Halloween [1]'s a little different when you're a teacher. Celebrating the candy-centreed holiday [2] usually means keeping overexcited kids in line, manageing multiple Halloween [3] classroom events, and — of course — showing off your best-dressed Halloween costume attire [4] (to students and coworkers). It's a lot of work, but it's so worth it. And whether you're celebrating with your students in person or online, you can still get creative, because even a virtual class calls for a top-notch costume — it needs to stand out on camera! That's why we've found crafty costumes that make great inspiration for teachers. Check them out for yourself ahead.
— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes
Arthur
Animal ears are the best way to become the aardvark and his animal friends.
Pac-Man
Teachers will be chasing one another around the hallways with a costume like this.
Scarecrow
A flannel, hat, and some makeup is all that's needed to morph into scarecrow for school.
Furry Creatures
You'll never regret wearing a onesie, and if you're afraid to do it alone, get your other teacher friends in on the action.
Minnie Mouse
Oh boy! Dressing up as Minnie is as easy as a polka-dot dress and some mouse ears (feel free to use your Disney ones!).
Thing 1 or Thing 2
It doesn't matter which "thing" you choose, as long as you put a Thing 1 or Thing 2 sign on a red dress with a blue shirt underneath, you're good to go.
World Series Champions
It's easy to look like a home run in this outfit! Grab your teacher crew to create a "team," decide what colour shirt you're going to wear, pair it with black pants, white socks, a baseball bat, and a baseball cap, and you'll look like a champion.
Powerpuff Girls
Save the day by wearing pink, green, and blue shirts. Yup, it's really that easy.
White Rabbit From Alice in Wonderland
Go all out for your school costume by dressing as White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. Deck yourself out in head-to-toe black-and-white attire and use bits of white face makeup to add details like whiskers and fur.
Rosie the Riveter
A red bandana for your hair and a denim long-sleeved shirt will turn you into the classic World Ware II icon in no time.
Bucket Fillers
Bucket fillers are cute ways to show students they are valued and important. When their bucket is full, it means they're happy and loved — which means these teachers must be super popular!
Field Trip Survivors
Coming back alive from a field trip is the equivalent to winning the lottery for a teacher. Wear your sign loud and proud to prove that you made it back in one piece.
Funny Puns
Oh, deer! Holy cow! Honestly, who doesn't love a good pun?
A Paper Grading Papers
Kids will love the irony of their papers being graded . . . by a giant piece of paper.
The Price Is Right
Painted cardboard boxes can instantly transform any cool teacher squad into the classic game show.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Construction paper and painted shirts can be used to re-create Eric Carle's beloved classic.
Word Wall
Word walls are an important part of any elementary school's grammar lesson. Bring it to life this Halloween [6] by gluing the words to a shirt.
Rock, Papper, Scissors, Shoot!
The timeless game has been a tradition on school playgrounds for years. Wear a headband that labels exactly what each teacher is so that kids can laugh along with the joke.
Pumpkin Pi
Maths teachers can take their jobs pretty seriously, but this is next level.
Shark Week
A calendar necklace and shark hat are the two main components of this genius group costume, representing the famous Shark Week.
A Target Dollar Spot Haul
Everyone knows that the Target dollar spot is where it's at for teachers across the nation.
Emojis
Put the school's art supplies to good use and dress up as something every kid with an iPhone will recognise.
Inside Out
The adorable children's movie is an easy way to teach kids about emotions — and an easy Halloween [7] costume to replicate.
Scrabble
Spell out a positive phrase with your best teacher friends. These life-size Scrabble pieces can be made with cut-up cardboard boxes for an easier take on the costume.
Scuba Divers
Looking for a quirky group teacher costume idea? Make everyone dress as scuba divers — and choose one unlucky teacher to be the shark.
Play-Doh
These preschool teachers know the key to their students' hearts: Play-Doh.
A River
A little felt (and imagination) goes a long way. Turn yourself into a river, ocean, or any body of water with simple art supplies and clothes you already have in your closet.
