Week of October 16, 2023 | TK | Fears and Monsters
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, by Linda Williams
A little old lady must deal with a pumpkin head, a tall black hat, and other spooky objects that follow her through the dark woods.
Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
A ladybug invites us to play a game of Let's Pretend.
Crafty Connection Draw scary face bookmarks
Week of October 16, 2023 | Kindergarten | Fears and Monsters
A traveler is terrorized by an empty pair of pants in this silly, slightly spooky story that also delivers a lesson about tolerance.
Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
A ladybug invites us to play a game of Let's Pretend.
Crafty Connection Scary face bookmarks
Kitchen Connection Make slime with hand soap, dish soap, and baking soda. The measurements are imprecise, so just enjoy the mixing and experimenting! Video directions.
Week of October 16, 2023 | First Grade
Skeletons | Learning About Dia de los Muertos
When Senor Calavera comes calling on Grandma Beetle, she forestalls him by performing a series of tasks that result in her own birthday party.
Crafty Connection Step-by-step draw Pinky the cat
Video How Coco Honors Dia de los Muertos
This holiday honors tradition and family, celebrating those who came before us. Video
Make Clay Alejibres At Home
The word translates to "imaginary' or "fantasy." The little figures were originally created in Mexico in the 1930s by wood carver Manuel Jimenez and soon others began carving them to earn extra income. In the 1940s, artist Pedro Linares continued to popularize alejibres with his charming paper mache creations. Step-by-step directions
Week of October 16, 2023 | Second Grade
Curriculum Connection to Creepy Tales
A little witch wants the creepiest pet possible, but when bats, warthogs, and toads don't work out a surprise comes scratching at the door.
What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss
A boy wants all of the pets in a pet store but he and his sister can choose only one.
Crafty Connection Fold and cut a cute or creepy pet bookmark
Week of October 16, 2023 | Third Grade | Ghost Stories
Leo is a friendly house ghost--but when a family moves into his house, and tries to get rid of him, he leaves and roams the city looking for a friend.
Video YouTube Cracking ice cubes out of a tray
Cold Feet, by Cynthia DeFelice
When Willie McPhee, the finest bagpiper in all of Scotland, falls on hard times and is in danger of freezing, he takes a pair of boots from a man who --he thinks-- no longer needs them. Now though his feet are warm, something worse than freezing lies ahead.
Video YouTube Highland bagpiper in the snow
Crafty Connections Cut a spiral paper ghost and enjoy a haunted house coloring sheet
Week of October 16, 2023 | Fourth Grade
A Wicked Witch and a Wickedly Weird Old Book
Gritch the witch flies to Old MacDonald's farm for some pigs to make a pigge pie, but when she arrives she can't find a single one.
Shapes, by Miriam Schlein
Lots of things are round, and lots more are square, but people and animals are never exactly round or square. Published in 1952. Add to the creepiness by reading with ambient music: "The Invaders," by Jerry Goldsmith from "The Twilight Zone."
Crafty Connection Witch coloring sheet
Week of October 16, 2023 | Fifth Grade
A Wicked Witch and a Wickedly Weird Old Book
A mother must save her children from a witch who has changed them into food items that she is about to gobble up.
Dolls, Dolls, Dolls, by Shirley Glubok
Published in 1975, this book unwittingly presents the stuff of nightmares by tracing the history of dolls from ancient Egyptian paddle dolls to stylish fashion dolls and mechanical dolls, each era featuring dolls creepier than the last. Add to the creepiness by reading with ambient music: "The Invaders," by Jerry Goldsmith from "The Twilight Zone."
Crafty Connection Witch coloring sheet