"I was happy to see your Halloween list but sorry that so many of the plans were for larger, more elaborate props and contraptions. Do you know of any sites that specialize in the kinds of decorations we might make in my classroom or that I might make and take in myself? I've found a lot of stores that sell wonderful holiday pieces, but I'm afraid there's no room in a teacher's budget for such an extravagance.

"We also have a computer station in our room, so any `safe' sites with games suitable for youngsters would be great. I'm sure other teachers would appreciate the help as well."

I do indeed know some wonderful sites with all kinds of free (or extremely affordable) decorating suggestions, plans and projects. Here are a few of my favorites. And since most of them have other Halloween-related items as well, don't forget to take time to look around and smell the bubbling cauldrons.

• www.kate.net/holidays/halloween/ This is simply a great site with content of its own and so many wonderful links you'll have trouble getting through them all. Best of all, Kate has taken the time to organize everything into easily located sections. Lesson plans, decorations and crafts are all included as are songs, stories, humor and all kinds of activities.

• www.primarygames.com. While fall and Halloween are featured on the home page, you'll find all kinds of great games on the Primary Games site. One of my favorite features here are the pages you can print out for your students to use for their scary stories. They offer versions for printing as well as cursive penmanship.

• http://members.aol.com/

panda34911/KidsParties/HolidayFunPg11Halloween.html. I know, the address is a "mouseful" — but if you take the time you'll find all kinds of games (both electronic an printable) as well as a Halloween song and a clever little story to share. Before you leave the site, so to "other holidays" and take a look at the Fall Harvest section. Some of the games suggested could be used for math, English or reading as well as just for fun activities in the classroom or outdoors. (Plus you'll love the jazzy version of "Shine on Harvest Moon" that plays in the background.)

• http://rats2u.com. If you haven't discovered the Rats2u site — you'll love exploring Halloween and the dozens of other holiday suggestions you'll find here. Some of their clever treats and decoration ideas include a paper bag pumpkin, monster masks, noodle bat necklaces and lollypop witches.(Just click on Halloween, then use the "crafts" prompt in the column on the right hand page.)

• www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/halloween. These are among my favorite decorations and crafts. All of the projects are simple and use stuff you've probably got at home or in the classroom. There are pop up cards, all sorts of masks, wall decorations and table toppers all in a variety of spider, bat and pumpkin themes.

• www.make-stuff.com/hollidays/halloween.html. This is another wonderful site filled with craft fun and decorating suggestions. I like this one because it has both serious and humorous ideas as well as traditional and some slightly off the wall ideas for making your decorating one of a kind. You'll be creating ghosts, spiders, witches, black cats and skeletons out of bleach bottles, boxes, milk jugs, spools, wire hangers and felt. Now THAT'S scary.

Jan Perry is a Kentucky-based writer and Halloween lover. She welcomes your favorite site (Halloween or otherwise). Send them to her at SiteSeer2K@aol.com.