Day of the Dead -- Dia de los Muertos

This lesson is done in all grades at Atwater Elementary soon after Halloween

Minnesota K-3 Visual Art Standards Used in This Lesson:

  • 1. Identify the elements of visual art including Color, line, shape, Form, Value, texture and space.

  • 2. Identify the tools, materials and techniques from a variety of two- and three-dimensional media such as drawing, printmaking, ceramics or sculpture.

  • 3. Identify the characteristics of visual artworks from a variety of cultures including the contributions of Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities.

  • 4. Create original two- and three- dimensional artworks to express ideas, experiences or stories.

  • 5. Share and describe a personal artwork and reflect on a presentation based on the feedback of others.

  • 6. Compare and contrast the characteristics of a variety of works of visual art.

    • Additional Tie-ins

  • Non-American culture
  • Anatomy -- skull drawing
  • Chalk drawing/blending

    • The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Dia de Los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated by people of Mexican heritage everywhere. The multi-day holiday (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.

    First a little clip from movie Coco is shown. (Local vid here)

    Then the teacher demonstrates how to draw a skull on the board. Simple for the younger kids and more complicated for the older kids. The teacher talks about how the students have to use their memory and watch and concentrate so they remember how to draw it when they get their paper.

    Other ideas and DOD symbolism is illustrated as well

    Next a black piece of paper is given to them and they can draw something related to the day of the dead. White chalk and white pencils are also provided. Sometimes a demo of chalk blending is also done.