Día de muertos ideas
Día de muetos preparation for the fall courses
How we use this event
This event is used to fulfill the Cultural section of the Spanish course during the fall semester.
México y Día de muertos. Una sincronización de dos Culturas, España y México.
Our department teaches Día de muertos as an artistic expression remembering past individuals. The
altars the students create follow the Mexican tradition of ‘Altares’ as a base. Celebrations of this kind
from other countries are more than welcome.
When to begin and more
Students may choose a group of participants, no more than four to a group. This is done around the
4th week of school, this way the students are more comfortable in choosing partners.
Individual Altares are fine; but it will be tough on an individual student. The student tends to stay
focused on one item more than the rest of the altar; a group has more eyes and ideas to make the
altar larger and more creative. But I still allow individual altares; it was an individual student who
received the Best Altar recognition in 2006.
Students who cannot participate in Altar consturction
Students who say they cannot partake in building altars for whatever reason are excused. But in order
to make up the points given for this category; the student must write a 3 page comparative analysis.
Double spaced, size 12, font Time’s Romans. The student want to investigate the following
questions: What are the differences between Halloween and Día de muertos? What do they have in
common? Give a brief historic description of this event. Explain, give examples and list your
resources.
Students who do not wish to use religious items
Students who wish not to place any religious symbols on their altar are fine.
I do ask them however; to explain to their peers and other instructors why they chose not to place such
symbols. This way the students may also express their knowledge of how an Altar should look, but at
the same time, as individuals or a group decided not to use the symbols.
How we use this event
This event is used to fulfill the Cultural section of the Spanish course during the fall semester.
México y Día de muertos. Una sincronización de dos Culturas, España y México.
Our department teaches Día de muertos as an artistic expression remembering past individuals. The
altars the students create follow the Mexican tradition of ‘Altares’ as a base. Celebrations of this kind
from other countries are more than welcome.
When to begin and more
Students may choose a group of participants, no more than four to a group. This is done around the
4th week of school, this way the students are more comfortable in choosing partners.
Individual Altares are fine; but it will be tough on an individual student. The student tends to stay
focused on one item more than the rest of the altar; a group has more eyes and ideas to make the
altar larger and more creative. But I still allow individual altares; it was an individual student who
received the Best Altar recognition in 2006.
Students who cannot participate in Altar consturction
Students who say they cannot partake in building altars for whatever reason are excused. But in order
to make up the points given for this category; the student must write a 3 page comparative analysis.
Double spaced, size 12, font Time’s Romans. The student want to investigate the following
questions: What are the differences between Halloween and Día de muertos? What do they have in
common? Give a brief historic description of this event. Explain, give examples and list your
resources.
Students who do not wish to use religious items
Students who wish not to place any religious symbols on their altar are fine.
I do ask them however; to explain to their peers and other instructors why they chose not to place such
symbols. This way the students may also express their knowledge of how an Altar should look, but at
the same time, as individuals or a group decided not to use the symbols.
Vocabulario útil
Tijeras – Scissors
Cinta adhesiva – Tape
Velas - Candles
Goma – glue
Golosinas – sweets
Papel de china - tissue
paper
Veladora – bedside lamp,
candle for a saint
Pétalos – petals
Hogueras – bonfires
Fotos – photos
Marker pen - rotulador
Drawing pens – tiralíneas
Stapler – grapadora
Crayon – lápiz de color - cera
Tijeras – Scissors
Cinta adhesiva – Tape
Velas - Candles
Goma – glue
Golosinas – sweets
Papel de china - tissue
paper
Veladora – bedside lamp,
candle for a saint
Pétalos – petals
Hogueras – bonfires
Fotos – photos
Marker pen - rotulador
Drawing pens – tiralíneas
Stapler – grapadora
Crayon – lápiz de color - cera
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