Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday that originally began in Mexico's southern and central areas to celebrate life and memorialize loved ones. Contrary to popular belief, Día de los Muertos is not a sad time, but one of happiness and commemoration. Chicana altar installation artist, Ofelia Esparza, says it best, “For Day of the Dead we don’t celebrate death, we celebrate life. We invite the souls to come and visit us.” 

Similarly, GPB invites you to check out these free lesson plans, activities, and handouts for Día de los Muertos to help teach your students cultural significance, new vocabulary, and more.

Littles

There are many variations of the Day of the Dead celebrations in many Latin American countries. Each book listed on this site offers a unique interpretation of the holiday that will provide an excellent introduction for students who are new to the Day of the Dead. 

As you watch Let's Go Luna!, use the linked episode map to guide discussions and learning activities on Día de los Muertos. This media collection even includes free printable paper puppets for students to cut and color, to practice their story recall and inferencing skills.

Tweens

This teaching module invites students to identify customs and interactions during Día de los Muertos with passages and activities. Designed to be used independently by students in grades 3-5, this guide explores the historical and cultural significance of Day of the Dead with lessons that involve citing text with Spanish translations.

This collection includes free lesson plans with videos, activities, and handouts that expose students to Día de los Muertos traditions and encourage them to recall, compare, and share their own family traditions.

Teens

This Craft In America media gallery challenges students to understand the role artists play in designing settings for Día de los Muertos. The free educational guide provided has a lesson plan with essential questions that encourage students to examine how Día de los Muertos has been adapted and transformed in contemporary Los Angeles from the Mexican tradition. Students can complete the handout provided individually or with a partner, then create an assemblage that memorializes someone or something important to them when they are done. This resource even includes extension activities for high-flyers who finish their work early!

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