Day of the Dead 2008
Day of the Dead also called "Dia de los Muertos," is a holiday (or festival) which is celebrated in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, and other areas in Central and South America populated with the Latino ethnic background. The Day of the Dead is also celebrated in areas of the United States, such as California, Texas, and many others, in which the Mexican/American heritage exists.
November 2nd is the official date for Day of the Dead, although it is celebrated between October 31st and November 2nd. These dates correspond with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. This correspondence results from the Catholic Church's efforts to "find similarities between the indigenous and Christian beliefs The best way to describe this holiday is to say it is a time when family members who have died are remembered. In Mexico, this festival is considered to be the most important holiday of the year.
7th Grade
Skeleton Decorations
The major feature of Day of the Dead decorations is skeletons, or calacas. Skeletons are everywhere, from tissue-paper scenes to tiny plastic toys, from cardboard puppets to ceramic sculptures, from posters to papier mache. These skeletons are usually cheerful, and they are designed to show the full range of activities and professions people perform. Farmers, barbers, secretaries, fire fighters... if somebody does it while alive, you can find an artistic rendering of a skeleton doing it while dead.
This theme extends to the day's food and treats. The Day of the Dead feast typically includes a special egg-batter "bread of the dead," pan de muerto. While the form of this bread is different from region to region, it is often decorated with strips of dough resembling bones, or made to resemble a dead body.
Also common are skulls and skeletons made of sugar or candy. Some people get sugar skulls made to resemble themselves, or with their names inscribed on them.
Activity: Make Sugar Skulls and Black and White Skeletons
Schedule: Use Spanish Room and Wege Room on Thursday, the 30th of October
—Each student will have to class periods to work on projects.
Resouce Links:
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/mexico/resource/5616.html?detoured=1
http://edsitement.neh.gov/monthly_feature.asp?id=80
http://www.inside-mexico.com/calaveras.htm
6th Grade
Welcoming Altars
It is generally believed that the souls of one's family return home to join in the Day of the Dead festivities. First those who died in infancy come home, then the older children, and finally those who died once they'd reached adulthood. Families set up altars (or ofrendas) in their homes, festively decorated in bright colors and laden with the favorite foods of their dead. Typically, the altars contain photographs of the dead, representations of things they liked, and items representing the four elements: candles for fire, drinks for water, fruit for earth, and fluttering tissue-paper decorations for wind.
Activity: Build Alters to a loved one (Dead or Alive)
Schedule:
6B build alters in Spanish on the 28th at 8:30 am.
Explain day of the dead to 6O in Art on the 30th at 11:30 am.
Resource Links:
http://www.mexonline.com/daydead.htm
http://www.indplsartcenter.org/Exhibitions_and_Events/Day_of_the_Dead/
http://www.inside-mexico.com/oscarespa.htm written in Spanish
5th Grade
A time of remembering and rejoicing.
The townspeople dress up as ghouls, ghosts, mummies and skeletons and parade through the town carrying an open coffin. The "corpse" within smiles as it is carried through the narrow streets of town. The local vendors toss oranges inside as the procession makes its way past their markets. Lucky "corpses" can also catch flowers, fruits, and candies
Activity: Skeleton Masks
Schedule:
5M-Start in Art on the 29th. Finish in Spanish on 29th and 31st.
5G Start in Spanish on the 27th and 28th. Finish in Art on the 31st .
Resource Links: http://www.holidays.net/dayofthedead/index.htm
http://www.storyboardtoys.com/gallery/Jerome.htm
4th Grade
It is not the Mexican version of Halloween. Mexicans have celebrated the Day of the Dead since the year 1800 B.C.
It is not scary or morbid. There are no images of dead people, ghosts, witches, or the devil.
It is not scary or morbid. There are no images of dead people, ghosts, witches, or the devil.
It is not a cult. This ritual has nothing to do with cults. It is a Catholic Christian ritual intermixed with folk culture. Going to mass is an essential aspect of this celebration.
It doesn’t honor death, but our dead relatives. We welcome the opportunity to reflect upon our lives, our heritage, our ancestors and the meaning and purpose of our own existence.
Altars or ofrendas are not for worshiping but for offering our love and remembering our departed family members.
It is not a sad ritual. It’s a day of happiness because we will be remembering our loved ones. Although when in the graveyard, people assume an introspective attitude.
It is not a “strange” ritual. It is very similar to going to a grave and leaving flowers or stuffed animals, lighting a candle to remember the deceased.
Activity: Yarn Skulls with decorations
Schedule:
4M-Start in Art on the 27th. Finish in Spanish on the 28th.
4D Start in Art on the 28th. Finish in Spanish on the 30th.
Resource Links: http://www.inside-mexico.com/noes.htm
http://users.resist.ca/~kirstena/pagedayofdead.html
3rd Grade
Activity: Large, Movable Skeletons
Schedule:
3G-Start in Art on the 29th. Finish in Spanish on the 30th.
3M-Start in Art on the 28th. Finish in Spanish on the 28th.
Resouce Links: http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/dramatic-day-of-the-dead-designs-lesson-plan/
2nd Grade
Activity: Simple Skeleton Masks
Schedule:
2B-Start in Spanish on the 29th. Finish in Art on the 30th.
2D-Start in Spanish on the 30th. Finish in Art on the 31st.
Resource Links: http://www.inside-mexico.com/titere.htm
1st Grade
Make Paper Flowers in Spanish on the 28th, 29th, and 30th.
Draw Skeletons in Art during normal class time.
Resource Links:
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-crafts_paperflowers.html
http://www.inside-mexico.com/featuredead.htm
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