DAY OF THE DEAD Reading Writing & Art Integration Unit | Hispanic Sugar Skulls

Easily incorporate THEMATICALLY RIGOROUS LEARNING into your classroom routine with this no-prep,30-page Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Reading, Writing, Research, and Art Unit! It includes everything you need to celebrate and understand the tradition of Sugar Skulls as it relates to Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). It also allows students to compare/contrast Halloween and Day of the Dead through online research.

The following resources are included:

•Sugar Skull nonfiction passage, CCSS-aligned questions, & answer key

•3 writing prompts (narrative, informative, opinion) in 2 format (choice board and prompt with lines)

•Writing tools: Revising/editing checklists, color-coding charts, writing paper

•Halloween and Day of the Dead Compare/Contrast Research Sheet

•Create a Sugar Skull with PAPER Art Activity in 3 formats (about you, about someone special, about a character)

•Create a Sugar Skull with CLAY Art Activity in 3 formats (about you, about someone special, about a character)

•Rubric and Supplements for Sugar Skull Art Activity

•BONUS: Day of the Dead Word Mine

•BONUS: 2 Sugar Skull Coloring Sheets

•BONUS: Video links for background knowledge and extension

********Writing Prompt Information******** :

1 Narrative, 1 Informative, and 1 Opinion Writing Prompts are included. A video link allows students to incorporate multiple sources into their writing.

Writing Prompts are provided in two formats:

•Prompt Choice Board: All prompts on one page

•Prompt With Lines: Students respond to prompts on provided lines

Writing Tools that are included:

•Revising and editing checklists for each type of writing are also included.

•Color-coding Chart: Students color code writing to ensure it has all required elements...and help the teacher with grading!

•Writing papers: A big dot and extra lines if they need more space.

********Sugar Skull Art Information******** :

Students will create their own Sugar Skulls. Extra supplements and a rubric are provided. Six variations of the activity are included:

•Paper Skull: Represent Yourself

•Paper Skull: Represent Someone Special

•Paper Skull: Represent Novel Character

•Clay Skull: Represent Yourself

•Clay Skull: Represent Someone Special

•Clay Skull: Represent Novel Character

Ways to Use

•Pick and choose which activities you want to do...or do them all!

•Integrate art into your reading and writing lessons.

•Have a Day of the Dead Celebration Day...or week!

•Set up stations around your room.

•Rotate from room to room to complete one activity in each room.

•Do one activity each day for a week.

•Do activities as a whole class.

•Can even be used by a sub!

Benefits

•Fun...but still incorporates CCSS into reading and writing

•Motivates students to read and write

•Learn about and appreciate other cultures

•Analyze the effects of history

•Allows students to express themselves

•Hands-on learning

•Can pull small groups while students are working on the project

•Differentiates learning by providing for various learning styles and providing activities that engage all levels of learners

•Creation is a higher-order thinking skill

•Students will REMEMBER this lesson for years to come!

Related Resources

Check out the “Halloween” section of the Megan Memories store for these related resources:

Halloween Resources:

• Minute to Win It
• STEM Challenges
• Reading, Writing, Art
• Online Research Sheet (compare Halloween with the Day of the Dead)
• Day of the Dead Sugar Skull Art
• Creation Stations (great for MakerSpace!)
• Fun Sheets
• Halloween MEGA Unit!
• The ULTIMATE Halloween Party Game!

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