As Halloween approaches, this is the perfect time for teachers to infuse seasonal fun into the classroom! Celebrating this spooky holiday can be a wonderful way to engage imaginations and foster a sense of community. Whether used as a reward for good behavior, a themed movie day, or as part of a lesson plan, these films spark discussions and inspire imaginative activities.
Before we dive in, let’s discuss the benefits of movies in schools. From the debut of silent films to modern-day cinema, movies have become a core element of the human experience. In everyday life, we quote famous lines, discuss characters and plots, and talk about what we learned. Like any other form of literature, films build connections and help create the shared experiences that become our culture.
By structuring lessons around movies, you can help your students exercise media literacy, which the official Media Literacy Week website defines as “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication.” This essential skill helps kids understand the ever-evolving world around them. A study by Dr. Rebecca de Leeuw of Radboud University found that movies can even help children find meaning in life.
In this post, we’ve compiled a list of kid-friendly Halloween movies that will help you introduce key skills while keeping the atmosphere light and enjoyable. So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and prepare to embark on a journey of festive frights!
Note: Although all of these recommendations are rated G or PG, it is recommended that the teacher watches the movie before showing it in the classroom to determine whether it is suitable for their students.
Teach attention to detail with dramatic irony
The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween! While Linus eagerly awaits the elusive Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown grapples with the disappointment of his trick-or-treating experience. This film teaches kids that disappointment is a part of life, but it’s important to pick yourself up and keep going, as both Charlie Brown and Linus do at the end of the movie.
Ask students if they thought Linus would really see the Great Pumpkin. Encourage kids to identify foreshadowing and dramatic irony to back their claims. Recognizing subtle hints in the story can help children learn to pay attention to details and understand how they contribute to a larger narrative. Some students might even realize that the Great Pumpkin is just a local legend and foresee Linus’ disappointment. By engaging in this way, students learn to predict outcomes based on context clues and enhance their critical thinking skills.
Discuss character growth and problem resolution
Grieving the loss of her mother, Kat and her father move into an old house where she soon befriends the lonely ghost who lives there. Casper’s longing to be part of the living world highlights the universal desire to belong. The film teaches kids that feeling lonely is normal, but finding people who care about you can make a big difference. Though fun and packed with silly gags, the movie also gently introduces children to loss, grief, and acceptance of life’s many changes.
Students can explore how characters like Casper and Kat develop throughout the film. Casper longs for connection, while Kat must find a way to move forward after losing her mother. Taking an in-depth look at character growth throughout the course of a story can help students learn essential social skills, such as conflict resolution, healthy emotional expression, and helping each other through difficult times.
Watch for foreshadowing to foster engagement
Three kids discover that a mysterious house in their neighborhood is actually a living, breathing monster! They must find a way to stop it before Halloween night. Monster House combines adventure, humor, and suspense in a way that makes it an exciting film for kids, but it also carries deeper messages about understanding emotions and the importance of confronting the past. With rich symbolism, strong character development, and powerful underlying themes, it offers entertainment and meaningful lessons for young audiences.
Discuss foreshadowing. Throughout the film, the house’s behavior hints at its sinister backstory, Recognizing these clues fosters critical thinking and engagement with the story. This practice not only enhances comprehension skills but also encourages students to look for deeper meanings and connections in other movies, texts, and real-life situations.
Use character archetypes to encourage pattern recognition
Deep in the heart of Transylvania, there lies a lavish hotel where monsters live the high life. Run by Count Dracula himself, the hotel serves as a secret escape from humans, where monsters are safe to be themselves - that is, until a clueless human traveler stumbles upon the secret hideaway. Dracula employs wacky tactics to keep Johnny’s human identity hidden from the guests, while his daughter, Mavis, grows evermore fascinated with the newcomer.
While the characters’ antics are sure to fill your classroom with laughter, the film also addresses the importance of overcoming prejudices and illustrates how families and friends can support and accept one another, even if they come from different worlds.
This movie can be used to explore character archetypes, such as the overprotective parent, the adventurous youth, and the mysterious outsider. Understanding archetypes helps students draw conclusions about the story. For example, Mavis’ “adventurous youth” archetype is already in conflict with Dracula’s “overprotective parent” archetype before Johnny, the “mysterious outsider,” appears. Knowing this, students can predict that Johnny will be the catalyst for a dispute between Mavis and Dracula that must be resolved by the end of the story. Predicting outcomes based on common patterns encourages analytical thinking.
Equip students with self and situational awareness
Norman has always been a little different. He can see and speak with ghosts! In the small town of Blithe Hollow, Norman is considered an outcast because of his unusual powers. When an ancient curse threatens to awaken the dead and overrun the town with zombies, it’s up to Norman and his unique gift to save everyone, proving that our strengths often come from our differences.
