Trick or treating may be off the menu this year, but who’s to say you can’t dress up for the occasion before school’s out for half term? Perhaps a Zoom costume competition to get into the spooky spirit with friends and family? Or maybe you’re just really prepared and are planning next year’s creepy costume comeback! Here’s a few ideas just for fun.
Science Teachers
Frankenstein (who is in fact the scientist – let’s not make that mistake) or Frankenstein’s Monster is a perfect nod to a little gothic sci-fi, and the obvious choice for a science-themed Halloween look this year. Unless you wanted to play around with a Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde scenario. Besides, who doesn’t love a cross-curricular costume?
English Teachers
The literary world provides this field of expertise with a smorgasbord of weird and wonderful characters to choose from. Dracula, The Woman in Black, Pete Hosey from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. All you need to do is dive into the Gothic canon and you’ve got yourself first prize my friend.
Math Teachers
I’ll be honest I had to Google ‘Halloween Costumes for Math Teachers’ because I drew a blank. However, there are some creative choices out there! A giant calculator or a superhero with an algebraic symbol on the chest could be an option? Or a popular choice was a pumpkin with the pi symbol stuck on the front. Get yourself some orange material and an iron and your costume becomes one equation they’ll really scratch their heads over.
Art Teachers
Creativity is born in this subject, so what better time to get creative than Halloween? You could be a Picasso painting, Vincent Van Gogh after the unfortunate ear incident, or you could bring Edvard Munch’s abstract masterpiece to life (just think about how many weeks are left of this term for inspiration).
Drama Teachers
The most notably ‘spooky’ play (and most likely to be recognised by your students) is Macbeth – with supernatural characters like The Weird Sisters making a regular appearance. You could channel your inner Lady Macbeth, sweeping through the corridors crying, ‘Out, damned spot! Out, I say!’ Or if you wanted to get real arts and crafts, a papier-mâché dagger dangling in front of you from a hat might work. Either that or wear all black and blend into the drama studio to give them a fright on arrival… what? It would be funny.
History Teachers
Every moment is a teaching moment and Halloween should be no exception. A historically accurate Halloween costume means ample opportunity to enrich students’ lives. I’d leave this one to your preferred era in time. Spartans, Victorian surgeons, Suffragettes; you name it, there’s a lesson plan in there somewhere.
Food Tech Teachers
Demon chef? Meat pie enthusiast Mrs Lovett? Gordon Ramsay? A three-day old egg mayo sandwich? Food can be scary. Especially if the person preparing it doesn’t know what they’re doing.
Whatever subject you teach or enjoy the most, a creative costume will certainly put a smile on everyone’s face – both staff and student. Halloween might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if it is, and there’s a costume competition taking place in your life this year, I hope one of these ideas bags you that box of chocolates.
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Happy Halloween!
About the author
Tammy Lane
After completing a BA in Creative Writing and a Masters in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Winchester, Tammy worked as a Learning Support Assistant, with a focus on helping students develop their literacy skills. She then taught as an English teacher at an all-boys comprehensive school in Berkshire. Tammy now works for Eteach as Marketing Manager, where she can combine her passion for education and writing.
