$10 - $20 2nd Grade Halloween Independent Work Packet (by date, oldest first)

Finding good Halloween music can be tricky. Fortunately, there are plenty of classical music pieces that fit the Halloween spirit! This Halloween music appreciation pack includes ten of the most fun and spooky classical pieces that offer a taste of Halloween. Learn about the music of great composers, such as Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms, with Halloween music that will be a hit with your class!

Learning Objectives

• increased biographical knowledge of the composer
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

★ Mindful Listening Sheets - There are no wrong answers! Students listen to the selected music and choose meaningful keywords they associate with what they hear. The emotions and weather page allows students to color their experiences.

★ Listen and Color - Pair art with music! Students color the characters while listening to featured music from The Nutcracker. There are four categories of keywords to circle/highlight that describes their listening experience. Blank lines are for writing in their own words. 

★ Classical Fairy Tale - Storytime! These listening sheets combine music appreciation with a storybook theme! Students compose their wondrous tales by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar fairy tale objects inspired by the music. There is also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations.

★ Classical Space Tale - Storytime! These listening sheets combine music appreciation with an intergalactic theme! Students compose their epic space tales by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar space objects inspired by the music. There is also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations.

★ Listen and Draw - The Fairy Tale and Space Tale sets have a framed drawing page for listeners to create their own music-inspired pieces of art! Great for younger students or for hosting a classroom art display.

★ Emoji Checkbox Listening - Students can use the checkboxes to note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more! Students can also color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid.

★ Rating Guides - Print one or more copies of the star rating guide to help students choose their rating. Half and quarter stars may be encouraged. Some seasonal activities will have different rating shapes. Emoji rating guides are included in color and black & white.

Musical Selections (Eight listening activity pages per piece)

1. Symphony No. 3, Shostakovich
2. Fantasia in F Minor, Mozart
3. Passacaglia in C Minor, Bach
4. Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven
5. Nuages Gris, Liszt
6. Cello Sonata No. 1, Brahms
7. Dance of the Goblins, Bazzini
8. Sonata for Two Violins, Ysaye
9. Caprice Op. 1, No. 2, Paganini
10. O Fortuna, Orff

Do you know how composers create the haunting sounds of Halloween? Check out our blog post The Hidden Secrets of Spooky Halloween Music to learn more!

★ More Halloween Activities!

Halloween Music "Haunted Harmony" Fall Classical Music, Halloween Activities

Halloween "Spooky Symphony" Fall Classical Music, Halloween Activities

The Nightmare Before Christmas Listening [Elfman] October, Halloween/Fall

Danny Elfman Listening Sheets + BONUS FILE! October & Halloween/Fall

Spooky October Halloween Activities + BONUS FILE! Fall Classical Music Fun

Halloween Spooky Name Generator, Fall Halloween Activities for October

Halloween Beethoven Listen & Color! Classical Music Brain Break for Fall

Spooky October, Fall Classical Music Emoji Checkboxes, Halloween Activities

► We know you'll love helping students create meaningful connections to classical music, so we are happy to share these free listening activities with you today!

This Halloween-themed classical music listening activity pack is the perfect way to add a touch of spookiness to your October classroom or homeschool! Check out the Easy Classical Music Appreciation for October post on our blog for more information.

"My students loved this activity, and I loved that it was straightforward for a long-term sub in music. I actually completed the activity with them a few times, it was THAT MUCH FUN!" - Mia H.

Music Appreciation Made Easy!

Do you need engaging print-and-go activities and brain breaks? The music featured in this activity packet is carefully curated and previewed - saving you hours of planning time. Just print and cue the music!

The selections are available on YouTube or your favorite streaming service. There are no wrong answers, and no musical training is required, so add a few to your sub plans, too!

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of composers from different backgrounds
• observe seasonal/holiday influences within a composition
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within the music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

Social-Emotional Learning

Listening to classical music has been shown to help with self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation. Since social-emotional learning is essential for children, incorporating classical music into your classroom or homeschool is a great way to support their development.

Talk about the emotions evoked by the selected music. What does the music make them feel? Happy? Sad? Anxious? Peaceful? Help students identify and label their feelings. Ask open-ended questions about the music and encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings.

