Wild, Wacky Witches’ Brew: A Halloween Counting Activity

 

A playful preschool and kindergarten activity inspired by One Witch by Laura Leuck

Bring a little Halloween magic into your learning day with a pretend witches’ brew! This simple, hands-on activity combines storytime, counting, music, sensory exploration, and process art using materials you may already have at home.

1. Storytime: One Witch

Begin by reading One Witch by Laura Leuck together. After the story, invite your little one to imagine what might go into a witch’s magical brew.

Gather a bowl of nature treasures and small Halloween-inspired objects, such as colorful glass beads, leaves, acorns, feathers, rocks, and little creatures. Set out a small pot or cauldron and a wooden spoon.

 2. Stir Up Some Counting Magic!

Invite your child to become a little potion maker! Choose an object from your collection and give a simple counting prompt.

“Add five glass beads to the cauldron!”

Count the beads together as your child places them into the pot. Then stir the imaginary potion with your wooden spoon.

Sing this little refrain between ingredients:

“Wild, wacky witches’ brew,

What will we put into you?”

Continue with new counting challenges:

- Add three acorns.

- Add two leaves.

- Add four little rocks.

- Add one tiny bat!

Adjust the numbers to suit your child's abilities. Younger children can practice counting small groups with help, while older preschoolers and kindergarteners can try counting independently or recognizing written numerals.

There is no recipe to follow and no right or wrong way to make the brew. The magic is in the counting, stirring, singing, and imagining together!

3. Create a Bubbling Cauldron

After your potion is complete, bring the magic to paper with a simple Halloween art activity.

You'll need:

- Black construction paper

- Light-colored paper for the background

- Flamed colored tissue paper 

- Glue stick

- Dot markers

Let's make it!

1. Cut a simple cauldron shape from black construction paper.

2. Invite your child to glue the cauldron onto a sheet of light-colored paper.

3. Add a ripped pieces of tissue paper under the cauldron to make flames.

4. Bring the potion to life with dot markers! Encourage your child to make colorful bubbles popping and floating out of the brew.

Let your little artist choose the colors and decide how their magical potion will look. Every bubbling cauldron will be a little different!

 What Are We Learning?

This playful Halloween activity encourages:

- Early math: Counting objects, recognizing quantities, and following simple number prompts.

- Language development: Listening, following directions, and learning new words.

- Music and rhythm: Repeating a simple song and anticipating familiar phrases.

- Fine motor skills: Picking up small objects, stirring, tearing paper, gluing, and using dot markers.

- Imaginative play: Creating a pretend potion and inventing a magical story of their own.

Most importantly, children get to experience learning as something joyful, hands-on, and full of wonder.

A little Halloween magic, a handful of everyday treasures, and one very wacky witches’ brew!