20 Creative Halloween PBL Project Ideas Your Students Will Sink Their Teeth Into

Halloween is a super fun and creative holiday that kids tend to love, even teenagers. This holiday is filled with candy, late nights, and tons of energy, which can pose challenges for teachers and parents, myself included! Kids' spirit for Halloween can also present an incredible opportunity to create meaningful change in the community through project-based learning. Let’s explore how we can channel this enthusiasm into impactful projects!

Key Takeaways:

• Project-based learning is the perfect fit for Halloween. It channels student excitement into meaningful, real-world projects that go beyond costumes and candy.
  
• The post shares 20 creative driving question ideas for Halloween projects, ranging from art and design to STEM and community impact, so every teacher can find something that fits their classroom.
  
• Each project integrates multiple subjects and skills. Students practice content knowledge while also building critical thinking, collaboration, and social-emotional skills.
  
• Ready-made resources are available for several of the ideas, giving teachers structure and saving time while still keeping projects authentic.
  
• These Halloween PBLs make learning both fun and rigorous, ensuring students stay engaged while hitting standards and building future-ready skills.

Get free access now!

Why Take the PBL Route this Halloween?

As Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to embrace the spirit of the season while incorporating project-based learning (PBL) into your classroom. 

There are so many PBL benefits. Students get to engage in hands-on, meaningful projects that spark their creativity and encourage collaboration. 

This Halloween, why not take that excitement and channel it into impactful community projects?

Halloween project ideas can provide students with a fun way to dive into learning while making a difference.

Imagine your students getting into the Halloween spirit as they work together to design eco-friendly decorations, create costumes from upcycled materials, or organize a Halloween safety campaign for younger kids. 

These projects not only celebrate the holiday but also foster a sense of responsibility and connection to their community. 
​
The PBL driving question ideas below offer diverse options that vary in impact and time commitment, making it easy to find a project that fits your class’s unique needs.

​Whether you choose to tackle these projects as a whole class, in small groups, or even as individual endeavors, your students will have the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and make a real difference this Halloween season through project-based learning.

10 Creative Project-Based Learning Ideas for Halloween

1. How can our class design and create Halloween costumes out of upcycled materials, host a fashion show, and donate the costumes to children in need to promote creativity, sustainability, and kindness in our community?

2. How can our class develop a spooky Halloween-themed escape room that educates participants about local history while providing an exciting community event?

3. How can our class plan and execute a Halloween-themed food drive to help families in need while raising awareness about food insecurity in our community?

4. How can our class design and construct a haunted house that uses renewable energy sources to educate visitors about environmental sustainability and the importance of clean energy?​

5. How can our class create a Halloween safety campaign to educate young children about safe trick-or-treating practices, reducing accidents in the neighborhood?

6. How can our class design and host a Halloween costume swap event to reduce waste and encourage eco-friendly holiday practices in our community?

7. How can our class investigate the cultural origins of Halloween traditions around the world and create a multicultural Halloween event that fosters inclusivity and learning?

8. How can our class organize a community Halloween parade that highlights creativity and inclusivity through homemade costumes?

9. How can our class create Halloween-themed games and activities for a local senior center to encourage intergenerational connections and engagement?

10. ​How can our class design and produce Halloween-themed educational kits for elementary students to enhance their understanding of STEM concepts in a fun and engaging way?

11. How can our class research local folklore and legends and develop a series of Halloween ghost tours that combine storytelling, history, and entertainment for the community?

12. How can our class organize and host a Halloween movie night in partnership with local businesses to raise funds for a charitable cause while strengthening community ties?

13. How can our class design and construct eco-friendly Halloween decorations using upcycled materials and share these designs with the community to promote sustainability?

14. How can our class plan and host a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt for local families that encourages outdoor exploration and learning about nature?

15. How can our class design and create original party games for a school Halloween celebration to promote school spirit and community?

16. How can our class produce and perform a Halloween-themed play that addresses important social issues using drama to inspire action in the community?

17. How can our class design Halloween costumes based on literary characters and organize a Halloween book drive to support literacy initiatives in our community?

18. How can our class develop and implement a Halloween-themed STEM challenge event for younger students that promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills?

19. How can our class research the impact of consumerism during Halloween and propose alternative eco-friendly solutions for celebrating the holiday with less environmental impact?

20. How can our class create a spooky storytelling event that brings together community members and fosters a love for literature and oral traditions?​

Again, customize one of these Halloween project ideas to work for you and your students. The driving questions aren’t set in stone. They are only there to inspire!

Good luck! Before heading out, in the comments, let us know which of the Halloween project ideas from this post you’re going to try out this holiday season!

PBL Blog Posts:

PBL Digital Courses:

Join our experiential learning Facebook group!
​
Did you know there is an experiential learning Facebook group? Check that out - Experiential Learning Community for K12 Teachers - and join in the discussion about experiential learning ideas!
​
Find us on social media!
Follow Experiential Learning Depot on Pinterest, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram for more on experiential education, and check out my shop for experiential learning resources.