Discuss the different instruments used in the piece of music. What does each instrument contribute to the overall sound? Encourage students to make up a story based on the music. What is happening in the story? Who are the characters? Where does it take place?

While listening, students can draw a picture or scene that comes to mind. What colors are used? What shapes? Why?

October Listening Sheets

1. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Bach
2. Totentanz, Liszt
3. Mephisto Waltz, Liszt
4. Aquarium, Saint-Saens
5. O Fortuna, Orff
6. Gnomus, Mussorgsky
7. Night on Bald Mountain, Mussorgsky
8. Der Vampyr, Marschner
9. In the Hall of the Mountain King, Grieg
10. The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Dukas
11. Dance of the Knights, Prokofiev
12. Danse Macabre, Saint-Saens
13. Beethoven's Silence, Cortazar
14. Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven
15. Piano Quintet in A Minor, Dvorak
16. Lacrimosa, Mozart
17. Scarbo, Ravel
18. Lake in the Moonlight, Tchaikovsky
19. Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods, Saint-Saëns

What's Included

Listening Sheet - There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more.

Weather & Feelings - Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

Carnival Coloring - Which carnival rides and activities would best fit a piece of music? Does the tempo feel like a roller coaster or a peaceful swing ride in the sky? Choose a tasty treat from the snack bar, then stop at the prize booth before finishing. There are no wrong answers!

Listen and Color - While listening, students color the scene and choose the keywords/elements that resonate with their listening experience. There is lots of room for drawing, coloring, and journaling in the box! Students often engage in discussions about what they've heard or felt. Great for displaying!

Easel Activity

Pair an engaging digital listening board with these musical selections! Students use the highlight tool to choose from keyword lists that describe their listening experience. An answer box at the bottom allows students to write a brief description of their thoughts and feelings. Using the pen or any design tool provided, students can decorate a scene or upload an image to the frame! Each board features colorful clipart related to the music. As always, there are no wrong answers. Students can choose any combination of descriptors.

October Space Story - Do you need engaging classical music activities? Classical Space Tale listening sheets combine music appreciation with an intergalactic theme! Students compose their epic space tales by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar space objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

October Fairy Tale - Classical Fairy Tale listening sheets combine music appreciation with a storybook theme! Students compose their wondrous tales by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar fairy tale objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

October Checkboxes - Students can use the checkboxes to note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more! Time, nature, settings, instruments, colors, and more! Students can also color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Do you need engaging brain breaks? This single-page listening activity is excellent for celebrating summer, Earth Day, or adding to your August sub plans. Just print and play! The music is available on YouTube or your favorite streaming services.

October Mindful Listening (en Español) From January to December, the monthly listening sets are now available in Spanish! ¿Necesitas actividades atractivas de Halloween o planes sustitutos de música? ¡Estas hojas de escucha imprimibles ofrecen a los estudiantes formas creativas de aprender más sobre los tonos fantasmagóricos de la música de Halloween! Presentando las composiciones de Franz Liszt, Ludwig Van Beethoven y muchos más.

Do you know how composers create the haunting sounds of Halloween? Check out our blog post The Hidden Secrets of Spooky Halloween Music to learn more!

Just Print and Play! Do you need engaging classical music activities? Students can detail their listening experience with emojis, checkboxes, and a space for drawing/notes! Also great for music sub plans or brain breaks!

Bundle Benefits:

• Save time! The music selections are already curated for you
• Add music appreciation to various lessons and unit studies
• Students explore social-emotional themes through listening
• Low-prep engaging and mindful activities for students
• Easily find the music on YouTube or your favorite music services
• No musical training is required - just print and play!

Learning Objectives

• increased knowledge of popular classical music composers
• familiarity with the composer's works
• ability to recognize, and engage with, popular pieces of classical music
• identify different instrument sounds
• social-emotional exploration of feelings and moods within classical music
• creative expression by drawing and choosing colors related to a musical theme

What's Included:

Emoji Rating Guide (14 emojis to choose from, color and b&w)

Listening Sheets - there are no wrong answers! Students can use the checkboxes to note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more!

Checkbox options:

Time, nature, settings, instruments, colors, and more! Students can also color in the emojis that best describe their listening experience in the emoji grid.

