Third Graders Make Máscaras

We spent time this week making colorful, whimsical masks in honor of the Día de los Muertos holiday.  Third graders identified key points about the significance of the holiday and then singled out the important characteristics of calaveras (see previous posts).  Students applied their learning to create their own original skull masks that capture the spirit of the Mexican holiday.  

Who are behind these fanciful masks?

Football team spirit colors!

Look at these teeth...

What a group of quirky, comical calaveras!

Sugar Skulls - Calaveras de azucar

Fourth and fifth graders have been learning about the cultural perspectives and products that accompany the Día de los Muertos holiday.  Today students were excited to work with real sugar skulls--calaveras--imported from Mexico and to design their own imaginative creations.  Sugar skulls are a traditional part of the holiday and are often given as gifts for the Day of the Dead.  See our calavera gallery below!

 

 
 

El Día de los Muertos

Last week and this week students in the Spanish program have been learning about the Mexican holiday El Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead.  This holiday, which actually spans 3 days, is an opportunity for the Mexican family to honor loved ones who have died.  Death is seen as a part of life, and the holiday is a time to enjoy the company of family with laughter, music, and traditional foods like pan de muerto (the bread of the dead).

Art and crafts that accompany this holiday often depict death in a comical way.  Candy sugar skulls (calaveras), decorated with brightly colored frosting, are given as presents.  Skeletons dressed up in "everyday" clothes make us laugh.  To make my point I thought I'd include here a great calaca (skeleton) of a maestra like me:

 

Don't I look great?

Students really enjoy the crafts that go along with this holiday.  This week 4th and 5th graders will decorate sugar skulls imported from Mexico.  Third graders will make decorative skull masks.  Stay tuned for photos...

Salsa and More Salsa

Today we had another great day making and tasting salsa.  Most students who tried salsa really liked it.  Our recipe is going home in backpacks tomorrow so families can cook together...and maybe try their own variations on our recipe.

A huge GRACIAS to our parent volunteers:  Leah Hinckley, Leah Gartner, Carla Balch, Michelle Dunne, Bettina Read, and Amy Alexander.  We couldn't have done it without you.  Rachel Ray is jealous of your culinary skills.  

Some classes had time to listen to salsa music and do a little dancing at the end of class!  What fun!

Third graders try some salsa steps