4th Grade Day of the Dead Skeletons

Whew! This lesson took longer than I had expected but fortunately we started early enough and all were completed by Nov.1-2 when the Dia de los Muertos ritual is practised by many people in Mexico and in some parts of the U.S.

Can you see the student's name used in symmetry as the ribs? When I saw this on Pinterest I knew I had to try it - all of my 4th grade students LOVED it! -And me too - it was fun watching all of the details come together on these!

The Pinterest pin original source was from Artsonia: The Kessler School of Dallas Texas. The art teacher listed is Patty Krakowsky. Thank you so much for sharing this!

This lesson took three and a half to four class periods. I ran one of these short videos at the beginning of three of the classes;
1. "The Day of the Dead. Viva Calaca! Day of the Dead." http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+video+for+children+day+of+the+dead&view=detail&mid=DF4B64E6BA0E7A550106DF4B64E6BA0E7A550106&first=0&adlt=strict

2. "Mexico's Day of the Dead" http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=youtube+video+for+children+day+of+the+dead&view=detail&mid=DF4B64E6BA0E7A550106DF4B64E6BA0E7A550106&first=0&adlt=strict

3. Skulliosis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A-jWDyXEww&sns=em&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
Everyone especially loved this last video... it's a girl that videotaped herself drawing a decorated skull. This really motivated students to try drawing at home just for the pleasure of drawing.