Teaching Math with Halloween Crafts: A Fun and Engaging Addition Activity

Make working on adding within 10 fun with Halloween math! This Halloween addition is a fun simple activity for practicing basic sums to 10 with pre-k and kindergarten age students. Simply print the Halloween math craft tempalte and you are ready to play, practice, and learn!

Halloween math

Looking for a spooky yet educational way to teach math this Halloween? I’ve got a simple and fun craft idea for you that your students will love: a ghost-themed addition activity! It’s not just a craft—it’s a great way to sneak in some math practice while keeping things festive.

This activity uses a free printable ghost template, which your kids will decorate by cutting out circles and solving addition equations on them. The result? A fun Halloween craft that also helps them sharpen their math skills.

Plus, don’t miss our Halloween word searches, free printable halloween activity worksheets, and fun halloween activity ideas

Halloween math Craft

Start by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> ___________<<. The pdf file will open in a new window for you to save your freebie. Now print off  the pages.

How to Teach Math Using Crafts

Using crafts to teach math is a fantastic way to blend creativity with learning. It makes math feel less intimidating and more hands-on. When kids get to cut, paste, and color, they’re fully engaged, and learning happens naturally. Plus, it’s easier for young students to grasp new concepts when they can see and touch what they’re learning. By turning math into a craft, you’re making addition interactive and enjoyable—no more boring worksheets!

When I first tried a similar craft with my class, I was surprised at how much more willing they were to practice math. They didn’t even realize they were learning—they thought it was just another fun Halloween activity. Sometimes, it’s all about tricking them into learning, right?

Halloween addition

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using this ghost-themed addition craft in your classroom or at home:

1. Download the Free Ghost Template You can download the free ghost template from [insert link here]. Print out enough copies for each child.
2. Prepare the Materials You’ll need scissors, glue sticks, colored pencils or crayons, and the printable template. Pre-cut circles (or let the kids cut them out) that will act as the “equation pieces.” These circles should be big enough for the addition equations to be written on them. You could also use pre-made stickers if you’re short on time.
3. Write Addition Equations on the Circles Depending on the skill level of your students, you can adjust the difficulty of the equations. For younger kids, stick to single-digit addition. For older kids, try adding numbers that sum up to 20 or even use double digits.
4. Have the Kids Solve the Equations Before they glue the circles onto the ghost, ask them to solve each addition problem. Once they get the correct answer, they can paste the circle onto the ghost template. This way, they get the instant reward of making the craft look complete with each equation they solve.
5. Decorate the Ghost After all the math problems are solved, let the kids decorate their ghosts. They can add googly eyes, color in the ghost’s features, or even add Halloween-themed stickers. This part of the activity gives them a chance to be creative while reinforcing their math practice.

Halloween Activities for Kindergarten

If you want to extend this activity and keep the learning going, here are a few ideas:

1. Math Scavenger Hunt Hide different addition equation circles around the room and let the kids find them. Once they’ve collected all the circles, they must solve the equations and glue them onto the ghost template. This turns the activity into a game and gets them moving!
2. Timed Addition Challenge Turn this into a timed math challenge. Give each student or group a stack of equations and see how many they can solve and glue on in a set amount of time. This helps to improve their speed and accuracy with addition.
3. Create Your Own Equations After the kids finish their ghosts, have them come up with their own addition equations for their classmates to solve. They can trade equation circles and solve each other’s problems, adding a collaborative element to the lesson.

Why This Activity Works

This ghost-themed addition craft works well for several reasons. First, it blends creativity with learning. Kids don’t just sit at their desks solving problems—they’re up, moving, cutting, pasting, and engaging with the material. Plus, the Halloween theme keeps them excited and focused.

In my experience, when learning feels like play, it sticks. Kids tend to remember the lessons taught through crafts and games far longer than those they learn from standard worksheets. So, if you’re looking for a way to make addition fun this Halloween, this craft is a great choice.