Vanderbilt University
Dia de Los Muertos
To honor El Dia de los Muertos, scholars work together to create Day of the Dead displays—paper sugar skulls and banners—that bring a festive and memorable flare to the classroom.
Edible Schoolyard
Pan de los Muertos
Accompany instruction and the celebration of El Dia de los Muertos with a loaf of Pan de los Muertos. Here, scholars measure ingredients precisely to create tasty bread, write a remembrance for someone who has passed away, and take part...
Smithsonian Institution
Dia de los Muertos: Honoring our Ancestors Through Community Celebration
Oral storytelling has been an important part of every culture. The time-honored practice uses stories as a conduit for a culture's values and customs from one generation to the next. Keep the tradition going with a family interview...
Curated OER
What is el Dia de los Muertos?
Students explore the Mexican celebration el Dia de los Muertos. In this Mexican celebration lesson, students discuss ways people in the US honor the dead. Students compare and contrast Mexican holidays and American holidays. Students...
Curated OER
El Dia de Los Muertos
How does the Spanish culture view death? Gain the interest of your learners by showing them a skull (if you can get one). How is this Spanish celebration similar or different than Halloween? As an extension, you could dedicate a class...
Curated OER
El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Fifth graders describe ways in which people in the United States remember and honor the dead. They identify the similarities and differences between El Dia de los Muertos, Memorial Day, and Halloween.
Curated OER
El Dia de Los Muertos: Mexican Celebrations
Students research Spanish speaking individuals and the holiday, The Day of the Dead, using Internet and print resources. They orally present their research. Students engage in Mexican traditions by making either a lapida (headstone) or...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Mexican Culture and History through Its National Holidays
Young historians have an opportunity to study the complex history and culture of Mexico by learning about several holidays: The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe), The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los...
Curated OER
Comparing Cultural Holidays
Third graders explore art that reflects their cultural background. For this writing and research lesson students compare and contrast the Halloween with El Dia de los Muertos. Students study the visual art of these holidays. Then...
Curated OER
Pan de los Muertos (Bread of the Dead)/Mexican Hot Chocolate
Fifth graders examine the role of food in social events. They research a Mexican celebration. They work together to make Mexican hot chocolate.
Curated OER
Calavaras Puppets
Fifth graders view skeleton images used in the Dia de los Muertos festival and hear the Mexican tale "Sister Death and the Healer." They identify the view of death held by the Mexican people.
Curated OER
Papel Picado ( Mexican Cut Paper)
Fifth graders describe the characteristics of a piece of "papel picado", or Mexican cut paper, which is seen in the Dia de los Muertos festival. They predict what medium was used in the papel picado art. They explain how the scene in the...
Curated OER
Jose Posada - Calaveras Drawings - Line
Students examine and discuss work of Mexican printmaker Jose Posada, and create drawings in the style of Posada that use current subject matter and symbols.
Curated OER
FOOD FOR THE ANCESTORS
Students identify the foods associated with the "Days of the Dead Celebration." They compare and contrast these foods to the foods associated with American celebrations and become familiar with the foods of Mexico and their relationship...
Curated OER
Fiesta
Students demonstrate an understanding of what a fiesta is by participating in various activities and conducting research.
Curated OER
Cultural Representation of Skeletons and Bones
Eighth graders study cultures and beliefs about the final life cycle. For this culture lesson students complete several activities on the origins of Halloween.