Are you having trouble thinking of ways other than the typical sugar skull mask to commemorate the Day of the Dead in your classroom? Following, you will find read-aloud suggestions and interactive activities to learn more about el Día de muertos and help thwart misconceptions about the holiday.
There are several misconceptions revolving el Día de muertos as many know about it in the U.S. Sadly, it can be other Latino/a educators that spread these misconceptions based on fear and assumptions. Some people are alarmed by ofrendas/altars and compare this to rituals in Santería. The Day of the Dead commemorates and honors loved ones' memories. Building ofrendas with loved ones' favorite dishes, favorite toys, and photographs is a way of keeping their memory alive and passing on the family history to future generations.
Another misconception is that although several Latin American countries commemorate a similar day, el Día de los Fieles Difuntos (Day of the Faithfully Departed), these are not the same. El Día de muertos or Day of the Dead is uniquely Mexican. BUT this does not mean every Mexican celebrates or commemorates this festivity. Many Mexicans focus solely on the Day of the Faithfully Departed and do not partake in the Day of the Dead traditions and customs or simply do not recognize it.
El Día de muertos as we know it today, is an amalgamation of Catholic elements and deeply rooted pre-hispanic customs and beliefs.
The symbols and artifacts that are popularly used during this season such as skulls, pan de muerto, the monarch butterfly, cempasúchil (aztec marigold), and the hummingbird all carry a big weight and special significance for the indigenous peoples of México. For example, the colors and aroma of the cempasúchil flower are believed to help guide the departed back to the land of the living for this special occasion. Legend has it was created by the Aztec God of the Sun in order to keep two lovers together for eternity in the form of cempasúchil and a hummingbird. These symbols are not typically used for the Day of the Faithfully Departed.
As with any other holiday in the classroom, the most important notion to follow is the fact that you are not celebrating the holiday. The classroom is not the place to impose beliefs. By talking about el Día de muertos and sharing about the culture and traditions, your classroom is LEARNING and appreciating.
Read-aloud suggestions
Festival de Calaveras written and illustrated by Luis San Vicente
If you are lucky enough to find this book, you are in for a treat! It is written in rhyme and depicts the preparations made by both sides (the living and the dead) to be able to reunite on the special day. The biggest emphasis is that this is a time to remember but not with sorrow; it is a time to rejoice. The illustrations are silly and expressive and perfect for this theme.
(Have not seen an English version available)
Funny Bones Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh
Have you read books by Duncan Tonatiuh? Focusing on aspects of Mexican tradition and history, his books are not to be missed. Funny Bones is no exception. Surely you and your students have heard about la Catrina. Well, this book tells the story of how José Guadalupe Posada's Calaveras came to be. These Calaveras are depicted in activities like sweeping, cooking, and dancing and are not meant to be scary. They're meant to provide comedic commentary on everyday interactions.
An Ofrenda for Perro by Judith Valdés B. illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera
For anyone who has lost a pet, this book will be one of your favorites. Benito has Perro whom he has grown up with. Perro, an old dog now, is taken to the vet and sadly does not come back. The author depicts Benito's sorrow and grief at losing his best friend in a child-friendly way. As his family sets up the ofrenda for el Día de muertos, he soon realizes doing so with Perro in mind is healing for him (I'm not crying; you're crying). It's a good mentor text for plot, retelling, and character feelings.
Rosita y Conchita by Eric González and Erich Haeger
An all-time favorite! This book has been in my classroom library for close to 10 years now and I use it as a mentor text every year. This rhyming storybook (in English and Spanish) tells the story of two sisters. It's the Day of the Dead and Conchita is making an ofrenda for her sister Rosita. This book is wonderful because it explains elements that are used in ofrendas and their significance such as cempasúchil, food, music, and candles. Rosita needs these to find her way back to her sister on the special day. A bit of a warning (for all the chillonas like me): this story will leave a knot in your throat. It's a perfect mentor text for plot, retelling, and character feelings and traits.
Activities to learn more about the day of the Dead
Informational Text and Activities
Because the purpose of sharing about el Día de muertos in the classroom is to prevent and correct misconceptions, it is important to find resources that handle the holiday with the respect it deserves. It is not simply a fun day to dress up as sugar skulls; it has unique and complex nuances. No matter the age group you are working with, a good start is to dispel the notion that the Day of the Dead and ofrendas honor Death. In more kid-friendly terms, the Day of the Dead is not about horror. It is a time to remember and HONOR loved ones who have passed away by sharing and keeping their memory alive.
One of my favorite activities is this PowerPoint resource that has informational text about el Día de muertos as well as vocabulary slides to help with comprehension. The teacher displays the slideshow and students follow along on their student handouts. We work on a KWL chart, vocabulary worksheets, and finish with writing prompts. It's available in English and Spanish. CLICK ON THE PHOTO to learn more.
Extension: Build an Paper Ofrenda
Another great activity is the Build and Ofrenda PowerPoint resource with the Ofrenda Craft.
To further help understand the significance of ofrendas, we follow this PowerPoint slideshow that shares how the ofrenda is built day by day. Students are able to follow along on their paper craft as we read about the different elements to incorporate in the ofrenda. CLICK ON THE PHOTO to learn more.
If you found this content useful and would like to see more, let me know! You can comment below or contact me on Instagram @Bilingually_ever_after.
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