Construction Paper, Glue, Orange and Black Paint, green pipe cleaner

Cut ten cups from a cardboard egg carton. Glue them together in pairs to make five pumpkins. Paint them orange.
Cut a two inch green pipe cleaner for the stem. Fold pipe cleaner in half and give it a little twists and poke into the top of egg carton.
Cut a section of five peaks from the egg carton for the pumpkins. Trim the peaks to make the different heights. Paint the bases black.
Glue one pumpkin to each base. Attach cut-paper features for the face to the pumpkins.
Finger-play to go with craft: "The Five Little Pumpkins"

"The five little pumpkins sitting on the gate. (hold up five fingers)
The first one said, "Oh my it's getting late." (hold up one finger and gesture to look at watch)

The second one said, "There are witches in the air."(hold up second finger and wave hand through the air)

The third one said, "But we don't care." (hold up three fingers)

The fourth one said, "I'm ready for some fun." (hold up four fingers)

The fifth one said, "Let's run and run and run!" (hold up five fingers)

Then Wooooooooo went the wind,

And out went the lights. (clap hands)

And the five little pumpkins ran out of sight! (hold the five fingers and hide them behind your back)(6)

Tissue Paper Pumpkins

Supplies Needed: Cardboard, Tissue Paper(Orange, Black, Green), Pencil and Glue

Cut little squares out of tissue paper.
Make a circle out of the cardboard to the size you want your pumpkin, make sure you have a stem on top of the circle.
Start by making the face of the pumpkin. Draw the face on the cardboard in pencil. Take a square of black tissue paper and wrap it around the eraser part of the pencil. Add glue at the bottom and stick it to the cardboard. Repeat.
Do the same for the body of the pumpkins using the orange paper and for the stem use the green.(3)

Paper Plate Pumpkin

Supplies Needed: Orange Paint, Construction Paper(Black, Green,Yellow), white paper plate

Have your child paint a paper plate orange.
Cut out triangle eyes and nose for pumpkin and glue to plate.
Cut out a crooked mouth for their pumpkin and glue to plate.
In the corner of the eyes, glue a little yellow circle to it.(3)

Candy Corn Magnets

Supplies Needed: Foam Craft(Orange, Yellow, White), Gogglie Eyes, Black Marker, Magnets

Cut out a triangle out of the orange foam craft.
Cut a yellow strip for the bottom of the triangle and glue on.
Cut a little white triangle for the top of the triangle and glue on.
Glue on gogglie eyes and draw a mouth.
Stick on magnet.(3)

Wind Thing

Supplies Needed: 4 Paper Cups, Cardboard, Strong Tape, A Bead, A Pin, and a Stick

Draw two lines on the cardboard from corner to corner. Like an X.
Now stick a cup on each corner with stickum. Cups all going same way.
Put the pin in the cardboard where the two lines cross.
Put the pin through the bead. Tap the pin into the stick.
Now take it outside and look for some wind.

Doorknob Hanger

Supplies Needed: Black Doorknob Foam Hanger, Halloween Shape Craft Foams(Pumpkins, Ghosts, Bats, Stars, Mummies), Foam Paint Or Marker that writes on foam

Give your child a black doorknob foam hanger.
Let them decorate the hanger with halloween foam crafts.
Write Enter At Your Own Risk on door hanger or whatever they wish.(3)

Handprint Bat

Supplies Needed: Black and White Foam Craft, Black and Orange Ribbon, Gogglie Eyes, Orange or Purple Pom Pom, Glue, Scissors, Pen or Pencil

Trace your child's hands onto black foam craft and cut out.
Draw a bat or cat like head out of black foam craft and cut out.
Glue the wings onto the back side of the head.
Glue on gogglie eyes and a purple pom pom for the nose.
Draw a mouth out of the white foam craft and glue to bat.
Put an orange bow ribbon onto bottom of bat's head.
Take a piece of black ribbon, make a loop for hanging up the bat, and glue it to the back of the bat.(3)

