Dramatic Day of the Dead Designs

Dramatic Day of the Dead Designs lesson plan

Join in the festivities of Mexico’s most famous holiday El dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). Enjoy the surprise of the bright colors coupled with deep black in these holiday designs!

  • 1.

    Find information and pictures about observing the Day of the Dead at the end of October. The festivities originated in Mexico and are now celebrated in Hispanic communities in many countries. Special decorations are displayed and activities take place for several days.

  • 2.

    Choose your favorite aspects of this intriguing and popular holiday. Sketch your ideas with Crayola Colored Pencils on paper. Draw the most important image the largest. Just erase if you change your mind.

  • 3.

    When you are pleased with your drawing, complete it on Crayola Color Explosion™ Paper with the color-reveal markers. Many celebrations happen at night, so take advantage of the dark background! Add symbols of the parts of the holiday that are most interesting to you. If you like, add highlights with Crayola Glitter Glue.

  • 4.

    Create a setting for everyone in your class to display their creations. Write your colored pencil signs in both English and Spanish. Join the celebration!

Benefits

  • Students research customs and activities associated with the Mexican celebration of Dia de los Muertos.
  • Students analyze their favorite aspects of the holiday and represent them in drawings.
  • Students show their images in a bilingual display.

Adaptations

  • Create sugar skulls, cut-paper banners, and other decorations that reflect Mexican traditions for this event.
  • Combine Halloween traditions and Day of the Dead festivities into one multi-cultural event. Identify similarities and differences in their origins and celebrations.
  • Expand your study of Mexican traditions, language, history, and art. Seek out people in your community who may be able to provide first-hand knowledge and share artifacts.
  • Assessment: Students will be successful if they incorporate images commonly associated with Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations.