Fun lessons ahead!

      

We are getting ready to start a 3 week unit study on Halloween/Day of the Dead/All Saints Day/Autumn.  This is our first holiday unit and I'm REALLY excited!  I think this is a great opportunity to make school fun while taking the time to enjoy the holiday as a family.  I thought I would share some of our plans for anyone wanting to adapt them for themselves.

Literature:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.  There are lesson plans for 
this book on various websites.  So far I like the ones here.        
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. This will most likely be a read aloud selection due to the difficult and arcane language. (I saw a picture book version of this at Barnes and Noble for those with younger students.)

Writing:
Writing epitaphs for various famous or fictional characters for gravestones to decorate the yard.

Art
Various Halloween decorations.
Making leaf rubbings.
Making headstone rubbings.

Music:
Listening to Danse Macabre and discussing the ideas presented in it.

Science:
Reading about bats and spiders.
Researching why leaves change color in the fall.
Doing experiments regarding fall leaves.

History/Social Studies
Watching the Haunted History of Halloween
Reading about the Day of the Dead and making food crafts.
Reading about the Celts and Druids
Reading about harvest festivals and attending a local one.
 
We will continue with our regular grammar, math, spanish, typing, and writing assignments during this time, as appropriate. (adding in fun things like Halloween Mad Libs for fun when we can.)

If anyone has any other ideas to share feel free to post them!