I don’t know about you, but our classroom has to be all academic 100% of the time. This means that during holiday time, like Halloween, we have to do things based on the standards. Over the last few years, I have worked really hard to make sure that my October is full of rigor along with fun (and spooky) books. This post is all about Halloween Books for 5th Grade!
There are some amazing books that you can read to the students while still making your classroom rigorous and having so much fun!
Halloween Book #1- Piggie Pie
This has been an absolute favorite of my class every single year. They giggle, and snort, and there are even some belly laughs. Piggie Pie is one of those books that we always mention throughout the year. You can give the Gritch the Witch such a fun voice and make her spooky.
Using Piggie Pie is fantastic for problem and solution. The theme is perseverance. Gritch constantly has to figure out where the Piggies are and in order to do that she has to talk to other animals. In the end, she never gets her piggie pie. She ends up meeting a wolf who also wants to eat her. On the last page, the students can make a huge inference as to who will end up winning the battle between the wolf and the witch.
Gritch works through many obstacles within the story. This is helpful for the kids to see that overcoming an obstacle takes time.
If you want to purchase Piggie Pie, check it out here on Amazon!
Halloween Book #2- Peanut Butter & Brains
Reginald is one of those characters that you just fall in love with. Yes, he is a zombie, however, he’s so dang cute. Reginald likes peanut butter. Well, he LOVES peanut butter. Every other zombie in his little city eats brains but not Reginald.
As the story progresses, you see that Reginald is on the search for peanut butter. The best part about this book is that he is searching. He doesn’t let others deter him and he wants to find his own peanut butter.
As you go through the book, you will see that Reginald wants his peanut butter so bad. He ends up going through 3 different places to get peanut butter but never finds any. He sees a little girl eating peanut butter but then he does something to save the city people.
He gives the zombies the peanut butter. Now his fellow zombies no longer go around looking for brains but looking for peanut butter. The book does an amazing job keeping the students entertained and having them progress through waiting a while for the solution to the problem.
If you want to purchase Peanut Butter & Brains, check it out here on Amazon!
Halloween Book #3- Brilliant Bats & Bats
Brilliant Bats & Bats is such a fun book. When I taught 1st grade, I loved having them compare these to spiders. Now, they are older. They should know the difference between a bat and a spider. This set of books is a perfect book during halloween and for 5th graders!
Now, we create our own books to show our understanding of the difference between bats & spiders. Seriously- the students spend time creating a book to teach others about bats vs. spiders. I’ve done this for several years and the results are amazing.
This activity allows the students to expand on their knowledge. They are informed that it MUST be a nonfiction book that they are writing. They have to use EVERY text structure when writing. Yes, every single one of them.
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When students teach about a topic, they are learning more themselves. When they add
I have previously paired with younger grades to have my students teach them about their topic. Some years I let them just write about spiders OR bats. Some years I make them write about both and compare along with showing important parts of their lives. One year, they actually made little bats and spiders as part of their essays as well.
It doesn’t matter what you choose. When students write about what they read, they will dive so much deeper into the topic. They will learn all about the subject and dive deep into text structures and features!
You can find Brilliant Bats here and Bats by Gail Gibbons right here!
Halloween Book #4- Trying to love Spiders & Spiders
I’m Trying to Love Spiders is one of my FAVORITES. I think I like this book because it’s just such a cute book. It’s so funny and really makes you stop what you are doing and think. I really feel like this place just brings nature (and spiders) closer to you.
I use these two books for students to compare spiders and bats.
If you are not interested in having the students compare the bats vs spiders, have the students create a spider and an insect and compare their bodies. They have similarities and differences. Students can create advertisements for the spiders and why they should be saved or why they should be used for crops. Their imagination is unlimited! Like I said before, halloween books for 5th graders is doable! You don’t have to limit them because it is picture books.
This book is fabulous for also teaching students that spiders are okay. Even if they are scared of them, they are able to understand them a little bit more in a comforting way.
These books as well go great with spiders vs. bats essay.
You can purchase Spiders by Gail Gibbons here and I’m Trying to Love Spiders here!
Halloween Book for 5th Graders#5- Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich
I don’t know about you, but I dislike poems. I don’t want to say hate because that’s an intense word. However, poems are hard for me. I decided I needed to make it a little more fun and read the book Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich.
One of the activities that I do with the students is create a poem with the students about a spooky character. For example, they may want to create a poem about a vampire, a ghost, or a witch. I allow the students to search the internet for different words to rhyme with.
You can purchase Frankenstein Makes A Sandwich here!
Like I said, Halloween Books for 5th Grade is amazing. Students become so excited and really understand the subject plus the in depth part of reading. These ideas can be used in a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom.
Have you checked out our Figurative Language post yet? If not, click here!
Hugs & High-Fives,
Ronnie
