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Making Staff Morale Fun in October
The kids aren't the only ones who get to have fun in October! This month of the year is notorious for fun tricks and treats! When I was head of the Sunshine Committee at my school, I loved playing on the fun Halloween themes in our staff morale activities. Incorporating some seasonal and holiday touches is the perfect way to keep things interesting in your school and boost staff morale with ease! Not to mention, everyone will get a kick out of these fun activities and resources!
1. October Edition Rock Paper Scissors
As kids, I think we all played our fair share of Rock, Paper, Scissors. It's a simple game that is beloved by all! I used this game to boost staff morale in my school and kept it interesting by using a fun seasonal theme each month. In October, our Rock, Paper, Scissors Game gets a Halloween twist! 
This staff morale idea is fairly inexpensive and super simple to prep - which always made it a winner in my book! All you need is one plastic beaded necklace for each staff member and the printable tags included in this resource. I liked to grab fun Halloween necklaces from Amazon, but you can typically find cheap plastic necklaces at the dollar store and party supply stores as well.
To prepare, you will wrap a Halloween tag around each necklace and hang the reminder signs up the day before your event. On the day of, staff get a letter and a necklace in their mailbox. The letter instructs them to wear the necklace and challenge other staff members to a friendly game of Rock, Paper, Scissors throughout the day. The winner of each game gets to "steal" their co-workers' necklace. Staff members with the most necklaces at the end of the day win the challenge!
You can decide what types of prizes fit your budget best. And don't forget - no cost prizes are a lot of fun too! Things like jeans day, prime parking spaces, class coverage, and copies made were always a hit in my school!
2. You've Been Boo'ed
Have you ever seen homes get "Booed" in your neighborhood around Halloween time? The idea is that neighbors will leave some kind of treat or surprise on their neighbors' doorstep along with a sign. Then, that neighbor pays it forward by doing the same for another. This is exactly the idea behind my October Staff Boos Resource, except for the houses turn into teacher classrooms or staff desks!
To start this off, I would "Boo" 2 staff members by leaving a fun sign on their classroom door or on their desks along with a special treat. These can be things candy, coffee, some special pens, or really anything you want! Then, those staff members do the same for 2 more colleagues. You can choose a higher number if you'd like - this will make the "Boos" add up quick!
This is a great activity to use during the week of Halloween in your school, or even all month long. I liked to encourage staff to pick small, but thoughtful things to "Boo" their fellow staff with. It doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful!
3. Apple Snack Bar
Snack bars are one of my all-time favorite ways to boost staff morale! They are super versatile, easy to execute, and just plain fun! In October, I loved to use a fall-themed Apple Snack Bar. This time of year, apples are at their peak. Why not use these crisp, delicious fruits to treat your staff?
To use this idea, you'll need a variety of fresh apples. I liked to visit the local orchard down the street, but the grocery store also has a nice variety at a great price this time of year. Once you choose your apples, you'll want to collect some toppings for your Apple Bar. Some of the things I used include:
- chopped nuts
- peanut butter
- caramel sauce
- chocolate sauce
- chocolate chips
- coconut flakes
- crushed cookies
Really anything sweet and festive will work here - have fun with this part! Then, you'll arrange all of your apples, toppings, and paper goods in the break room. I also decorated with some festive signs to let staff know that a treat was waiting for them in the breakroom.
Then, as they are able, they can select an apple, use a slicer to prepare it, and then top it with some goodies! Snack bars like this are great for schools that have varied schedules since staff can come and go as they please.
4. Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Over the years, I have found that one of the best ways to boost staff morale in October is with some friendly competition. My favorite way to facilitate this is with a Pumpkin Decorating Contest! Not only will staff love competing for the award of "best pumpkin" but the decorating pumpkins will serve as a perfect Halloween decoration for your office or hallway.
For this activity, staff will each get to decorate a pumpkin. They will label it with a number and then display it in an area for judging. The judging portion is a group effort as well! Everyone gets to vote for the best pumpkin. Then, the votes are counted and the winners are awarded a prize!
It's a fun idea to provide art supplies during a meeting and encourage staff to spend a portion of the meeting decorating their pumpkin. This is a great team-building activity that everyone will love! If you're interested in trying this activity, check out this resource to simplify the process. Inside you'll find voting ballots, numbers for your pumpkins, detailed instructions, suggested supplies, and more!
5. October Scratch Off Tickets
Looking for a super simple (and fun) way to boost staff morale in your meetings this month? Give scratch-offs a try! These little tickets will make your staff smile as they "scratch off" the stickers to reveal a prize. Not to mention the cute ghost theme is perfect for the month of October!
These come pre-filled with prizes like jeans for a day, class coverage, lunch provided, a book of your choice, and more! There are also blank versions that you can fill in yourself. Then, cover them with a scratch-off sticker or paint and pass them out to staff. You can use these as prizes for your other staff morale games and activities, or simply hand out one to each person at your meeting. Either way, these are sure to be a hit!
Simplify Staff Morale in October
These October Staff Morale ideas are so much fun! Whether you decide to have a Pumpkin Decorating Contest or an Apple Bar, these ideas make boosting staff morale fun and easy for anyone! Can't decide on a favorite? You can find ALL five of these resources inside the October Staff Morale Bundle.
Grabbing the bundle means you can simplify your staff morale resources and set yourself up for success for the whole month! As a former Sunshine Committee leader myself, I know how valuable it is to be prepared! And if you want to plan the whole year, be sure to check out the Monthly Round-Up Mega Bundle for even more great resources.
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This post is filled with all of my favorite ideas and activities to boost staff morale in October. Pin it on Pinterest so you can easily come back to it anytime you need a little inspiration!
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