Creepy Styrofoam Critters

Supplies Needed: One 1 1/2" Styrofoam Ball, Black Paint, Two 12" Black Pipe Cleaners, Gogglie Eyes, 1 Small Piece of Red Felt

Paint the ball with black paint. Let dry.
Cut the pipe cleaners into 3" pieces. Insert four pieces into each side of the spider to form eight legs. Bend the legs to form joints.
Glue the eyes in place.
To add a mouth, glue on a piece of red felt cut in a mouth shape.(4)

Pom Pom Spider

Supplies Needed: One 1-1 1/2 Black Pompom, One 1/2 Black Pompom, Two Black Pipe Cleaners, Two 1/4 Red Pompom or Gogglie Eyes, Glue

Cut the pipe cleaners in half, creating four 6" lengths for the spider's legs. Twist the four pieces of pipe cleaner together, creating a center with four legs on either side. Flatten the center down a bit.
Glue the larger pom pom onto the middle of the legs. Rearrange the pipe cleaner legs, bending them as you like.
Glue the smaller pompom on as a head.
For the eyes, Glue on gogglie eyes or two small red pompoms.(4)

Activities:

Ring Toss, Pumpkin Carving, Bozo Game

Supplies Needed: 6 Pumpkins with a stem, Pipe Cleaners, 6 ping pong balls

Make 6 rings out of pipe cleaners.
Arrange pumpkins the way you want to play ring toss.
Throw the pipe cleaner rings onto the stems of the pumpkins.
After the game, carve out the pumpkins and save the seeds for later.
Next, line the pumpkins like the bozo game and toss the balls into pumpkins.

Pumpkin Bowling

Supplies Needed: Pumpkin, 10 Empty Pop Bottles, Black and Orange Construction Paper, Markers

Make little pumpkins with faces, out of the construction paper and glue it to the bottles
Line the bottles up in a triangle (like in bowling).
Instead of using a ball, use a pumpkin and go bowling. You child may also decorate the pumpkin before they bowl.

Apple Bobbing

Supplies Needed: Apples, Yarn, Tape

Tie yarn to the stem of the apples and hang them from the tree or tape them to the top of the doorway.
Have your child try to grab an apple with their teeth, hands behind their backs.

Scavenger Hunt

Supplies Needed: Paper Bag or Plastic Bag

Give your child a list of things you want them to find or tell them or have pictures on a paper of things you want. Things outside like: acorns, sticks, leaves(certain color), rock, flower, etc.
First one to get all these things win.

Haunted House

Supplies Needed: 3 or 4 Large Cardboard Boxes(Child can crawl through) or Small Card Tables and Sheets, Rubber Spiders and Scary Items, Flashlight, Scissors, Black Construction Paper, Yarn

Line up 3 or 4 boxes together to form a tunnel or you can put up small card tables and drap sheets over them. Hang spiders and scary items on the inside of cardboard.
Cut out little holes in some of the cardboard for a flashlight to shine into for a scary effect. If your using the sheets tape black figures from construction paper onto them.
You can shut off the lights and play scary music if you want to make it interesting.

Slithering Slime

Supplies Needed: 1 Cup Water, 1 Cup White Glue, 1/2 tsp. Borax, Green Food Coloring, 2 Glass or Ceramic Bowls

In one bowl, mix 1/2 cup water with 1 cup glue and a few drops of green food coloring.
In another bowl, stir the borax into the remaining 1/2 cup water.
Slowly add the borax mixture into the green glue mixture. Stir the combination until it becomes slimy as you like. To increase the sliminess add a bit more water.
If the mixture is too hard, that is an indication that too much of the borax mixture was added. Add a bit more water or start over.
Slime can be stored in the fridge in resealable bags or tightly sealed jars for about 10 days.(4)

Flying Witch Relay

Supplies Needed:Witch's Hat and Broom For Each Child

Mark a finish line
Each child gets to wear a hat and ride a broom.
They must keep on their hats the entire race, if they lose the hat they have to go back to get it.
On your signal, witches fly through the race(4)

Encase The Mummy

Supplies Needed: 2 Rolls of TP, Tape, Garbage Bag

Set up 2 teams. One person for the mummy and one or more for the mummy wrapper.
Each team gets 2 rolls of TP. Each mummy wrapper must wrap the mummy in TP, from head to toe. Except nose and mouth. To make the TP stick or if it rips, they can use tape.
The teams start, when you say GO!
The garbage bag is for clean-up.

