Lesson Topic/Subject: Calavaras Puppets
Grade: Fifth
Teacher: Holly McCarty
Time: 1 hour

Objectives:

  1. After seeing skeleton images used in the El Dia de los Muertos festival and hearing the Mexican tale "Sister Death and the Healer", the students will be able to identify the view of death held by the Mexican people? Analysis.
  2. After discussing calaveras as an important symbol to the El Dia de los Muertos festival, students will create their own animated calaveras puppet. Synthesis.

Materials:

  1. poster board
  2. paper fasteners
  3. wooden popsicle sticks
  4. pattern of skeleton
  5. markers
  6. scissors
  7. glue
  8. various materials for calaveras clothes (sequins, felt, colored paper, feathers, string, etc.)
  9. pictures of various calaveras from El Dia de los Muertes celebrations
  10. Mexican/American Southwest tale "Sister Death and the Healer" from an article taken from the April 1994 issue of Faces

Procedures:

  1. Ask student what feeling comes to mind when they think of skulls and skeletons. Provide a skull image for the students to view. Allow students share their responses.
  2. Show students pictures of the skeleton images seen in the El Dia de los Muertos festival. Ask students if these skulls and skeletons make them feel any differently. Allow students to share their responses. Ask students to point out differnces between the two types of skull and skeleton images.
  3. Explain to the students that the animated skull and skeletons are important images in the El Dia de los Muetntos festival. The people of Mexico call these animated skeletons calaveras . Write the term on the board. Expain to the students that the term literally means "skull".
  4. Read to the students the Mexican tale "Sister Death and the Healer" from Faces. As a motivation, ask students to be thinking of the relationship between Sister Death and the woodcutter Jose`. Ask students generate from the images shown and the tale read, how the people of Mexico view death. Ask students why they think the calaveras is such an important symbol of the El Dia de los Muertos festival.
  5. Explain to the students that they will create their own animated calaveras puppet. Demonstrate the process of how to make a calaveras puppet to the students before letting them begin. (Step by step directions attatched.) Explain to the students that the important aspect to remember when creating their calaveras, is that they make them animated.
  6. Pass out 1 skeleton pattern and 1/2 a piece of poster board to each student. Have other materials such as wooden sticks, paper fasteners, and various items for calaveras’ clothing oraganized and accessible in the front of the room for students to take when needed.
  7. Allow students to trace and cut out their skeleton pattern on the poster board. When finished, have students connect arms and legs of skeleton to body using paper fasteners.
  8. Allow students to use various materials to animate thier skeletons with clothes, hats, or props.
  9. When finished, have students attatch a wooden balloon stick to the back of their skeleton. Allow students to name their calaveras .
  10. Display the calaveras about the classroom.

Evaluation of Student Learning (informal):

  1. After seeing skeleton images from El Dia de los Muertos and hearing the Mexican tale, were students able to identify the view of death held by the Mexican people?
  2. Were students able to successfully create their own animated calaveras puppet?

Reflection:

  1. Were my materials on hand and organized?
  2. How effective was I in explaining the directions and requirements to the students?
  3. Was the Mexican tale engaging way of informing the students about the meaning of the calaveras in portraying the view of death held by Mexican people?
  4. Were the pictures effective visual aides to show the various types of animated calaveras?
  5. Was I able to keep the students on task?
  6. Did I demonstrate the procedures in making the calaveras puppet correctly?
  7. Was I able to keep the students controlled andusing the materials appropriately?
  8. Was this an engaging activity for the students?
  9. Overall, how did the lesson go?

Sources:

 Calaveras Puppets

Materials:

Procedures:

  1. Cut out pattern of skeleton and trace the pattern on poster board
  2. Cut out traced pattern of skeleton on poster board
  3. Attach arms and legs to body of skeleton with paper fasteners where circles appear on pattern
  4. Decorate the calavera with clothes, hats, and props using various materials. Skeletons can take on characters of everyday life such as skate boarders, musicians, children, or a bride or groom.
  5. Attach a wooden stick to the back of the puppet.
  6. Enjoy the calaveras puppet!

Return to the "El Dia de los Muertos" page
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