$9
weeklyor $36 for all content
Self-Paced Halloween History: Fall Myths, History, Festivals & Monsters
Completed by 8 learners
Ages 8-13
Self-Paced Class
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(554 reviews)
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Enroll Now, Start Anytime
Go at your own pace
Your learner can start learning when they want and progress at the speed that works best for them.Start when you want.
Learn at your own pace
Access course material for a full year.
Get hands-on support from teacher.
What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
Over four 20-30-minute lessons, we will study two parts of Halloween history: 1. The history behind our modern traditions and the ancient festivals that inspired Halloween. 2. The origins of the creatures many people dress up as on Halloween. In our first two lessons, we will learn about festivals and legends behind the Halloween traditions we know and celebrate today. Students will learn the origins of our modern holiday and how it was inspired by ancient stories and folk tales. We will discuss how old festivals have influenced our modern holiday. In lessons three and four, we will hear the folk tales and legends behind Halloween monsters. Students will learn the origin stories, myths, and legends that inspired these beasts and spirits, and how different cultures contributed their own versions to today's costumes and stories. We will also discuss how these old stories can influence modern superstitions. We will talk about the history of festivals including: 🐈⬛ Samhain in Ireland and Scotland 🔥 Calan Gaeaf in Wales 💀 Día de Muertos in Mexico We will talk about the history of creatures and beings like: 🧛♂️ Vampires 🧟 Zombies 🐺 Werewolves 👻 Ghosts SCHEDULE Week 1: Global Fall Festivals, Myths, Stories & History Week 2: Global Fall Festivals, Myths, Stories & History Week 3: Origins of the Monsters, Ghosts & Beasts of Halloween Week 4: Origins of the Monsters, Ghosts & Beasts of Halloween I teach using visual slides featuring illustrations, including some historic representations of these creatures from medieval texts to compare them to our modern versions. This class is "lecture style", but students are encouraged to ask questions and share their own Halloween traditions. This is a "self-paced" class, meaning there are no live video sessions. Learners can view the recorded videos at any time during the week. If you are interested in taking the live version of this class, I offer it in two one-time classes here: 🎃 Part 1: Global Fall Festivals, Myths, Stories & History 👻 Part 2: Origins of the Monsters, Ghosts & Beasts of Halloween
Learning Goals
Students will come away from this class with an understanding of how these folktales, myths, and festivals from around the world have shaped our modern traditions and stories.Syllabus
2 Units
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksUnit 1: Halloween History: Festivals and Holidays
Lesson 1:
Historic Festivals of Autumn: Samhain and Calan Gaeaf
Learn about the festival of Samhain from Ireland and Scotland, Calan Gaeaf from Wales, their traditions (some might seem familiar to Halloween-lovers today!), and creepy creatures said to make appearances during these historic holidays. PLEASE NOTE: There are two videos for this week. Total length: 25 minutes. 15 mins of video lessons
Lesson 2:
Historic Festivals of Autumn: All Hallows and Dia de Muertos
This week's lesson covers how Samhain from last week became the modern Halloween we know and love, as well as the holidays of All Hallows and Dia de Muertos. 20 mins of video lessons
Unit 2: Halloween History: Monsters
Lesson 3:
Monsters: Vampires and Zombies
Let's talk all about vampires and zombies, where their stories come from, and examples from all over the world. PLEASE NOTE: There are two videos for this week. Total length: 27 minutes. 15 mins of video lessons
Lesson 4:
Monsters: Werewolves and Ghosts
In our last class, we will discover ancient and medieval stories about werewolves and ghosts and how they might influence the stories we tell today. Happy Halloween! PLEASE NOTE: There are two videos for this week. Total length: 23 minutes. 12 mins of video lessons
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Since many of the traditions of Halloween are derived from religious practices and beliefs, we will discuss how belief systems can help shape culture. This will include some Christianity (i.e. Día de Muertos) and ancient pagan beliefs (i.e. Samhain). Many Halloween traditions are also based around the concept of death and an afterlife. Parents and students should be aware that we will discuss cultural depictions surrounding death the concept of an afterlife, which includes "ghosts" and "spirits".
We will be learning about monsters and ghosts, so students should be prepared for discussions of these creepy and sometimes evil creatures. In many stories, death is common.
PLEASE NOTE: We discuss the ways that certain creatures can be defeated/killed, according to folklore. This is includes vampire being killed by a wooden stake through their heart or werewolves with a silver bullet. There is one instance of the belief in a vampire being defeated by decapitation. We do not go into detail and no descriptions are ever mentioned. Everything will be age-appropriate with the level of "creepiness" from child-friendly Halloween movies. We always emphasize that these are made-up stories.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Sources for this class include:
- Rathcroghan Visitor Centre website
- "Ireland's Immortals" by Mark Williams
- "Spooky Wales" from BBC
- "Day of the Dead" from National Geographic Kids
- "The History of Day of the Dead" from dayofthedead.holiday
- "Encyclopedia of Norse and Germanic Folklore, Mythology, and Magic" by Claude LeCouteux
Meet the teacher
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in History from University of California, Riverside
***MATERNITY LEAVE: I will be taking time off for maternity leave beginning in January. At this time, I plan to resume classes in April. I will update any changes here. I hope to see your learners back in class to talk all about mythology and fairy tales soon! :) ***
Hi parents and learners! My name is Alexandra and I love stories of all kinds.
