A simple way to introduce the concept of ancestral veneration + Day of the Dead to your kids is through arts and crafts. If your children are anything like mine, they love to color and use scissors. I’ve discovered that I have their full and complete attention while they are coloring and drawing. Sure, their heads are down and their hands are busy but their ears are wide open. While they are being creative, they can learn about the tradition of Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, and how it’s a special day to remember and honor our loved ones who have passed on.
This craft project comes with a digital download printable so if you don’t want to make a mask, you can use the template as a fun coloring page.
What you’ll need:
- sugar skull template
- black card stock
- scissors
- glue stick
- markers
- popsicle sticks
HOW TO:
- Print out sugar skull template on white computer paper
- Color skull with markers
- Cut it out
- Glue sugar skull on cardstock with a glue stick, then cut the cardstock along the edges of the skull, allowing for at least an inch of the cardstock to show.
- Glue popsicle stick to the back and secure it with a piece of tape.
Helpful Hints
You can also use crayons, color pencils or oil pastels–either one works great.
Add to the designs on the mask by using a black marker. Embellish your sugar skull with glitter, rhinestones, ribbons, scraps of fabric etc. If you want to cut out the eye shapes so you can hold it up to your face, use a #11 X-acto blade. Pop out the circle shapes.
Dia de los Muertos has this unique way of stimulating the senses–from the bright colors associated with the day, altars, skulls, calaveras, music, dance, food and art. Maybe it’s the notion that as we talk about death and remember those who have left us to the next world, we–the ones who are still in this realm–truly feel alive.
PIN FOR LATER
