In this lesson plan, students will learn to identify the similarities and differences between common symbols used for decorations during Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations. This lesson will focus on Catrinas (parodies of the upper-class Mexican female), Skulls (represented by masks and foods such as sugar skulls) and Calacas (skulls or skeletons – usually human – commonly used for decoration during the festival). Finally, students will learn about papel picado, a decoration made of tissue paper also used for decorating the altars.
Created by Ma. Eugenia Avila, December 2007
Note: meets Mexico education standards
- Students will identify differences and similarities among calacas, skulls, catrinas and papel picado.
- Students will prepare an oral presentation from research and information from the links provided.
- Students will write a small paragraph about the differences and similarities they learned about in their research.
- Students will read and discuss all the provided information about Catrinas, Calacas, skulls and papel picado.
- Once the students are familiar with the basic concepts of these objects and symbols, they will use the TIDES website to find images of Catrinas. Students will use the images as models for making their own Catrina dresses using materials such as crepe and tissue paper.
- Students will make a mask or a skull craft. Students can also make and embellish a hat for their masks and/or skulls.
- When the crafts are completed, students will pretend being a “Catrina” (girls) or a “Catrin” (boys). They will wear their mask, the clothing they made, and their hats in a Day of the Dead parade around the school grounds or hallways.
