As we get further into fall, many students begin to feel the excitement of the impending holiday season, starting with Halloween candy, costumes, and haunts! But this joy doesn’t have to exist solely outside the classroom. Bring the fun and creativity of Halloween into your studies by trying some of these projects, experiments, and research topics for your favorite (or least favorite) school subjects.
Writing ideas for English class
English assignments are a great way to explore Halloween-themed literature while also developing your reading comprehension and writing skills.
- Book reports: For your next book report, consider writing about a famous horror novel that’s a mainstay of the Halloween season. From gothic novels such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or more contemporary reads such as Stephen King’s It, there are plenty of interesting and spooky stories to dive into!
- Creative writing: Halloween is also a great time to try your hand at writing a story by tapping into the abundant inspiration it provides. Whether it’s a true horror story or something milder for those of us who are scared easily, creative writing is a great way to both use your imagination and practice your skills.
Research topics for history class
These research essay topics and ideas are a great way to learn about Halloween while practicing your investigative skills.
- The history of Halloween: All Hallows’ Eve has a long and complex history, which you could explore in a research paper. How did it evolve from a religious festival to a party holiday? Why do we dress up? Who invented jack-o’-lanterns? Finding the answers to one or more of these questions makes for a fun and informative history essay.
- The Salem Witch Trials: The Salem Witch Trials are one of the most famous events in colonial history. While now it’s used as an excuse for mobs of revelers to descend upon Salem, Massachusetts, in full costume throughout the fall, the actual event was loaded with panic and paranoia. Learn more about this dark chapter in US history to get in a somber mood.
If you like research but are less enthusiastic about writing, you could turn one of these or another Halloween-themed history topic of your choosing into an exciting and spooky podcast or video project.
Related: A Killer Playlist for the Spookiest Time of Year
Experiments for science classes
Halloween-themed assignments aren’t only for the humanities! Here are some great ways to tie Halloween to the sciences.
- The physics of broom flying: Have you ever wondered how someone might make a broom fly (without magic)? Research the physics of flying and write a report about how that could potentially apply to a broom in real life.
- The chemistry of candy: Halloween is all about candy. Research the contents of your favorite candy to find out what each ingredient does to the body, or report on the health effects of consuming too much sugar!
Projects for math class
Students of all ages can and should get involved with fun math projects. Math is a least-favorite subject for a lot of students, but you can make it more enjoyable with these Halloween project ideas.
- Schoolwide data analysis: Survey every student to determine what the most popular costume in your school will be or which Halloween candy comes out on top. Using the data you obtain, make a graph and analyze it in a short writeup for math class!
- Halloween word problems: Do some fun Halloween word problems to make studying math more engaging. If there aren’t any available in your resources or online, try writing your own! Fun math problems make studying a lot more pleasant.
Related: The Top 7 Spooky College Courses of All Time
Halloween is a great excuse to bring festivity into the classroom. From English essays about spooky novels and research papers on the history of Halloween to scientific analysis of candy and themed math problems, there are so many ways to express your creativity and showcase your love of spooky season. What are you waiting for? Bring some fun and excitement into your assignments today!
Need a break from working on these big, scary projects? Take a study break and stay in the spirit with these spooky college and university ghost stories!