Happy Halloween Hunt

Supplies Needed: Colored Index Cards, Marker

On index cards, write Happy Halloween. Each index card will have a letter. One will have a H, another one will have an A, and so on.
Now hide the cards around the yard or house and your child must spell out Happy Halloween.
If you have more than one child write out the phrase out for each child on index cards and the first to spell out the phrase wins.

Halloween Charades

Supplies Needed: Halloween Bucket, Paper, Chalkboard or Large Pad of Paper, Crayons or Markers

Write out a bunch of Halloween words on sheets of paper like bats, ghosts, goblins, witches, pumpkins, apples, vampires, mummies, zombies, frankenstein, werewolf, spiders, snakes, etc.
Pick a child to go first and draw out a sheet of paper with a halloween word on it. They must then act out that thing or try to draw it on a chalkboard or piece of paper(4)

Go To A Haunted House
Go To Boo At The Zoo
Go Through A Corn Maze
Check Local YMCA's or Local Activity Centers for Halloween Activities
Coloring Pages Click Here
More Coloring Pages Here
History, Activities, Coloring Pages For Halloween Click Here

Food/Snacks:

Pumpkin Seeds:

Supplies Needed: Pumpkin Seeds, Vegetable Oil, Salt

Separate the seeds from the pumpkin fiber. To make the process a little easier, fill a bowl with water and let the seeds soak. Have a bowl of clean water and a colander nearby.
Heat the oven to 300 degrees.
Toss the seeds into a smaller bowl, drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with salt.
Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until slightly brown.
Makes about 2 cups.(1)

Spider Pretzels:

Supplies Needed: Round Crackers, Peanut Butter, Pretzel Sticks, Raisins

Spread peanut butter onto 2 round crackers
Next, place 4 pretzel sticks onto each side of a cracker.
Put the two crackers together.
Put some peanut butter onto the bottom of two raisins and put them on top for the eyes.

Crunchy Mummies:

Supplies Needed: Cream Cheese, Celery, Deli Sliced Cooked Ham, Sweetened Dried Cranberries

Fill up celery (2 inches long) with cream cheese.
Cut ham slices lengthwise into 16 pieces. Cut pieces crosswise into 1 inch pieces. Place about 12 pieces over cream cheese to look like "bandages;" use tip of knife to tuck in ends of ham along celery edge.
Cut cranberries into 40 pieces. Place pieces between "bandages" for mummies eyes.(5)

Scary Pancakes:

Supplies Needed: Pancake Mix, Chocolate Chips

Make up your pancake mix.
When you go to make the pancakes, make them look like ghosts. Place 2 chocolate chips for the eyes.

Chili-Cheese Burger Bake:

Supplies Needed: 1 lb. ground beef, 2 cups frozen bell pepper and onion stir-fry, 1 can sweet corn, 1 package Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix, 1/4 water, 1 can Old El Paso Refried Beans, 1/2 cup Old El Paso Taco Sauce, 2 Cups Chili-Cheese Corn Chips, 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese 4oz)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 8-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray.
In a 12-inch skillet, cook beef until cooked. Then drain off grease.
Stir in bell pepper and onion stir-fry, corn, taco seasoning mix and water.
Cook over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix refried beans and taco sauce.
Spoon half of beef mixture into baking dish. Top with half bean mixture and half of corn chips. Top with remaining beef mixture and bean mixture.
Cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes.
Remove baking dish from oven. Uncover; top with remaining half of chips. Sprinkle with cheese.
Return to oven; bake, uncovered, 10 to 12 minutes longer or until hot and cheese is melted. If desired, garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
Serve with a mixed greens, tomato and avocado salad topped with Italian or Ranch dressing.(5)