Paranorman illustrates how bullying can lead to isolation and fear. Norman’s journey shows that the consequences of bullying extend beyond the individual who is being targeted; they affect an entire community. Discussing these repercussions in the context of the film helps students recognize the broader impact of their actions and fosters awareness of current issues related to bullying in schools, such as cyberbullying and the importance of mental health. This awareness equips students with the knowledge to recognize and address bullying in their own lives.
Encourage critical thinking and reasoning skills
A young boy named Victor brings his beloved dog Sparky back to life, leading to chaotic and humorous results in this heartwarming tale of friendship. This stop-action film pays homage to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Universal’s classic movie adaptation of the timeless novel.
Like the book it is based on, Frankenweenie teaches an important lesson about responsibility.
Victor’s scientific experiment, though well-intentioned, results in unforeseen consequences, showing how curiosity and ambition must be tempered with caution. This story can open up discussions on ethics, science, and the responsibilities that come with knowledge and power. Engaging with ethical dilemmas, such as Victor’s experiment, encourages critical thinking and reasoning skills. As students analyze Victor’s motivations and the moral lessons that arise from his journey, they gain a deeper understanding of why people might do the wrong thing for reasons that seem right and can begin to form their own opinions on ethical issues.
Talk about cultural exchange and self-exploration
Bored with his usual routine of preparing for Halloween year-round, Jack Skellington wanders off the beaten path and discovers that his isn’t the only holiday out there. Enthralled by the wonders of Christmas, Jack declares that he will give Santa a break and take over the holiday himself, but teaching the joy of Christmas to the citizens of Halloween Town is no easy task. When Jack's well-meaning but misguided efforts lead to a series of dangerous mishaps, he comes to realize that his true identity and talents lie in Halloween and returns to his original role with a renewed sense of purpose.
This film explores the idea of cultural exchange. In his attempt to take over Christmas, Jack misinterprets the meaning of the holiday. This can lead to discussions about the difference between appreciating other cultures and trying to appropriate or change them without fully understanding their significance. Ask your students what steps Jack could have taken to celebrate the holiday appropriately.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is also packed with themes of self-exploration and discovery. Jack’s quest leads him to explore different aspects of himself. Young audiences easily relate to his journey as they navigate their own identities and search for their unique paths. This movie teaches them to think critically about who they are and what they want to become with an emphasis on authenticity.
Use symbolism to enhance the storytelling experience
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While practicing his wedding vows in the woods, Victor accidentally places a ring on the hand of deceased bride-to-be, Emily. Believing his vow to be genuine, she drags him back to the land of the dead. Trapped between life and death, Victor must choose between the corpse bride and his living fiancee, Victoria, while uncovering the truth behind Emily’s untimely demise.
The film critiques the rigid expectations of class systems, as seen through the arranged marriage between Victor and Victoria, whose families are more concerned with wealth and status than love. This can be a springboard for conversations about how societal expectations influence personal choices.
This film is also an excellent addition to lessons on symbolism. Students can discuss or write a short answer about a symbolic element of their choosing. For example, the butterfly represents many things, including character growth, the fleeting nature of life and beauty, and freedom of choice. Victor’s wedding vows are packed with symbols as well, including the candle, the cup, and the ring, each of which plays into themes of familial bonds, love, and loyalty.
Understanding symbols aids in literary and visual analysis across subjects and in everyday life. By analyzing the meaning of symbols in The Corpse Bride, students learn how symbols enhance storytelling and evoke emotional responses from the audience.
Teach the Hero’s Journey to enhance decision-making skills
After moving to a new house, Coraline discovers a secret door that leads to a parallel world where everything seems perfect. However, there is a sinister side to this alternate world and her apparently perfect new parents. Soon Coraline must confront the dangers of wish fulfillment and make tough choices to save herself and her real family.
Explore the Hero’s Journey through Coraline, a tale in which the main character travels into the unknown to face a series of challenges and returns changed. In this colorful masterpiece based on Neil Gaiman’s beloved novella, Coraline learns that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Through the dangers she faces, students learn that not every adult can be trusted. Count the red flags that could have helped Coraline realize that she was being fed false or misleading information. Identifying red flags encourages students to analyze character motivations and enhances their ability to evaluate situations both in stories and in real life, leading to better decision-making skills.
Engage students in cultural discussions with visual storytelling
13-year-old Marnie Piper discovers that she comes from a family of witches! After secretly following her grandmother into the magical world of Halloweentown, Marnie and her two siblings must help their grandmother defeat an ancient evil force that threatens both Halloweentown and the mortal world. Along the way, Marnie learns about her heritage and the importance of teamwork.
