I love using picture books read alouds, even with my upper elementary students. Recently, I searched Amazon for picture books to use with Virginia Studies lessons in October, and I was surprised by what I found. The most popular Virginia picture books were not related to Christmas or the Fourth of July. They were Halloween-themed picture books!
In this blog post, I’ve listed all of the picture books that you can use with your Virginia Studies lessons in October and ways to use each book in your classroom.
**This blog post contains affiliate links.**
Vestal’s 21st Century Classroom specializes in the Virginia SOLs. Did you know that we offer a free newsletter with SOL-aligned teaching resources and ideas specifically designed for Virginia teachers? You can sign up for the newsletter HERE.
Trick or Treat in Virginia: A Halloween Adventure In The Old Dominion State
Of all the Halloween-themed Virginia books that I have discovered, Trick or Treat in Virginia by Eric James is my favorite. This one came out on top because it does the best job of blending the Virginia Studies SOLs with a fun story.
In Trick or Treat in Virginia, a visitor arrives from outer space on Halloween. The alien visitor joins a group of kids in costume and trick-or-treats throughout Virginia. Throughout the story, the trick-or-treaters visit nearly 20 cities and sites throughout Virginia. By going through the alien’s Virginia maps and checklists, students will learn about cities from Virginia Beach to Manassas and visit sites like Colonial Williamsburg and the Virginia Zoo.
There are lots of ways to incorporate Trick or Treat in Virginia into your Virginia Studies lessons in October. For example, have students design a vacation plan for an alien visiting the state of Virginia. They should create a checklist of places the alien should visit and plot each of those places on a map of Virginia.
To learn more about Trick or Treat in Virginia and how to use it to teach the Virginia Studies SOLs, make sure to check out THIS BLOG POST.
The Spooky Express Virginia
If you love The Polar Express, you’ll like The Spooky Express Virginia by Eric James. Like The Polar Express, The Spooky Express Virginia is about a magical train that transports people on a holiday night. The difference is that this train is full of ghoulish characters and travels through the state of Virginia on Halloween Night.
In The Spooky Express Virginia, students will explore about 20 places and sites in Virginia. But the author does a good job of differentiating the places shown from the locations used in Trick or Treat Virginia. Whether diving to the bottom of the James River or playing at Amazement Square in Lynchburg, students will have fun exploring Virginia on this magical train ride.
The activity I use to accompany The Spooky Express Virginia is one of my favorite Virginia Studies lessons in October. Students design a Virginia train experience that incorporates the Virginia Studies SOLs. They decide the train’s name and who will hold positions such as the conductor and engineer. They also determine what the train will look like and plan its route through Virginia.
You can learn more about The Spooky Express Virginia and how I use it in the classroom in THIS BLOG POST.
A Halloween Scare in Virginia: A Silly Monster Adventure Set in Virginia
A Halloween Scare in Virginia reminds me of Twas the Night Before Christmas. Like the Christmas classic, it uses rhyming and poetry to tell a fun and memorable holiday story.
Poetry is not the only thing that makes this book different from the other books on this list. A Halloween Scare in Virginia is the only book that incorporates a famous Virginian (who is also a part of more than one Virginia Studies SOL). Also, not all of the locations are explicitly mentioned. For example, the Dismal Swamp, Mount Vernon, and Colonial Williamsburg are shown but not part of the text. This can make for a fun search-and-find activity as you read the book.
Like the previous two books on this list, A Halloween Scare in Virginia is also written by Eric James. However, James does an excellent job of differentiating the Virginia cities and sites used in each of his holiday books. Students will visit cities such as Annandale, Bristol, and Norfolk, and see sites such as the Virginia Aquarium and Monticello.
A Halloween Scare in Virginia is a great tool for combining Virginia Studies and ELA skills. As you read the book, discuss how poetry and alliteration are used. Then, instruct students to write their own poem that incorporates the Virginia Studies SOLs.
A Haunted Ghost Tour in Virginia: A Not-So-Scary Halloween Adventure for Kids
Even though “haunted” is in the title, this book is anything but scary! In A Haunted Ghost Tour in Virginia by Louise Martin, a group of ghosts tours Virginia to learn about October traditions and festivities throughout the state. One thing that makes this book different from the other books on the list (aside from not being authored by Eric James) is that it is not just about Halloween festivities. It also incorporates hay rides and fall festivals. Whether taking a boat tour in Richmond and judging a costume contest in Chesapeake, students will have fun reviewing Virginia geography with A Haunted Ghost Tour in Virginia!
Because each page in A Haunted Ghost Tour in Virginia features a different Virginia city, it can be fun to add pages to the book. Have each student select a place that is not mentioned in the book and create a page about that city to add. Students should write a few sentences about a fall or Halloween activity that could take place in the city and draw a picture.
To learn more about A Haunted Ghost Tour in Virginia and how to use it as part of your Virginia Studies lessons in October, be sure to check out THIS BLOG POST.
The Spookiest Pumpkin Patch in Virginia
The Spookiest Pumpkin Patch in Virginia is another fun read from Louise Martin.
In this not-so-scary story, a group of kids receives an invitation to the “spookiest pumpkin patch” in Virginia. Each kid works to prepare for the party in their city. For example, children in Richmond visit stores to find festive hats and costumes while children in Roanoke decorate a banner for the party. The children’s hard work in each city ends with the biggest Halloween party the state of Virginia has ever seen!
What I like about The Spookiest Pumpkin Patch in Virginia compared to some of the other books on this list is that it provides a way to seamlessly integrate ELA and math into your Virginia Studies lessons in October.
After reading this book, I like to have students plan a Halloween party on a budget. They must choose where in Virginia to hold their party, write an invitation, and decide which food and decorations to buy within their budget.
To learn more about The Spookiest Pumpkin Patch in Virginia and how to use it as part of your Virginia Studies lessons in October, be sure to check out THIS BLOG POST.
Bonus Virginia Studies Lessons For Each Book
Each of these fall-themed picture books provides an easy way to review Virginia geography and regions. There are SO many Virginia cities and places included in each book. As you read, make a list of all the places mentioned or shown in the illustrations. After reading, have students identity each place on a map of Virginia. Discuss which region each place is located in.
You can also discuss the significance of certain cities and places as they relate to the Virginia Studies SOLs. For example, Richmond was the Confederate capital in the Civil War, and Staunton is where President Woodrow Wilson was born.
Don’t Forget…
You can find more information about these books and how to use them as part of your Virginia Studies lessons in October in the following blog posts–
- A Haunted Ghost Tour in Virginia
- Trick or Treat in Virginia
- The Spooky Express Virginia
- The Spookiest Pumpkin Patch in Virginia
You can also use the following blog posts to find more fun picture books about Virginia and activities to use throughout the year.
- Virginia Studies Picture Books and Lessons for Spring
- Virginia Studies Picture Books and Lessons for December
The Virginia Teacher Club® is a one-of-a-kind program for upper elementary teachers in Virginia. Members receive instant access to a curriculum library of SOL-aligned math, science, social studies, and ELA resources. There are lesson plans, games, assessments, passages, digital activities, and more for EVERY SOL. By using the Virginia Teacher Club®, our members save hours of planning time every month and have access to high-quality, SOL-aligned resources that students love.
CLICK HERE to join the waitlist and be the first to know when the Virginia Teacher Club® reopens for new members.
