<h2>There&#8217;s no better time of year to get creative with classroom ideas than Halloween.</h2>
<h4>Whether you&#8217;re teaching chemistry to senior schoolers, or want to inspire young primary students with STEM activities, here&#8217;s a few fun ideas to share:</h4>
<h2>1. Crime scene investigation</h2>
<p>Concoct a classroom crime &#8211; using your best storytelling pizzazz &#8211; that students can investigate over the course of a lesson (or two, depending on the &#8216;crime&#8217;!). Everyone in the class is a prime suspect! Students can collect and analyse evidence, such as fingerprints, handwriting and perhaps thread, to compare with evidence you present as &#8216;found at the scene of the crime&#8217;. Done in smaller groups, individually or as a whole class activity, this is a fun way to learn and open dialogue about an array of things from law to forensic science, history, the ethics of biometrics, and more. <a href="http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/forensic-detectives-who-did-it.cfm" target="_blank"><strong>Source: Discovery Education. </strong></a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/211-dna-detective" target="_blank">Related activity: DNA Detective, Science Learning Hub. </a></h3>
<h2>2. Bloody mess</h2>
<p>Who can make the best fake blood? This is a fun challenge for younger students who might like to taste their creations, or older students who might want to use their fake blood in a film or art project. Blood splatter analysis could be another fun activity &#8211; consistency, colour, smell, clotting ability; there are a bunch of different ways to measure the success of each mixture. Winner takes home a spooky treat and enters the hallowed hall of classroom halloween fame. <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/Free+experiments/Human+Body/Make+tasty+blood.html" target="_blank"><strong>Source: Fizzics Education. </strong></a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.icanteachmychild.com/gross-science-experiments" target="_blank">Related activity: Gross Science Experiments, icanteachmychild.com.</a></h3>
<h2>3. Explosion in the chemistry lab </h2>
<p>Put a ghostly spin on the old &#8216;model volcano&#8217; experiment by inviting students to construct skulls, pumpkins, or anything their horrifying hearts desire out of various materials. After sneaking in a mixture of water, vinegar, washing up liquid and food colouring, they can add baking soda at the optimum moment to witness the bubbling furore for themselves. Making &#8216;potions&#8217; in cauldrons, inspired by their favourite books would also be a fun way to conduct this activity; or using various beakers, test tubes and cylinders from the science lab. <strong><a href="https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/lindsey-petlak/halloween-mad-science-spooktacular/" target="_blank">Source: Scholastic. </a></strong></p>
<h3><a href="http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/09/ghost-rockets-halloween-activity.html" target="_blank">Related activity: Ghost Rockets, growingajewelledrose.com. </a></h3>
<h3><a href="https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/halloween-science-experiments/" target="_blank">Related activity: Halloween Fizzing Cauldron, littlebinsforlittlehands.com. </a></h3>
<h2>4. Electrifying ghosts, ghouls and static skeletons</h2>
<p>Experimenting with static electricity can lead to a rake of fun graveyard-themed activities: just design and cut-out creatures from tissue paper and watch them jiggle and jerk under a balloon. How about testing out some villainous water bending tricks or experiment with what objects can be moved with static electricity. Older children might enjoy creating spooky mazes out of a copper tape or graphite circuit that light up an LED &#8211; challenge groups to come up with the most creative designs! <a href="https://www.kiwico.com/blog/2016/12/12/electric-science-projects-for-kids/" target="_blank"><strong>Source: Electric Science Project, Kiwi Co. </strong></a></p>
<h3><a href="https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/halloween-popsicle-stick-catapult-stem-activity/" target="_blank">Related activity: Halloween Catapult STEM activity,</a> <a href="https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/halloween-popsicle-stick-catapult-stem-activity/" target="_blank">littlebinsforlittlehands.com. </a></h3>
<h2>5. Halloween clock reaction</h2>
<p>This is a visually appealing experiment for older students. Three clear solutions are mixed together, and after a delay changes colour to orange then finally to black. The colouring makes it ideal for Halloween but it&#8217;s an interesting experiment to do any time of year! </p>
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