Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos Family-Style Unit Study

Bring a little culture into your autumn holidays with this Dia de los Muertos celebration!  Other fantastic fall holidays to learn about include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot...

Day of the Dead may sound like a sad celebration, but it's actually a joyous celebration of remembering loved ones who have died.  Death is viewed as just part of the cycle of life, and children are taught not to fear it.  Rather, it is meant to be a happy time to share memories of loved ones who have passed with music, dancing, fun, laughter, and love.  It is believed that the spirits of the dead visit their families on the last day of October, and leave on November 2nd.  It is a celebration for families and friends we have lost.

How is Dia de los Muertos celebrated?

Many families decorate altars with bright colors and lit candles.  Candles and flowers are also used to line cemeteries and roads, guiding loved ones to their homes.  In towns, there are parades and children eat candy to celebrate the sweetness of the lives that were once lived.

Other ways to celebrate include:

• Decorating with marigold flowers (cempasúchiles)
• Cleaning the gravesites of loved ones who have passed
• Holding picnics and graveside vigils
• Leaving the favorite foods of loved ones on graves
• Decorating with Mexican paper streamers
• Making Pan de Muerto & Tamales

What's the deal with the creepy faces?

There is a reason that people celebrating wear makeup and decorate with painted skeletons.  In the past, painted faces, costumes, and dances were used to “scare away the dead” at the end of the celebration.  However, it has evolved into painting your face to celebrate something about a loved one or simply as a way to express yourself during the celebration.

For Littles & Elementary

Our Day of the Dead Celebration is a happy day when Mar’s family gathers together. There are favorite dishes to enjoy, games to be played, and most importantly, stories to tell. No one in the family is forgotten because this is the day of the year when the dead come to visit the living—and for this holiday it is almost as if they’re alive again, as the family takes great joy in celebrating the things that made them special. Mar realizes she is just like her Grandpa Ramón, who kept a journal. And her sister, Paz, plays accordian, just like their great-grandfather. There are so many things that connect them all—and at dinner, Abuelita spins even more stories that make them feel close to the ones they will love forever. Ana Aranda’s tender text and vibrant art make the joy felt on this sweet day totally palpable.

Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration - At dusk on the holiday known as Day of the Dead, a Mexican family has set out fiesta offerings in the graveyard in hopes that departed loved ones may return to visit. The playful skeletons rise from their graves to celebrate with gusto. All night long, they sing, dance, dine, tell stories, and play games. As morning approaches, they give thanks to the stars for their night of fun, tidy up after themselves, and leave no trace of their "clatter bash" behind as they return to their coffins until next year's Day of the Dead.

I Remember Abuelito (bilingual book) - It's the Day of the Dead! It's time to celebrate! In this bilingual book, a young girl is busy helping her family prepare to honor those who have died--especially her grandfather. She misses him very much and is excited for his spirit to visit that night.

The Spirit of Tio Fernando - It's the Day of the Dead and Nando and his mother are going to honor Tío Fernando. Nando, named for Uncle Fernando, listens as his mother tells him that later, at the cemetery, they will meet with Tío Fernando's spirit.

For Tweens & Teens

Learn more about folklore with the Charlie Hernandez series and unit study.  The Charlie Hernandez books pull myths from several countries and weave them together into a story of good battling evil while teaching readers about these cultural tales.

And while we're talking about Hispanic folklore, here's a new gem that just released this year!  ChupaCarter, by comedian George Lopez, is an illustrated contemporary fantasy.  Twelve-year-old Jorge is lonely and resentful after being sent to live with his grandparents. His first day at his new school doesn’t go well after catching the attention of his belligerent principal and the school bullies, so Jorge might be a little desperate for a friend. But the only kid who shares his interest in junk food and games turns out to be a young chupacabra—a legendary monster whose kind is known for being bloodthirsty livestock killers. The truth is, Carter is anything but savage—he's kind, a good listener, and has great taste in sneakers. Being friends with a mythical creature should be amazing, but when local cattle turn up dead and his principal suspects the truth, Jorge is torn. Should he trust that his friend is innocent and protect him from exposure, or reveal his dangerous existence and change the world forever?

Movies & Videos

Coco - Despite his family's generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Héctor, the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

The Book of Life - In the Mexican town of San Angel, Manolo (Diego Luna), Maria (Zoë Saldana) and Joaquin (Channing Tatum) have been friends ever since childhood. Although their lives have taken different paths -- Maria was sent to Europe, Joaquin joined the military, and Manolo studied to become a bullfighter -- one thing remains the same: Manolo and Joaquin both want to marry Maria. Little does the trio know that battling husband-and-wife deities have made a high-stakes wager on the love triangle's outcome.

Hands-On Learning & Crafts

• Sugar Skull Ornaments
• Day of the Dead Activity Guide
• Lesson Plans to accompany
• Create an Ofrenda
• Sugar Skull your Selfie
• Make a Calaca

Learn more about world cultures and holidays in Journey Through the Continents. Travel the world from your homeschool! This 5th-9th grade curriculum comes with elementary connections so that it can be used family style. The first unit is an introduction to geographic terms and practices, including a study of GPS.

Pick up Journey Through the Continents!

Author Interview

• What traditions do you and your family do for Día de los Muertos?

Since I was young, I’ve been preparing an altar for the departed. I add pan de muerto, sugar skulls, papel picado and food that the people being honored and celebrated used to like. In the process we remember their stories, memories together and their memories are alive once more.

• Which family member / ancestor do you most relate to and why?

I mostly relate to my parents and sibling, who I’ve always been close to and from whom I’ve learned so many valuable lessons in life. I also relate to my grandmother, who has taught me serenity. Most characters in the book are inspired by family members and ancestors. For example Tenorio is based on my grandfather, who used to play the accordion.

• What is your favorite children's book or young adult novel?

I love “The Arrival” by Shaun Tan, as well as all of his books!