October isn’t just about pumpkins and costumes — it’s also a season full of sounds. Think about the crunch of leaves under your feet, the rattle of acorns dropping from a tree, or the whistling wind on a chilly night. Preschoolers are naturally curious about these sensory experiences, and sound exploration is a wonderful way to combine science, creativity, and play.
In this activity, children create their own Spooky Sound Shakers using cardboard tubes and natural fall fillers. The fun part? Each child decides how to make their shaker spooky — will it be a ghost, a bat, a silly monster, or something completely new?
📚 Picture Book Connection
Read: Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton
This lighthearted story about costumes sets the stage for children to imagine how their sound shaker might “dress up” too.
Other options:
- The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams (with built-in sound effects!)
- Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds (a silly, spooky favorite)
💡 STEAM Activity: Spooky Sound Shakers
Guiding Question to Ask:
- “What spooky sounds can we make for October?”
- “What does crunchy leaves sound like? What about the wind?”
- “Can we make our shaker sound soft? Can we make it sound loud?”
Materials:
- Empty cardboard tubes (toilet paper or paper towel tubes)
- Paper or coffee filters to cover ends
- Tape or rubber bands
- Fillers: pumpkin seeds, acorns, dried beans, rice, corn kernels
- Decorating supplies: markers, construction paper scraps, stickers, googly eyes
🛠️ Steps
- Fill It: Add a small handful of seeds, beans, or rice to the cardboard tube.
- Seal It: Cover the ends with paper, securing with tape or a rubber band.
- Make It Spooky: Invite children to decorate their shaker however they like — a ghost, bat, pumpkin, or silly monster.
- Shake & Compare: Explore how different fillers make different sounds. Which one sounds like rain? Which one sounds like crunchy leaves?
🔄 STEAM Connections
- Science: Compare how fillers create different sounds and vibrations.
- Engineering: Solve the problem of keeping fillers inside by sealing the ends securely.
- Art: Turn simple cardboard tubes into spooky (or silly!) characters with creative designs.
- Math: Sort and compare sounds — loud vs. soft, fast vs. slow, heavy vs. light.
👩🏫 Teacher Tip
Keep the activity open-ended. Some children may focus on sound, while others may spend more time decorating. Both are valuable parts of the STEAM process! If you have time, encourage children to make more than one shaker with different fillers so they can compare.
🌟 Reflection & Extension
After shaking and sharing, ask your students:
- “Which filler made the spookiest sound?”
- “If you could invent a new spooky sound, what would it be?”
- “How do our sounds remind you of fall outside?”
Optional extension: Put on some spooky background music and invite children to add their shakers to the “October orchestra.”Creating Spooky Sound Shakers is more than just a fun October craft — it’s an opportunity for children to explore science through sound, practice problem-solving as they build, and express their creativity in unique and playful ways. Best of all, it’s simple, low-prep, and filled with seasonal magic. So grab those cardboard tubes, let little imaginations run wild, and enjoy the spooky symphony your preschoolers create this fall.
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