Ninja Turtles
Kids will feel so much better knowing that their halls are safe with this kind of dynamic duo teaching their class.
Cards Against Humanity
This amazing G-rated version of the popular card game will definitely impress students — while throwing a little shade!
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Series
Laura Numeroff's book series makes for an easy and cheap group costume idea.
Mathlete
A teacher's undying love for numbers clearly inspired this original look.
Smarty Pants
Glue on the sweet little candies to your pants to let students know that you do, in fact, know it all.
Grammar Police
Enforce the rules of literature a little more than usual on Halloween [8] day.
The Lorax
The adorable book-turned-movie is inspiring for every student. Just order a Lorax hat online to complete the look.
A Pack of Crayons
Embody your most commonly used art supply and dress up as your favourite crayon colour.
Ms. Frizzle From The Magic School Bus Series
She's everyone's favourite quirky, wacky teacher!
Professors of Hogwarts
Consult the sorting hat to see which kind of teacher you might be at Hogwarts.
Jellyfish
A school of jellyfish can easily roam the halls of school thanks to colourful umbrellas, construction paper, and streamers.
Sesame Street Characters
A tutu and matching shirt make it simple to embody your students' favourite Sesame Street characters.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Each teacher can dress up as the dwarf they relate most to.
Olivia
Some homemade pig ears and a red dress make for one adorable Olivia.
Care Bears
The cute bear friend group is all about fighting with positivity, which is a great lesson for students to remember.
Monsters, Inc.
Mike and Sully only scare because they care . . . so channel your inner scariest teacher.
The Crucibile
This teacher tested her high school student's knowledge about the classic novel by dressing up as the poppet that landed Elizabeth in jail.
Biker Gang
Teachers are a force to be reckoned with.
Pineapple Slice
Yellow apparel and a homemade headpiece bring this pineapple to life.
M&Ms
Use solid t-shirts, white felt, and gloves to dress up as the packet of M&Ms you know you have hiding in your desk drawer.
S'mores
Teachers need each other, just like a s'more needs graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows, and a campfire.
The Wizard of Oz
Nobody was closer than Dorothy and her friend group in the ageless movie.
Three Little Pigs
Straw, bricks, sticks, and DIY [9] pig masks make this an easy and sweet costume!
Bubble Gum Machines
There might not be gum chewing allowed in school, but teachers still make all the rules . . . even on Halloween [10].
Ghostbusters
When there's something strange in your school's halls, who ya gonna call?
Anna and Elsa
Perfect for the teachers who just can't let their Frozen obsession go.
Trolls
Glue a bunch of tulle to a headband to re-create the characters' crazy hairdos.
Super Mario and Friends
Nothing says squad goals like Super Mario and his clique.
Up
Balloons, a cane, and a borrowed Girl Scout sash are the key must-haves to make this adorable costume from the sentimental movie.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Some students might drive you as crazy as the curious chipmunks drove Dave in the cartoon show.
Diction-Fairy
Have no fear, the diction-fairy is here! Dress up a skirt with the old pages of a used book and help students solve their grammar problems all day long.
Lily's Purple Plastic Purse
Elementary school teachers can dress up as their own personal favourite children's book main character.
Dragons Love Tacos
Take this new bestselling book literally on Halloween [11] day.
Amelia Earhart
Bring your most admired historical heroine to life.
Superheroes
Teachers are superheroes who don't typically wear a cape — but it's OK to make an exception just this once.
Mermaids
Show students that you can be as glamorous as mermaids . . . even if it's a Monday.
Three Blind Mice
Teacher trios can wear a black wardrobe, mouse ears, and sunglasses to bring back the famous children's tale.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Bring this English class lesson to life with Harper Lee's main characters.
Dominoes
Teachers lean back on each other all the time, so this is pretty fitting.
Unicorn Frappuccino
Any Starbucks teacher knows darn well how amazing the Unicorn Frap is.
The Old Man and the Sea
The Hemingway novel can be taken quite literally by a couple of teacher friends.