Halloweentown can be an engaging introduction to visual storytelling, in which setting and design shape the mood and themes of a story. Discuss how costuming conveys themes of inclusivity and diversity. Whimsical sets create an inviting atmosphere. This setting symbolizes a place where different beings coexist peacefully, reinforcing the theme of inclusivity. Students can explore how different cultures and identities enrich our communities, fostering a sense of global citizenship.
Reinforce positivity with lessons in comedic irony
America’s favorite suburban family appears in an animated feature film! In this delightful adaptation, Gomez struggles to prepare his son, Pugsley, for his coming-of-age ceremony while Morticia tries to keep their daughter, Wednesday, from turning her back on family traditions. Meanwhile, a home improvement reality TV hostess desperately tries to rid her perfect town of the not-so-perfect Addams family.
Comedic irony often highlights the lighter side of difficult situations. As in Charles Addams' original comic series, The Addams Family is an excellent example of this. The Addams are kind and genuine, exactly the sort of people you want to know, despite outward appearances. Their ability to find small joys in difficult circumstances showcases how their unique perspective challenges traditional norms. By examining how the Addams family navigates challenges with humor, students can learn the value of maintaining a positive outlook and finding laughter even in adversity.
Encourage student agency by examining power structure
The 1990 film The Witches, based on Roald Dahl's beloved children's book, tells the story of a young boy who encounters a coven of witches plotting to eliminate children. The film follows the boy and his grandmother as they try to thwart the witches' evil plans.
Led by the Grand High Witch, the witches in the film embody a powerful, authoritarian presence. Using their power to manipulate and control children, the witches present a clear example of how people in positions of authority might not have everyone’s best interests at heart. This portrayal encourages students to critically examine how power can be wielded and misused.
The protagonist’s journey emphasizes the importance of questioning those in power and challenging them when their actions threaten the well-being of others. Understanding the boy’s resistance can empower students to feel that they, too, can challenge injustice. This sense of agency is vital for personal development, encouraging students to speak up against bullying, discrimination, or other forms of injustice in their own lives.
Discuss personal and external conflict to teach empathy
Based on the children's book series by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg, The Little Vampire is a charming tale about a mortal named Anton who befriends a vampire named Rudolph. Together, the two boys embark on an adventure to save Rudolph’s vampire family from a deadly vampire hunter, proving that friendship can cross even the spookiest boundaries.
Their fantastical adventure features both external conflict through the threat of the vampire hunter and internal conflict through Anton’s struggle to accept his friend’s differences. Students can explore how both conflicts drive the narrative and lead to character growth. The ability to identify different types of conflict in stories can help students learn empathy and conflict-resolution skills needed in real life.
Foster student confidence and media literacy skills
Silly and lovable Ernest P. Worrell saves his town from a troll that turns children into wooden dolls. The film combines humor and spooky elements while promoting bravery and the importance of standing up against evil.
The whimsical premise of trolls and magic provides a great platform for sparking students’ imaginations. After viewing, students could be encouraged to write their own stories about magical creatures or create their own Halloween-themed tales. By practicing creative expression in the classroom, students learn to articulate their thoughts and gain confidence in sharing their ideas in a safe and welcoming environment. Ultimately, storytelling nurtures a sense of personal voice and encourages students to express themselves authentically in various contexts, from academic settings to personal interactions.
For a more advanced approach, use the varying types of humor portrayed in this film to introduce students to different comedic elements in storytelling, such as slapstick and situational comedy. Discussing what makes each comedic approach work can improve understanding of narrative and theatrical techniques, develop observational skills, and help students understand the nuances of communication.
Equip students with multicultural knowledge and respect
A young boy named Miguel embarks on a magical journey through the land of the dead to discover his family's history and unlock the secrets of his ancestors. Miguel’s journey involves reconciling with family members and understanding their perspectives, which can encourage discussions about the importance of communication and forgiveness.
Although commonly thought of as a Halloween-time movie, it is important to note that Coco centers around an entirely different holiday: Día de los Muertos. With its rich display of language, music, and tradition, Coco serves as an introduction to the cultural significance of Día de los Muertos, providing an opportunity for discussions about different cultural traditions.
Learning about different holidays and heritages from their peers helps children develop empathy and respect for diversity, equipping them with the skills to navigate an increasingly multicultural world. This awareness fosters open-mindedness and curiosity, allowing children to appreciate various perspectives and traditions. This foundation encourages children to foster a more harmonious and interconnected community throughout their lives.
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