The 'Inspiration Box' can be used for:

Drawing/doodling, journaling, notes, poetry, etc.

Hello, January!

1. Fantasia on Auld Lang Syne, Ernest Tomlinson
2. Masquerade Suite, Aram Khachaturian
3. The Blue Danube, Johann Strauss
4. Les Patineurs Valse (The Skater's Waltz,) Émile Waldteufel
5. Trumpet Concerto in E Flat Major, Joseph Haydn
6. Concerto Grosso in C Major, Arcangelo Corelli
7. Piano Concerto in G Major, Maurice Ravel
8. Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity, Gustav Holst
9. Symphony No. 1 (Winter Dreams,) Tchaikovsky
10. Waltz in D, Op. 9, No. 3 ("Country Waltz,) Franz Schubert
11. Suite De Symphonies, No. 1 (Rondeau,) Jean-Joseph Mouret
12. Brandenburg Concerto, No. 4 in G Major, Johann Sebastian Bach
13. Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor, Johann Sebastian Bach

Sweet February

1. Liebesträume No. 3, Liszt
2. Piano Concerto No. 21, Mozart
3. Clair De Lune, Debussy
4. Romeo and Juliet Overture, Tchaikovsky
5. Violin Romance No. 2, Beethoven
6. Salut d'Amour, Elgar
7. Piano Concerto No. 2, Rachmaninoff
8. Sleeping Beauty Waltz, Tchaikovsky
9. Cavalleria Rusticana (Intermezzo), Mascagni
10. Fantasia No. 3, Mozart
11. Symphony No. 9, Schubert
12. Piano Sonata No. 3, Brahms
13. Bolero, Ravel
14. "Moonlight Sonata", Beethoven
15. The Moldau, Smetana
16. Serenade, Schubert
17. Romance in F Minor, Dvorak
18. Violin Concerto, Mendelssohn
19. Arabesque No. 1, Debussy

Emerald March

1. In Ireland, Sir Hamilton Harty
2. Londonderry Air, Harty
3. Symphony No. 3 "Irish," Sir Charles Villiers Stanford
4. Nocturne No. 4 in A Major, John Field
5. Piano Concerto No. 3, Field
6. Symphony in E Major "Irish," Sir Arthur Sullivan
7. Cello Concerto, Sullivan
8. Symphony No. 1, Stanford
9. Irish Rhapsody No. 1, Stanford
10. Irish Suite, Leroy Anderson (American composer)

April Sunshine

1. Where the Lemons Blossom, Strauss (title translations will vary)
2. Symphony No. 1 (Spring,) Schumann
3. The Four Seasons (Spring,) Vivaldi
4. Appalachian Spring, Copland
5. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Op. 46, Grieg
6. Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Beethoven
7. Organ Concerto No. 13 in F major, Handel
8. Dance of the Birds, Rimsky-Korsakov
9. Reflections in the Water, Debussy

May Flowers

1. Waltz of the Flowers, Tchaikovsky
2. Amarilli Mia Bella, Caccini
3. Daisies, Rachmaninoff
4. Five Flower Songs, Britten
5. Jardins Sous La Pluie, Debussy
6. The Rose, The Lily, The Dove, The Sun
7. Waltz of the Cornflowers and Poppies, Glazunov
8. Heidenröslein, Schubert
9. Roses from the South, Strauss
10. The Tale of the Stone Flower, Prokofiev

Woodland June

1. 5 Pieces for Piano, Op. 75, Sibelius
2. The Forest, Glazunov
3. The Tale the Pine Trees Knew, Bax
4. November Woods, Bax
5. Forest Murmurs (Siegfried,) Wagner
6. Woodland Sketches, Macdowell
7. The Five Sacred Trees, Williams
8. The Enchanted Forest, Geminiani
9. Silent Woods, Dvorak
10. A Morning in the Woods, Ornstein

Patriotic July

1. Hail to the Chief, Sanderson
2. Lincoln Portrait, Copland
3. Presidential Polonaise, Sousa
4. Maple Leaf Rag, Joplin
5. Easter Monday on the White House Lawn, Sousa
6. The Star Spangled Banner, Smith
7. The Stars and Stripes Forever, Sousa
8. The Invincible Eagle March
9. President's March, Filmore
10. America the Beautiful, Ward

