5 Fun & Frightening Halloween Story Starters + MORE

As Halloween is just around the corner, why not mold the spookiness of the season into an exciting writing activity? Here are five fun and frightening Halloween story starters that teachers can use to spark some writing creativity in their kiddos... plus, keep reading because there is also a FREE download: Halloween Journal Prompts & Writing Checklist.

Writing Prompt: Witch's Hat

1. "The Wicked Witch’s Black Hat - Once upon a time, in a quiet little town, a wicked witch lost her magical black hat. No! It was no ordinary hat…"

This story starter stirs the imagination by introducing a magical object and a character. It offers endless possibilities, encouraging students to explore different plot lines about the magic hat and the witch.

Pumpkin Writing

2. "The Pumpkin’s Secret - Mrs. Graves had a large pumpkin patch, but there was one special pumpkin with a secret…"

This story starter introduces a mystery that needs unraveling. The story's setting fosters creativity by encouraging students to describe a pumpkin patch, the strange pumpkin, and the secret it holds.

Haunted House Journal Prompt

3. "The Haunted House on Hallow Road - Nobody dared to go near the old house on Hallow Road, especially after dark, for it was said to be haunted..."

Creating a spooky setting in a familiar neighborhood scene allows students to engage their imagination as they build suspense and intrigue around this haunted house on Hallow Road.

Friendly Ghost Story Starter

4. "The Friendly Ghost - Most people are afraid of ghosts, but what if there was a friendly ghost who wanted to change people's minds?"

This story starter helps students to think beyond the obvious Halloween characters and imagine a scenario that challenges the norm. They can build a story around how this friendly ghost tries to change people's perceptions and be more accepting of those that are different.

Halloween Night Journal

5. "Halloween Night Misadventure - It was Halloween night. Buffy and her friends decided to go for a treat or trick adventure. Little did they know that they were in for a big surprise..."

This story starter offers the perfect Halloween scenario. It prompts students to explore their understanding of Halloween and describe a series of events that lead to an unexpected surprise.

Halloween Story Starters = Writing Comes Alive

Encourage your students to let their imaginations run wild with these Halloween story starters. They can incorporate dialogue, figurative language, and vivid descriptions to make their stories come alive. This way, they strengthen their writing skills while having fun with Halloween-themed creativity. 

Here is a set of FREE printable Halloween Journal Prompts to download. It also includes a fantastic story writing checklist that you can print and display in your classroom, or give students a copy and they can glue it into their writing journal.

Need MORE Halloween resources? Here are my favorite Halloween activities and lessons for your elementary students:

Arthur's Halloween Literacy Kit

25 Halloween Reader's Response Sheets

Would You Rather? - Halloween Edition

Halloween Printables Kit

Halloween Doodle Coloring Book

Happy Teaching! - Jen