Students will learn about the Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico and compare this holiday to how loved ones are remebered and honored in traditional American culture. Students will then construct a papel picado, using instructions found on the TIDES website, to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Created by Jana McLain, December 2006
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the practices (what people do) and how they are related to the perspectives (how people perceive things) of the cultures studied. TEKS § 114.22 Languages Other Than English, Novice Progress Checkpoint (c)(2)(A)
The student will use resources (that may include technology) in the language and cultures being studied to gain access to information TEKS § 114.22 Languages Other Than English, Novice Progress Checkpoint (c)(3)(A)
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the student's own language and the language studied. TEKS § 114.22 Languages Other Than English, Novice Progress Checkpoint (c)(4)(A)
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the student's own culture and the cultures studied. TEKS § 114.22 Languages Other Than English, Novice Progress Checkpoint (c)(4)(B)
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the influence of one language and culture on another. TEKS § 114.22 Languages Other Than English, Novice Progress Checkpoint (c)(4)(C)
During warm-up time, students will journal on this topic: Am I afraid of death? How does my family remember loved ones who have passed on? The students will then share their responses as a group.
Then the teacher will present a power point presentation of the Day of the Dead as celebrated in Cuernavaca and Ocotepec, Mexico. Students will fill out a fact sheet during the presentation in order to keep them engaged in the presentation. Fact sheets are due at the end of the period, and a quiz can be given at a later date to ensure that the students have retained the material.
Afterwards, students will make papel picado to decorate the classroom for the Day of the Dead. The materials needed for this activity are tissue paper and scissors. Instructions for folding and cutting the tissue can be found here.
Day of the Dead Art Activities:
• Papel Picado (Paper Banner) Instructions
• Step-by-Step Papel Picado Video
• See children in Texas making their own Papel Picado!
• Examples of papel picados in Mexico
• Poinsettia Cutouts how-to video
(Quicktime version)
Vea esta lección en Español aquí.
