A good Día de los Muertos lesson starts with stories, photographs, and a little room for questions. Then comes something children can do with what they’ve learned. These four Day of the Dead classroom activities fit into familiar parts of the school day, from a quiet coloring choice to a poster the whole class puts together.
What is Day of the Dead?
Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a Mexican tradition centered on remembering and honoring loved ones who have died. Observed especially on November 1 and 2, it brings families together through stories, food, flowers, and remembrance. Traditions vary among families and communities.
Families may create an ofrenda, an altar with photographs, favorite foods, and meaningful objects. Marigolds, decorated skulls called calaveras, and cut-paper decorations called papel picado are familiar parts of many celebrations. The Smithsonian’s Día de los Muertos family guide offers a helpful introduction.
Start your lesson with photographs and a short conversation about how families remember people they love. Keep personal sharing optional. Children can talk about something they learned without having to discuss a loss.
1. Day of the Dead coloring pages for early finishers
Set out two or three coloring choices after introducing the holiday. Ask children to spot a detail from the lesson, then finish the sentence “I learned that…” underneath. Early finishers have something to work on, and you get a quick peek at what stuck.
The 15 Day of the Dead Coloring Pages include decorated skulls, skeletons, an altar, flowers, candles, and papel picado. With a mix of English and Spanish headings, you can choose a page that connects to your discussion. Finished pages could frame a small display of student writing.
2. An English and Spanish word search for vocabulary practice
Try a word search as a partner activity or a literacy-center choice for children ready to read the word list. Say the words together first and talk about their meanings. When partners finish, ask them to explain one word’s connection to the holiday.
This Day of the Dead Word Search has English and Spanish puzzles, color and black-and-white versions, and answer keys across six printable pages. Choose the version that fits your learners.
3. A Day of the Dead collaborative poster for your bulletin board
A shared coloring project gives everyone a manageable piece of a bigger display. Choose a few colors together, hand out the pages, and save the assembly for a class reveal. Add student-written facts around the edge to show what the class learned.
The ¡Feliz Día de los Muertos! Collaborative Poster has 25 numbered pages and measures approximately 55 × 42.5 inches at full size. Measure your bulletin board before printing. For a class larger than 25, partners can share pages; a smaller class can divide the extras.
4. A collaborative poster about honoring loved ones
For a display about remembrance, begin with the word “ancestors” and a conversation about family stories. Children can contribute facts about the traditions they studied, with personal stories shared only if they choose.
The Honramos a Nuestros Antepasados Collaborative Poster carries the message “Honramos a nuestros antepasados con amor y alegría,” meaning “We honor our ancestors with love and joy.” It also includes 25 numbered pages and measures approximately 55 × 42.5 inches at full size. Choose the message that best fits your lesson.
Putting your lesson together
Planning to use several of these ideas? The 71-page Day of the Dead Activity Bundle brings the coloring pages, bilingual word searches, and both posters together in one PDF.
For an easy starting plan, introduce the holiday with photographs, offer a coloring or word-search choice, and work on one poster over a few days. Pick what fits your class and leave the rest for another time.