Are you looking for a way to add some fun and life back into your Spanish classroom this year? Whether you’re in person or behind a computer screen, our students would love to see us dressed up in a Halloween costume! Here are 8 must-see Halloween costumes for teachers to incorporate Hispanic culture in your costume or classroom this year! Let me know your favorites and share your Halloween costumes for teachers with me, too!
Hispanic Artists
Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Pablo Picasso, or more! Think of their signature looks and emulate that. Flowers in your hair like Frida, overalls like Rivera, or the iconic Dalí moustache… . You could carry a painting palette and paintbrush, too! I would even take this one a step further and print out some of the artist’s most famous works and put them around the room or on an easel. This would help students to figure out who you are! This costume makes for a great “guess who” activity with your students. You can even play 20 questions with them to keep them in the target language. They can ask questions like ¿Eres de España? ¿Pintas autorretratos? ¿Tienes un esposo? etc.
If you want a costume, already made, here is a Frida Kahlo costume on Amazon that would be a hit with your students! Or just make your own and add this adorable flower headband!
Casa de papel
This hit Netflix show, Casa de Papel makes for a fun costume! Get yourself a Salvador Dali mask and a red jumpsuit here and you’ll become a part of the gang! And, if you haven’t watched this show yet, it is a must watch. It is action-packed, yet filled with emotions that make you fall in love with this rag-tag bunch of robbers. While it is not appropriate to show in school, there are definitely clips that you could find, or at least pictures so students can get an understanding of your costume.
Halloween Costumes Sports Themed or Hispanic Athletes
All you need is a jersey, scarf, hat, or face paint to support your favorite Hispanic team or player! You could represent a Spanish soccer team, a soccer player, a baseball player, or anyone of Hispanic origin! This option doesn’t require too much effort, especially if you’ve traveled or studied abroad and bought a shirt, flag, or hat for your team. You may already have some of these items displayed in your classroom. Just take them down, wear them, and maybe paint your face with the team colors?!
Hispanic Heroes
There are so many Hispanic heroes – people that our students should know and admire for their great qualities and amazing contributions to society. Here is a list of over 50 Hispanic heroes that I use for a hero project, but you could also use to get costume ideas! Just like with Hispanic artists, you could play 20 questions to get your students to guess who you are. This is one way to bring awareness to current Hispanics making a difference in our world in the fields of activism, education, business, science, and more!
Day of the Dead Costume & Calaveras
Tie in your Halloween costume to Día de los muertos. Paint your face to look like a calavera or wear a Día de los muertos shirt! More and more big-box retail stores are carrying Hispanic holiday apparel and decorations so you should have no trouble finding a Day of the Dead costume or t-shirts. Here are a bunch of cute ones on Amazon. I have also seen some at Target and Walmart, but you can also support small businesses on Etsy! Plus, since Día de los muertos is the following day, so why not add a mini lesson to teach students why this day is celebrated?! Check out this Day of the Dead Vocabulary ABC book or a Virtual Day of the Dead webquest lesson!
Music and Dance Costumes
You could represent a style of music or dance from a Spanish-speaking country. A mariachi band, a flamenco dancer, a salsa dancer. Then, put on that style of music on YouTube and let your students dance! A Zumba version with dance moves will encourage more students to participate, since they just need to copy the moves on screen. High schoolers may be hesitant at first, but it usually takes just one brave soul to get the party started.
For a flamenco costume, even if you just wear a black dress and get a fan and cute hair pieces here, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a flamenco dress!
Matador and Running of the Bulls
Dress up as a matador or someone participating in La fiesta de San Fermín… wear all white clothing with a red handkerchief or scarf! Here is a square red scarf from Amazon for just a few bucks, and now all you need is white pants and a white t-shirt. You can even squeeze in a mini lesson on Running of the Bulls to explain your costume. Share videos of the festival so your students see what it is really like to participate in this exciting, yet controversial festival.
Ancient Civilizations Costumes
This one requires more work, but you could create your own costume to dress up as a member of the Inca, Aztec, or Mayan civilizations! For inspiration, maybe take a look at paintings of the civilizations, such as Diego Rivera’s Mercado de Tlatelolco mural. There are Aztecs from all different social classes, from slaves to vendors to the emperor in his mural. As one example, you can be adorned in gold jewelry and a headdress to represent the upper class in ancient civilizations.
Extra Credit Idea for Students
A few weeks before Halloween, announce that you are doing an extra credit assignment for Halloween. Have your students dress up as a Hispanic figure or cultural aspect, like the ideas listed above. They should come to school (or your class) dressed as something related to Spanish class, and be prepared to explain their costume to the class. Those that participate can earn extra credit, and if enough students participate, there can even be a costume contest for another prize!
What will you be dressed up as this year? Do you have other Halloween costume ideas for Spanish teachers? Share your pictures below or tag me on Instagram @thellearningllama Also, make sure you Pin this blog post so you don’t forget your favorite Halloween costumes for teachers!
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