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Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

Comparing Cultural Holidays

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
A lesson examines the holidays, Día de los Muertos and Halloween. After an exciting clip from the movie Coco, class members review vocabulary and discuss what they know about Halloween. The conversation leads into the history of Día de...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) - A Cultural Holiday: Color Exploration of Warm and Cool Colors

For Teachers 3rd
Young artists examine pictures from and discuss the holiday Día de los Muertos. The symbolic skull showcases the use of warm and cool colors. Color exploration allows learners to use coordinating colors to create two paper...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mexican Folk Art: Sugar Skulls

For Teachers K - 5th
Scholars use their knowledge of color to create vibrant skulls for Día de los Muertos. A thoughtful discussion brings forth information about the special holiday. A review of cool colors and warm colors prepares learners for the creation...
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Lesson Plan
Academy of American Poets

Teach This Poem: "November 2: Día De Los Muertos" By Alberto Ríos

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Scholars examine a colorful and detailed picture, then view an engaging video in preparation for reading the poem "November 2: Día De Los Muertos" by Alberto Ríos. Learners discuss their observations, feelings conveyed, and the...
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Activity
Mexic-Arte Museum

Day of the Dead Educational Activity Guide

For Students 6th - 12th
Looking for ideas to help celebrate The Day of the Dead? A 20-page packet includes a history of El Dia de los Muertos, notes on the many worldwide celebrations honoring the dead, and seven activities. A great way to bring this colorful...
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Dia de los Muertos: Honoring our Ancestors Through Community Celebration

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Vanderbilt University

Dia de Los Muertos

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
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.  
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Lesson Plan
Edible Schoolyard

Pan de los Muertos

For Teachers 6th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dancing Skeleton Puppets

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students study the Mexican holiday known as The Day of the Dead. In this holiday lesson, students study bones, listen to Tony Johnston's, Day of the Dead and learn on about the holiday. They listen to two more books before making puppets...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Dramatic Day of the Dead Designs

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Young scholars research customs and activities associated with the Mexican celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Students then analyze their favorite aspects of the holiday and represent them in drawings with bilingual...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hanal Pixan

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research the culture of Mexico. In this Mexican culture lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation about the culture of Mexico and the students take notes. Students write an essay about what they have learned.
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skulls

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students research information about the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), a major celebration in Mexican culture, and compare it to similar holidays in other cultures. They discover various folk arts and festive traditions associated...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

El Dia de Los Muertos

For Teachers 8th - 10th
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...
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PPT
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Curated OER

Facts of Halloween

For Teachers 7th - 9th
From Catholicism to candy corn, this presentation has it all when it comes to Halloween. The history of the holiday is discussed in these slides, as is the stories behind seasonal traditions (trick-or-treating, jack-o-lanterns). The...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Day of the Dead Lesson Plans

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Day of the Dead lesson plans can provide a meaningful exploration of the holiday and its importance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mexico's Day of the Dead

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore global culture by researching a Mexican holiday. In this Day of the Dead lesson, students read assigned text which discusses the view of death in several different cultures including the U.S. and Mexico. Students write a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is el Dia de los Muertos?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Claycrete Calaveras - Dia de los Muertos

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students create skeletons to celebrate the Day of the Dead. In this visual arts activity, students explore the importance of the Day of the Dead celebrations in the Mexican culture. They create skeletons and decorate them with paint,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnificent Mexico

For Teachers K
Students complete a variety of activities in a unit about the art, culture, and traditions of Mexico. They read books about the Day of the Dead, create a skeleton puppet, and create a traditional Mexican tissue paper cutting. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soulfully Remembered

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study about the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead to explore another culture's attitude towards death. They create collages reflecting the interests of and memories about someone who has passed away.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mexican Holidays

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students celebrate Mexican holidays. In this global studies lesson, students collaborate to research the Day of the Dead and Cinco de Mayo. Students present their findings about the holidays and host classroom celebrations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marigold Sculptures

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students design paper sculpture. For this visual arts lesson, students follow the provided steps to create their own marigold sculptures from paper products and paint.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Day of the Dead

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners study the Mexican celebration of Day of the Dead. They view a video and research questions on the Internet. They synthesize the information from the websites and the topic for their RAFT writing assignment. They write their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrating the Day of the Dead

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explore the artwork of the Indo-Hispanic holiday of Day of the Dead. They view images, define key vocabulary terms, and plan and create a two- and three-dimensional sculptural figure.