August Summer

1. The Lark Ascending, Vaughan Williams
2. The Earth Prelude, Eiunadi
3. The Four Seasons, Vivaldi
4. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Debussy
5. Water Music, Handel
6. River Flows in You, Yiruma
7. Prelude Op. 28, No. 15 ("Raindrop",) Chopin
8. Become Ocean, Adams
9. A Walk in the Forest, Blech
10. The Sea, Bridge

September Days

1. Our Town, Copland
2. Autumn Gardens, Rautavaara
3. String Quartet No. 15, Beethoven
4. November Woods, Bax
5. Symphony No. 10, Raff
6. Comes Autumn Time, Sowerby
7. The Seasons: Autumn, Glazunov
8. Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, Wencheng
9. String Quartet in E Minor, Delius
10. Violin Concerto No. 14, Barber

Spooky October

1. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Bach
2. Totentanz, Liszt
3. Mephisto Waltz, Liszt
4. Aquarium, Saint-Saens
5. O Fortuna, Orff
6. Gnomus, Mussorgsky
7. Night on Bald Mountain, Mussorgsky
8. Der Vampyr, Marschner
9. In the Hall of the Mountain King, Grieg
10. The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Dukas
11. Dance of the Knights, Prokofiev
12. Danse Macabre, Saint-Saens
13. Beethoven's Silence, Cortanza
14. Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven
15. Piano Quintet in A Minor, Dvorak
16. Lacrimosa, Mozart
17. Scarbo, Ravel
18. Lake in the Moonlight, Tchaikovsky
19. Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods, Saint-Saëns

Calm November

1. Appalachian Spring, Copland
2. Awakening, Curiale
3. New England Holidays, Ives
4. Symphony No. 3, Copland
5. The Tender Land Suite, Copland
6. Quiet City, Copland
7. Green Hills, Alwyn
8. Song for Harvest Season, Ives
9. Turkey Trot, Bernstein
10. Badinerie, Bach
11. Divertimento, Bernstein
12. Autumn, (Four Seasons) Vivaldi
13. Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Haydn
14. Piano Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, Mozart
15. Kinderszenen, Schumann
16. Piano Concerto No. 3, Beethoven
17. Pilgrims, Rorem
18. English Horn Concerto, Rorem
19. Autumn Legend, Alwyn
20. Festival March, Alwyn

Festive December

1. Carol of the Bells, Leontovych
2. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Tchaikovsky
3. Four Seasons (Winter,) Vivaldi
4. Troika, Prokofiev
5. Symphony No. 1 in G Minor, Tchaikovsky
6. The Snow is Dancing, Debussy
7. Footprints in the Snow, Debussy
8. Piano Concerto No. 1, Rachmaninoff
9. Symphony No. 11, Raff
10. Peter and the Wolf, Prokofiev
11. Ice Dance, Elfman
12. Winter Wind, Chopin
13. Alpine Symphony, Strauss
14. Sinfonia, Vivaldi
15. Winterreise, Schubert
16. Chasse-Neige, Liszt
17. The Snow Maiden, Rimsky-Korsakov
18. String Quartet in F Major, Ravel
19. Sinfonia Antarctic, Williams

+ BONUS FILE

This bundle has you covered with engaging listening activities, but what about visual learning? Grab this pack of 70 Composer Fact Sheet Posters as a free bonus! These calming rainbow-themed posters can also work as handouts, or resize them in your print settings for colorful flashcards.

► We know you'll love helping students create meaningful connections to classical music, so we are happy to share these free listening activities with you today!

Just print & play! Do you need engaging classical music activities? This bundle of four Halloween-inspired resources will offer your students a super spooky adventure all month!

Spooky Pirates Pack

Spooky Pirates listening sheets combine music appreciation with a spooky swashbuckling theme!

