Mexico’s Day of the Dead

crayola supplies

Erasable Colored Pencils
Gel Markers
Model Magic®
No-Run School Glue
Glitter Glue
Pointed Tip Scissors
Construction Paper

household supplies

none

Why?

Join the Mexican celebration for Dia de los Muertos. Families honor the spirits of deceased relatives with food and flowers during this 3-day holiday.

Steps

1. Research how Aztec beliefs mixed with Catholic rituals to result in the contemporary celebration of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). This holiday is widely celebrated in Mexico and in communities where Mexican families live. Find pictures of dancing, art, and cemetery decorations—just some of the ways that families celebrate during this 3-day festival. Then show what you’ve learned about this holiday with an original scene such as the one here.
2. Tombstone. Blend white Crayola® Model Magic® with color from a gray Crayola Washable Gel Marker. Knead just a bit to obtain a marble effect. Shape Model Magic into a tombstone. Write names and dates on the stone if you wish. Set it aside to air-dry overnight.
3. Decorations. Use Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils on white construction paper to draw items to decorate your tombstone. Flowers, garlands of greens and flowers, and candles are all commonly used, as are gifts of food. Color in the items with Gel Markers. Cut out the decorations with Crayola Scissors. With Crayola School Glue, attach items to the tombstone. Air-dry the glue.
4. Background. On a large piece of dark construction paper, use your imagination to create a night scene with the Gel Markers—they really stand out on dark colors! You might show shadows of people dancing and a sky with a full moon. Add Crayola Glitter Glue for sparkle.
5. Glue the decorated headstone to the background. Air-dry flat before

adaptations

Research the origins of similar holidays such as Halloween and All Saints Day. They compare and contrast how these holidays are celebrated in cultures around the world.

Locate a variety of pictures depicting Dia de los Muertos traditions, especially for children with special needs. Encourage them to select one scene that shows a part of the celebration they find especially fascinating.

Invite families or other students to a Day of the Dead celebration. Students make all arrangements, traditional decorations, and typical food for the event.

benefits

Students gather information about Mexican customs for celebrating the Day of the Dead.

Students connect Dia de los Muertos to other traditional holidays like All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Halloween, and Aztec beliefs.

Students construct a scene to illustrate what they learned about traditional Day of the Dead celebrations.

grades

Grades 4 to 6
Grades 7 to 12
Special Needs

subjects

Language Arts
Social Studies
Visual Arts

time

30 to 60 minutes

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Glitter Glue— WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Not for use on skin.

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.