Chili Dog Casserole:

Supplies Needed: 2 Cans Chili Without Beans, 1 Package Miniature Hot Dogs, 8 oz. prepared cheese product, cut up, 1 cup Old El Paso Thick and Chunky Salsa, 1 Can(11 oz) Pillsbury Refrigerated Original Breadsticks, 1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder

In 4 quart saucepan, mix beans, hot dogs, cheese product and salsa. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbly.
Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees. Unroll dough: Cut in half along perforation. Cut each in half again, and separate into 24 strips. Gently twist each strip; place on ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle twists with chili powder.
Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan; serve with chili mixture.
Can take olives and make 2 eyes and a mouth from them and put them onto the bread sticks. (5)

Creamy Candy Corn Puddings:

Supplies Needed: 1 Box(4-serving size) Butterscotch Instant Pudding, 4 Cups Milk, Red and Yellow Food Coloring, 1 Box(4-serving size) Banana Cream Instant Pudding, 1 Cup Whipping Cream, Candy Corn

Make butterscotch pudding as directed on box, using 2 cups of milk. Stir in 20 drops red food coloring and 25 drops of the yellow food color. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Make banana cream pudding as directed on box, using remaining 2 cups of milk. Stir in remaining 20 drops yellow food color. Refrigerate until ready to use.
To Assemble, place about 1/4 cup banana cream pudding in bottom of each of 6 martini glasses or 8oz clear plastic cups. (Cover and refrigerate remaining banana cream mixture for another use.) Top each with about 1/3 cup butterscotch pudding and about 1/3 whipped cream. Garnish with candy corn.(5)

Banana Ghosts:

Supplies Needed: Bananas, Popsicle Sticks, White Chocolate Candy, Coconut, Mini M & M's

Remove any stringy fibers from the peeled banana, then cut in half widthwise. Push a Popsicle stick into each half through the cut end, then cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm (About 3 hours).
Next, place a 1.5 ounce piece of white chocolate candy in a microwave-safe bowl and cook on high until melted (it generally takes about 1 minute).
With a butter knife spread the melted white chocolate on the frozen banana halves.
Can sprinkle with coconut at this time.
Set the pops on a waxed-paper-covered dish. Press on candies and return pops to the freezer until ready to serve.
Makes 2.(1)

Halloween Oreos

Sponge Bob Halloween Crackers

Halloween Gummies

Songs/Poems:

Great Songs and Poems Click Here

Books:

Too Many Pumpkins By Linda White and Megan Lloyd
The Night Before Halloween By Natasha Wing
Best Halloween Hunt Ever By John Speirs
The Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything By Linda Williams
Five Little Pumpkins (Harper Growing Tree) By Public Domain and Dan Yaccarino
Pumpkin Soup By Helen Cooper
Froggy's Halloween By Jonathan London
Clifford's Halloween By Norman Bridwell
Sheep Trick or Treat By Nancy E. Shaw
Curious George Goes To A Costume Party By Margret Rey
How The Wind Plays By Michael Lipson
Where The Wild Things Are By Maurice Sendak

Ideas from the following places:

(1)Family Fun Magazine for website: www.familyfun.go.com

(2)Before and After School Activities By Denise Theobald

(3)Oriental Trading Magazine

(4)Halloween Recipes and Crafts By Christine Lyseng Savage

(5) Pillsbury Halloween Magazine

For fabulous recipes, coupons, and wonderful ideas go to: www.pillsbury.com
(6) The Giant Encyclopedia of Circle Time and Group Activities for children 3 to 6 by Kathy Charner

Ideas also from:

Also local libraries and local schools