Easy Halloween Party Setup

It seems like we are busier and busier each year, doesn’t it? More tests to score, data to track, work to differentiate…the list just never ends.

 

And that busy schedule can make it hard for me to plan special events for my class. Yet I want to make those holidays memorable for my students, like the holidays I remember from when I was in elementary school.

 

Do you feel the same way? 

 

If so, I’d like to share a few time-saving printables that will dress up a festive and fun Halloween table in no time!

 

We don’t have very many parties in 5th grade. Our annual Harvest Party takes place tomorrow and then we have a Winter Holiday celebration right before the Christmas break. So I always like to make the events as festive and academically fun as I can.

 

This year, I found some great plates and napkins from Target. I went with orange solids and black and white patterns (I knew this would be appealing to my older students):

 

I also got some of those trendy paper straws for the water and juice (I couldn’t resist!):

 

Many of my wonderful families are sending in waters, crackers and cheese, sweets, and healthy snacks as well. To showcase these items, I made some decorative table signs.

 

For the water graciously donated, I made a sign for “invisibility potion” (get it?? Ha ha!):

(I know my 5th graders will appreciate the humor)

 

I peeled the labels off the water bottles to make them look, well, more invisible:

 

This took just a few moments to do and it looks great with the sign and straws! In the past I have made cute little bottle labels but, truth be told, it takes way too long to affix enough of them for an entire class. And they are only used for a moment before being tossed into the trash, where I gaze sadly at my creations that took so much time to set up.

 

This was more practical and much faster.

 

I also made a couple of signs to showcase the snacks my students will be bringing in. I kept them on the smaller side, so there is space for the food (the part that really matters to a 5th grader!):

 

 

To add a bit more festivity to the table, I washed out and filled up some of the mason jars we use for extra supplies:

 

I also filled up a jar with my student gift…they will each get a couple of glow sticks to use as a safe treat on Halloween night:

 

You may recognize that little sign, it’s a spin on an old file from a few years back. You can see the older version here: A Bit of Light…

 

I decided to use one sign near the jar to save time in taping the glow sticks to individual signs. However, I am sharing a entire page of them at the end of this post, in case you’d like to print enough for each student in your class…

 

So the whole setup only took about 10 minutes after school this evening. Well, to be completely honest, it took a teeny bit longer since I had to take photographs. But if you would like to try yourself, this setup is very fast!!

 

All files are in a rectangular shape that can be cut quickly with a paper cutter. I printed mine on cardstock and will slip them into a file to store and reuse again next year. 

 

If you would like to use any of the signs featured in this post, please see below: