About This Lesson
Bring creative design, math, and writing together this Halloween with the “Design a Haunted House” project! Perfect for 4th-5th grade students—this project-based learning activity challenges learners to build, plan, and describe their own haunted house designs in detail.
What’s Included?
- Student planning templates for designing a haunted house layout and theme
- Worksheets that guide students in choice of materials, cost estimation, and budgeting for their haunted house
- Writing prompts for describing features, atmosphere, and persuasive presentation (e.g. selling or advertising the haunted house)
- Reflection and evaluation components so students analyze what worked well and what could be improved
Why You’ll Love It
- Fosters cross-curricular learning: art, writing, math (budgeting, measurement, cost calculations) all in one engaging project
- Encourages student creativity and higher order thinking: planning spaces, selecting materials, designing mood and detail
- Supports real-world skills like cost estimation, persuasive writing, and evaluating one’s own work
- Great for project work over several class periods—offers depth and ownership
How Can I Use This in the Classroom?
- Introduce the project at the start of a multi-day unit. Present examples or prompts to inspire students.
- Guide students through design & budgeting phases—let them sketch layouts, list supplies, estimate costs.
- Have students write descriptive or persuasive pieces to “sell” their haunted house to classmates or maybe for a mock competition.
- Use peer review or the evaluation component to have students reflect on their choices.
- Extend by having students present finished designs or even build models/dioramas if time and materials allow.
This “Design a Haunted House” project provides meaningful purpose and plenty of room for creativity, so your 4th-5th graders can dive into Halloween learning with planning, design, math, and writing all wrapped up in one exciting experience.
Discover more Twinkl resources at: https://www.twinkl.com/l/zkxo5