I offer classes that survey stories from all over the world, including mythology, folklore, fairy tales, legends, literature, and true history. My classes teach students how to interpret stories in their historical and cultural context. I believe that the best way to learn about history and different cultures is through the stories a country, tribe, or any group of people tell about themselves and pass down to their own children.
I earned my degree in history from the University of California, Riverside, with an emphasis on ancient and medieval history. I studied abroad at the University of Oxford as part of my undergraduate degree.
I have been working with students ages five to eighteen over the last ten years as a teacher’s assistant, substitute, one-on-one tutor, and homeschool teacher.
I look forward to seeing you in a class and sharing stories that matter!
SCHEDULE REQUESTS:
If you don't see a class time that works for your learner's schedule, please reach out to let me know what times work best for you. I schedule classes based on the most-requested times and I am always happy to add more sections.Reviews
Alexandra suggests this class next...
Story Explorer Ireland: Irish Mythology, History, and Culture
Alexandra
4.9
(554)
$18 per class
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 55 min
8-13
Other classes by Alexandra
Other classes by Alexandra
Related categories
Parents also liked
Folklore and History of Halloween
Jennifer Smith, MA
4.9
(135)
$20 per class
Next session at 2 PM on Thu 10/30
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 1.42 hr
12-16
Halloween Fall Fun in Spanish!
Amie S (B.A. Spanish and Psychology)
4.9
(283)
$12 per class
Next session at 11 PM on Thu 10/30
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 25 min
5-10
Halloween Movie Blooket Trivia Fall Camp
Mrs. Michelle
5.0
(20)
$15 per class
Next session at 5 PM on Mon 10/6
Group Class
4 wks, 2/wk, 30 min
10-15
Spooktacular Halloween History Party: A One-Time Class for Teens
Outschool Teen Educator: Dr. Kai Kafferly, PhD
5.0
(632)
$20 per class
Next session at 5 PM on Sat 10/18
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 1.25 hr
13-18
Halloween & Beyond - World Celebrations of Harvest & Ancestors' Devotion 1:1
Pamela Ocana, M.A.
5.0
(406)
$65 per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
7-18
“The Office” (American) Halloween Party Rewatch Social Club
Mrs. Michelle
5.0
(20)
$15 per class
Next session at 4 PM on Mon 10/6
Group Class
4 wks, 1/wk, 45 min
10-15
Short Story Study for Halloween: The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Mr. Van, Certified Teacher
5.0
(126)
$20 per class
Next session at 3 PM on Tue 9/2
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 55 min
12-15
🎃 🕸️🕷🍂☕️🕸️🧁Fun Fall Snack Recipes🎃🍂☕️🧁 🕸️🕸️🕷
Lilly Maoli
4.9
(9)
$29 per class
Next session at 11 PM on Wed 10/1
Group Class
6 wks, 1/wk, 35 min
7-12
LDCA: Bluey Halloween (Weekly) Drawing Camp
Sterling B. Freeman - Drawing, Illustration, Art
5.0
(2,878)
$20 per class
Next session at 4 PM on Wed 10/1
Group Class
5 wks, 1/wk, 1 hr
6-11
Halloween themed 1st/2nd Grade Math Tutoring
Ms. Elizabeth
4.7
(901)
$17 per session
1-on-1 Tutoring
On Demand
6-8
Nightmare Before Christmas: Learn This Is Halloween on Ukulele or Guitar
Celina "Cricket" Matthews
4.7
(173)
$15 per session
1-on-1 Lessons
On Demand
10-15
Happy Cello-Ween! Play Spoooky Tunes on Your Cello Just in Time for Halloween!
Katie Chambers
5.0
(52)
$14 per class
Next session at 11 PM on Tue 9/23
Group Class
6 wks, 1/wk, 45 min
10-15
Halloween Learning Lab: Bones of the Human Skull and Skeletal System
Ms. Crystal
5.0
(33)
$15 per class
Next session at 4 PM on Mon 7/14
Group Class
1/wk, 30 min
13-18
Spooky Science! – Not Just for Halloween Experiments (STEM / STEAM )
Teacher Saara, M.Ed - Science Experiments
5.0
(1,069)
$23 per class
Next session at 3 PM on Saturday
Group Class
4 wks, 1/wk, 30 min
4-9
A Spooky Witch's Halloween Brew and the Biology Behind It
Andrea R., PhD
5.0
(67)
$11 per class
Next session at 2 PM on Fri 10/31
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 30 min
5-9
LDCA (Special Feature): Bluey Halloween Drawing - Muffin & Socks
Sterling B. Freeman - Drawing, Illustration, Art
5.0
(2,878)
$20 per class
Next session at 6 PM on Wed 10/15
Group Class
1 wk, 1/wk, 50 min
6-11
More to explore
Beginning Piano Adventures Group Piano Lessons for Beginners
Unity 2a
Medieval Castles And Villages
Europes Coolest Cities
Unicorn
Private Ela
Make A Map
Discount
Beginner Reader
Anime Fashion
Ghost Hunting
Level-up Chess
Garden Biology
Writing Sentence Structure
Physics Beyblade
Habits
Affirmation
Essay Tutor
Angry
They Called Us Enemy Graphic Novel
