Día de los muertos is such an interesting, beautiful celebration that should be taught in Spanish class. However, sometimes we struggle to break from our curriculum and incorporate somewhat “random” lessons or activities that don’t connect to the previous day’s lessons. Or, it may fall right in the middle of reading a novel. How do we still incorporate it into our curriculum? Here are some of my ideas:
Design an Altar for a Story/Movie Character: If you are in the middle of reading a novel/story or watching a movie, have students design an alter in honor of one of the characters in the text. This is an altered version of a character analysis. Students must reflect on what objects, people, etc. are most important to the character.
Travel Brochure or Commercial: During a travel unit, have students design promotional material for Día de los muertos. They work at a travel agency and are promoting travel during late October/early November. Teach them about this celebration and they must demonstrate its cultural significance.
Cultural Food Celebration: When learning about food, it is important to incorporate cultural food in addition to common food like fruits and vegetables. This is the perfect time to talk about pan de muerto and its meaning. Students can also explain what food we eat in the US to celebrate various holidays.
Music Mania or Fashion Show: Beauty and Aesthetics is such a fun AP Theme. When learning about beauty in other cultures, music and fashion play an important role. Show examples from Día de los muertos celebrations. Youtube is full of authentic videos. Students can listen to music clips and vote on their favorites. They could participate in a fashion show, showcasing traditional Mexican outfits for this day.
Sustainability/Recycling: Two common objects used to celebrate Día de los muertos are cempasúchil and papel picado. If you’re in the middle of a Global Challenges unit, reflect on the use of paper and flowers in regards to sustainability. Here is a great article for authentic reading.
Technology of the Past: During the Science & Technology unit, I always struggle to find cultural connections. Have your class design an altar to honor technology of the past. They will have to do some research to find past technology, and probably dig through their house to see what their families still have! Take a look at this article for inspiration.
VIRTUAL LESSON: For a completely virtual lesson about Day of the Dead for Novice and Intermediate students, click here!
What activities do you love using to celebrate Day of the Dead with your students?