Classical Halloween Story listening sheets combine music appreciation with a spooky theme! Students compose their haunted tale by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar Halloween objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

What's Included:

• Story Guide – an illustrated chart with each character/object
• 10 Halloween Story Listening Sheets
• 10 Halloween Story Drawing Pages

Printable Listening Sheets Include: (two pages per piece)

1. Pirate Dance, Leroy Anderson

2. Il Pirata (Sinfonia,) Vincenzo Bellini

3. The Flying Dutchman, Richard Wagner

4. The Sea Hawk, Erich Korngold

5. Flight to Neverland, John Williams

6. Le Corsaire (Overture,) Hector Berlioz

7. He’s a Pirate, Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer

8. La Mer, Claude Debussy

9. The Deep, Deep Sea, Zhou Long

10. Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Felix Mendelssohn

Spooky Planets Pack

Just print & play! Do you need fun & engaging classical music activities? This listening pack features Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns with a spooky twist! Experience the magical notes of Saint-Saëns's "Aquarium" and the soothing strings of "The Swan" with a Halloween theme!

Classical Halloween Story listening sheets combine music appreciation with a spooky theme! Students compose their haunted tale by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar Halloween objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

★ Easel Activity ★ Pair an engaging digital listening board with these musical selections! Students use the highlight tool to choose from keyword lists that describe their listening experience. An answer box at the bottom allows students to write a brief description of their thoughts and feelings. Using the pen or any design tool provided, students can decorate a scene or upload an image to the frame! Each board features colorful clipart related to the music. As always, there are no wrong answers. Students can choose any combination of descriptors.

What's Included:

• Story Guide – an illustrated chart with each character/object
• 14 Halloween Story Listening Sheets
• 14 Halloween Story Drawing Pages

Printable Listening Sheets Include: (two pages per piece)

1. Introduction and Royal March of the Lion
2. Hens and Roosters
3. Wild Donkeys Swift Animals
4. Tortoises
5. The Elephant
6. Kangaroos
7. Aquarium
8. Characters with Long Ears
9. The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods
10. Aviary
11. Pianists
12. Fossils
13. The Swan
14. Finale

Spooky Wizards Pack

Just print & play! Do you need engaging classical music activities? Spooky Wizards features wand-waving and magical mayhem-inspired compositions!

Classical Halloween Story listening sheets combine music appreciation with a spooky theme! Students compose their haunted tale by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar Halloween objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

What's Included:

• Story Guide – an illustrated chart with each character/object
• 10 Halloween Story Listening Sheets
• 10 Halloween Story Drawing Pages

Printable Listening Sheets Include: (two pages per piece)

1. Harry's Wondrous World, John Williams
2. The Quidditch Match, John Williams
3. Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters, John Williams
4. The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Paul Dukas
5. Reunion of Friends, John Williams
6. The Spiders, John Williams
7. Mischief Managed! John Williams
8. Merlin, Andrew Thomas
9. Saving Buckbeak, John Williams
10. The Knight Bus, John Williams

Spooky Planets Pack

Just print & play! Do you need fun & engaging classical music activities? Experience Gustav Holst's "The Planets!" with a spooky Halloween theme! Each musical composition represents a different planet. Later additions by Leonard Bernstein and Jun Nagao are also included.

Classical Halloween Story listening sheets combine music appreciation with a spooky theme! Students compose their haunted tale by choosing the setting, characters, and familiar Halloween objects inspired by the music. There’s also a drawing box for students to capture a scene from their imaginations. Discuss and display for further engagement!

Printable Listening Sheets Include: (two pages per piece)

1. The Planets (for listening to the whole suite)
2. Mars, the Bringer of War
3. Venus, the Bringer of Peace
4. Mercury, the Winged Messenger
5. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
6. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
7. Uranus, the Magician
8. Neptune, the Mystic
9. *Pluto, the Unpredictable (Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic)
10. *Earth (Jun Nagao)

*Later additions to the suite by other composers

Do you know how composers create the haunting sounds of Halloween? Check out our blog post The Hidden Secrets of Spooky Halloween Music to learn more!

Transform your classroom this spooky season with our comprehensive Halloween File Folder Bundle, featuring 10 engaging resources designed to boost math and language arts skills. Ideal for minimal prep and maximum fun, these Halloween-themed activities are perfect for independent work stations and small group settings. Make learning enjoyable and effective for your students with activities that seamlessly integrate into your curriculum. Prepare your classroom for an exciting and enriching Halloween experience today!

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