Looking for a low-prep, Haunted House STEM challenge in October for your K–2 classroom or STEM lab? This Haunted House STEM Challenge is perfect for introducing design thinking, collaboration, and a little seasonal fun!
How It Works
Students work alone or in small groups to design one “room” of a haunted house inside a shoe box. When everyone finishes, you can line up the boxes to create one giant class haunted house!
Requirements
Each room must include:
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A place to sit (bench, chair, cushion, etc.)
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Decorations on the wall (spooky or silly!)
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A character present (ghost, witch, black cat, etc.)
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No more than five pieces of material used in total
These simple rules keep the challenge open-ended while encouraging planning and problem solving.
Why It’s More Than a Craft
This activity naturally incorporates STEM skills (planning, building, testing) and fosters SEL growth by prompting students to:
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Work cooperatively and share ideas
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Make decisions as a group
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Manage limited materials
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Reflect on their process
Extension Ideas
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Have students write a short story about what happens inside their haunted room.
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Display the finished haunted house for families or other classes to visit.
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Vote on the spookiest, silliest, or most creative room.
This hands-on Haunted House STEM challenge is a quick way to mix science, engineering, creativity, and social-emotional learning during the Halloween season. Grab the full resource (with printable planning pages, teacher tips, and student reflection sheets) HERE and get building!
Not ready to commit but still want a fun Halloween Activity? I have a quick graphing activity with Halloween Fruit Snacks from Aldi’s that is a FREEBIE!
If you’re not near an Aldi’s or you can’t find these snacks, no problem! Download it here off of TeachersPayTeachers.