2nd & 7th Grades Celebrate Día de los Muertos
Oct 31, 2011 | Taylor Long 
2nd graders taught 7th graders a Spanish song about the holiday.
Beginning in Preschool, all New School students spend time each week learning Spanish as part of our enrichment program. Each year, our Spanish teachers design an event that brings together younger students with older students to build community within our school. Last week Spanish teachers Margaret Elkins and Julie Boyeskie invited 2nd graders and 7th graders to come together for one such event: a celebration dedicated to learning the traditions of the popular Mexican holiday, el Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead).
2nd & 7th grade students paired up and worked together.
For this educational celebration, 7th grade students were matched up with 2nd grade students to get to know each other while participating in fun, hands-on activities. Students learned about the tradition of decorating calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls) by hand painting their own calaveras under the guidance of art teacher, Ian Doerflinger. 2nd graders had already learned a Day of the Dead song in Spanish which they sung and taught to their 7th grade peers. Finally, all of the students gathered around tables of pan de muertos (bread of the dead), chips, and mole sauce to simulate the picnics that take place around grave sites of deceased relatives in many areas of Mexico.
Sugar Skulls: hand painted by students.
The event enriched Spanish lessons by engaging students in the culture and traditions of a Spanish speaking country. In addition, the celebration created friendly connections between our younger and older elementary students. We know our 2nd graders look up to our 7th graders as role models, so we're happy to offer these chances for them to spend structured time together at school. Thanks to Ms. Margaret and Ms. Julie for designing a fun and enriching event for New School students!
Pan de los Muertos