Today, we continued our foray into the Mexican culture and it's holiday of El Dia De Los Muertos. First, of course, we read The Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston again. Then we learned a little bit more about the culture by listening to samples of Mexican music and the Spanish language. And today's craft was calavera masks.
Calavera is the Mexican word for skull. It refers to several types of assosciations dealing with this holiday. It can refer to the "calaveras de azúcar", or specifically, the sugar skull that is often eaten at this time of year, as well as found on the special altars (ofrenda ~ offerings). Calaveras are songs, poems or satirical obituaries about the dead or Day of the Dead. Calaveras are also artistic impressions of skulls, such as these by José Guadalupe Posada.
~ Calavera Masks ~
This is the craft that the kids chose to do and they look really cool. I would have preferred to leave this craft for the day we explored Mexican folk art but, ah well. It was still a lot of fun, and the kids learned stuff, which is what counts. This is super easy. All you have to do is print the template, color, cut out the nose and eyes, and then either glue a popsicle stick to the bottom to hold the mask with, or use a hole punch to make a hole on each side and run string through it to tie on your head. Super easy and fun! And very colorful as well. Ours were actually a little more complicated since our printer is still incommunicado. I suck drawing things out by hand so I didn't do it that way. We do however have our computer hooked up to our big flatscreen tv (great way to conserve space!) so I brought up the document, taped a piece of cardstock over the template and then then fiddled with the viewing size until it fit within the paper and then I simply traced it out. I took advantage and used different colored markers for different areas so they were already brightly colored when I handed them to the kids to color. Oddly enough, only Deedee really got into coloring hers and the others chose to pretty much keep them as they were.
I have five different templates you can choose from, all really cool. Two of them are included with Day of the Dead units (one for k - 2 and the other for older kids).
Day of the Dead (pdf) ~ unit for K - 1 (This is the one that Charles, Deedee & Kitty have.)
Dio De Los Muertos teachers packet (pdf) ~ This is the one that I made. Unfortunately, the top of the skull is cut off in this template. However you can see a pic of the original here so you can draw out the end (or the top?) yourself.
The Calaveras Skull ~ For those with a scientific bent, this is an article about a fossilized human skull found in California in 1866. To the Pliocene Skull is a poem written by Bret Hart only a few days after the find.
The musings of my childrens journey in the wonders of love, life, and spirituality. Love, Live, Laugh, and Learn. That's what it's all about. Welcome and blessed be.
* Carey ~ Beloved husband that puts up with everything.
He's majoring in history, loves to read, play D&D and Mech Warriors.
* Ami ~ Me. Busy teacher and housewife. I love to spend
time with the kids, read, garden, cook, knit, sew, make my own soaps
and salves.
* James ~ Our oldest at five. He loves to build with blocks, enjoys the guitar, adores robots and believes he
can't live without his trucks (and skateboard).
* Charles ~ My little monkey! Our youngest son at four, he
is the most precious gift ever recieved on a birthday.
He's a wonderful, sunny little guy that's very inquisitive and artistic.
* Meradydd ~ Our oldest daughter at three.
An opinionated and exceedingly bossy little girl with a temper to match her copper hair.
My little fashion diva that loves shoes, furlies, & hair pretties.
* Kathrynn ~ Kitty is my 1 year old little angel. She's a beautiful, mellow little girl that's extremely patient but is also starting to show her claws.
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