Halloween Chemistry Activities: Spooky and Engaging Science Lessons
- Androy Bruney
- Sep 7, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 22
Halloween Resources for Chemistry: Engaging Activities for a Spooky and Educational Classroom
Halloween is one of my favorite times to shake things up in the chemistry classroom. Let’s be real—students are already buzzing with candy, costumes, and spooky energy. Instead of fighting it, I lean in. A well-placed Halloween chemistry activity can turn a distracted October class into one of the most memorable lessons of the year.
Over the years, I’ve built a toolbox of spooky science resources that mix fun with real content. These aren’t fluff—they reinforce concepts like periodic trends, bonding, stoichiometry, and balancing equations, but with just enough Halloween flair to keep students hooked. The best part? Most of these resources can be reused outside of October too (review days, sub plans, or just when you need a little magic).
Below are some of my favorite Halloween science activities for middle and high school chemistry.
Halloween Chemistry Worksheets: Spooky Color-By-Number Fun
If you’re looking for something low-prep but high-engagement, try Halloween-themed chemistry color-by-number worksheets. Students solve problems on key topics such as:
Periodic table trends
Chemical vs. physical changes
Oxidation numbers
Significant figures
Atomic structure, ions, and isotopes
Each correct answer helps them uncover a spooky hidden image. They love the surprise factor, and you get built-in practice with instant feedback. Answer keys are included, which makes grading (or sub days) a breeze.
2. Halloween Chemistry Mystery Game: A Whodunit Review
Want to turn your classroom into a detective scene? The Chemistry Whodunit Mystery Game does just that. Students play investigators in a Halloween-inspired whodunit where they solve a murder mystery by answering chemistry review questions.
How it works:
Multiple-choice questions cover balancing equations, moles, and periodic trends.
Each correct answer unlocks a clue.
Students piece together the “crime” by figuring out who did it, with what weapon, and where.
It’s basically Clue + chemistry review = a classroom full of engaged teens who don’t even realize how much practice they’re getting.
Merlin’s School of Alchemy: Magical Halloween Chemistry Activities
Nothing screams Halloween like potions and alchemy. That’s where Merlin’s School of Alchemy comes in—a fantasy-themed chemistry series that blends magic with real science.
Students step into the role of apprentice alchemists, working through labs and problem sets like:
The magical storyline keeps them hooked, but the science is real—perfect for reinforcing lab skills and concepts while giving lessons that spooky edge.
Learn more about this series here
4. Halloween Chemistry Escape Rooms: Digital & Printable Editions
If you’ve ever tried an escape room in class, you know how powerful it is for engagement. With a spooky storyline, students forget they’re “doing work” and lean fully into problem-solving and teamwork.
Printable Halloween Escape Room: Dr. Mortis’s Haunted House
Step into Dr. Mortis’s Haunted House with this spooky, story-driven print-and-play escape room! Students work through six eerie puzzles on measurements, significant figures, unit conversions, scientific notation, and lab safety—turning review into an adventure instead of a worksheet.
No locks, props, or devices are needed—just print, prep, and let students dive in. Each puzzle includes Mortis’s creepy notes, riddles, and visuals to keep the haunted lab atmosphere alive.
What’s Inside:
6 themed puzzles (Lab Safety, Volume, Significant Figures, Sig Fig Calculations, Scientific Notation, Dimensional Analysis)
Student instructions + Mortis’s riddles
Teacher guide with tips and answer keys
Printable templates like mazes, tarsia puzzles, and hazard scenarios
Why Teachers Love It:
Halloween-ready but useful all year
Encourages teamwork and critical thinking
Flexible: use one puzzle or run the full escape room
Quick prep—just print and go
Digital Halloween " Mini" Escape Room: Balance Equations to Break Free
This classroom-favorite is completely digital—no printing required. Students balance chemical equations to “escape” and reveal a hidden picture. Each solved stage unlocks the next clue, keeping the suspense alive until they reach the final reveal. The activity is self-grading in Google Forms, so it’s low-prep for you and high-impact for them.
For classes craving an extra challenge, you can also run a multi-topic escape room that mixes stoichiometry, bonding, and other chemistry skills into one Halloween adventure. Perfect for a high-energy October lesson!
5. Make ’Em Bond: Halloween Chemistry Card Game
Card games aren’t just for little kids—they work wonders in high school chemistry too. Make ’Em Bond (Halloween Edition) turns Lewis structures into a fast-paced game.
Students earn “ghouls” by completing molecules with the correct valency.
Gameplay feels like Go Fish, but with a chemistry twist.
The Halloween edition adds spooky fun with themed cards and language.
It’s collaborative, competitive, and reinforces bonding without students realizing they’re drilling core concepts.
Quick and Easy Spooky Science Demos
Along with structured activities, I also like to sprinkle in a few Halloween science demos that don’t take long to set up:
Dry Ice Bubbles – Safe, foggy cauldrons that spark instant awe (with a quick note on sublimation).
Glow Stick Kinetics – Use hot vs. cold water to show reaction rates.
Candy Chemistry – Test sugar solubility, or burn a marshmallow to show combustion.
Even five-minute demos like these can bring a festive atmosphere while reinforcing chemistry concepts.
Why Halloween Chemistry Activities Work
October can be a tough month to keep students focused—but Halloween offers the perfect chance to redirect that energy. With these activities, you:
Reinforce real chemistry concepts
Tap into the season’s excitement
Save prep time with ready-to-use resources
Create memories your students will talk about for years
Whether it’s a full escape room or a quick color-by-number, adding a spooky twist makes learning more interactive and joyful.
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