Celebrating Día de los Muertos in the Classroom
When sharing this beloved Mexican holiday with their students, teachers have an opportunity to create a culturally responsive lesson that brings more meaning to the iconic and historically significant artifacts most closely associated with it.
Often confused with Halloween, Día de los Muertos is a monthlong celebration honoring the memory of deceased loved ones, leading up to the first few days of November. This joyful holiday—which celebrates life more than death—dates back to pre-Hispanic Mexico.
To find more classroom resources for learning about the holiday, check out this lesson plan from the New York Times Learning Network, “Lesson of the Day: ‘A Close Look at My Day of the Dead Altar,’” or this article from Learning for Justice, “Let Día de los Muertos Stand on Its Own.” To learn more broadly about the history of the holiday, read “Understanding the History and Traditions of Día de los Muertos,” a Q&A with researcher Michelle Téllez from the University of Arizona.