Engaging Kids in Dia de los Muertos: Art, Culture, and Community

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a vibrant and meaningful Mexican tradition where families honor and remember their loved ones who have passed away. Celebrating Dia de los Muertos with kids through activities is a great way to learn together.

While this celebration might seem complex at first, it offers a beautiful opportunity to introduce children to the ideas of remembrance, family, and the cycle of life.

For Montessori classrooms, it’s also a way to explore culture, art, and community with hands-on, child-centered activities.

Here’s how you can create a Montessori-inspired Día de los Muertos experience for young children, blending cultural appreciation with meaningful, age-appropriate learning.

Why Teach About Día de los Muertos?

Children are naturally curious about life and death, and Día de los Muertos offers a gentle way to introduce these concepts. At its core, this celebration is not about fear or sadness, but about joy, memory, and love. Teaching children aged 3-6 about this tradition can:

Foster empathy and connection to other cultures
Encourage discussions about family and memories
Introduce artistic expression through traditional crafts and symbols
Promote an understanding of life cycles in a respectful way

Dia De Los Muertos Symbols

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is rich with symbolic elements, each representing aspects of life, death, and remembrance. Here are some of the most important symbols:

Calaveras (Skulls): These are often depicted in the form of colorful, decorated sugar skulls and represent the departed souls. They symbolize both death and the joy of life, often painted with vibrant designs to celebrate the personalities of loved ones.
Catrina: A famous skeletal figure dressed in elegant clothing, created by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada. La Catrina has become an iconic symbol of the holiday, representing the idea that death is a part of life and that it comes for everyone, regardless of wealth or status.
Marigolds (Cempasúchil flowers): These bright orange and yellow flowers are believed to guide the spirits of the deceased back to the living with their vibrant color and scent. Marigolds are used to decorate altars (ofrendas) and graves.
Ofrenda (Altar): Families create altars at home or at gravesites to honor their loved ones. These altars are decorated with photos of the deceased, candles, marigolds, food offerings, and personal mementos.
Candles: These are placed on the ofrenda and gravesites to light the way for spirits to find their way back to the living. They symbolize hope and faith.
Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead): This sweet bread is made specifically for the celebration and placed on altars as an offering. The round shape of the bread often represents the cycle of life and death.
Papel Picado (Cut Paper): These colorful tissue paper banners are intricately cut with designs of skulls, skeletons, and other motifs. They symbolize the fragility of life and the presence of both life and death in the celebration.
Skeletons (Calacas): Playful or dancing skeletons are often used to depict life after death. They represent the idea that death is not the end, but rather a continuation of life in a different form.
Water: A glass of water is placed on the altar to quench the thirst of the returning spirits after their long journey.
Salt: Salt is often placed on the ofrenda to purify the spirits and ensure they are nourished in the afterlife.

Each of these symbols serves as a reminder that Día de los Muertos is a time to celebrate life, honor the dead, and embrace the cycle of existence.

Montessori-Inspired Activities for Día de los Muertos with Kids

Here are a few hands-on, Montessori-aligned activities that will engage young learners while honoring the spirit of Día de los Muertos.

1. Creating Mini Ofrendas (Altars)

In Mexican households, families build ofrendas, or altars, to honor deceased loved ones. In a Montessori classroom, children can create their own small ofrendas to honor someone they love—whether it’s a family member, a pet, or even a beloved plant.

How to Set Up:

Provide small boxes or trays as the base for the ofrendas.
Offer miniature items for decoration, such as pictures, flowers (like marigolds), candles (battery-operated), and small toys.
Encourage children to bring in photos or drawings of people or animals they want to remember.

This activity allows children to personalize their space, giving them the chance to express love and connection in a tactile, creative way.

dia de los muertos symbol of the marigold

2. Exploring the Symbol of the Marigold (Cempasúchil)

Marigolds, or cempasúchil, are known as the “flower of the dead” and are used to decorate ofrendas. The bright orange and yellow petals are said to guide spirits back to their families.

Montessori Twist:

Set up a flower-arranging station with real or artificial marigolds. Children can practice fine motor skills by arranging the flowers into small vases or bowls.
Offer a sensory activity where children explore marigold petals, encouraging them to describe the texture, color, and scent.
Talk about the significance of marigolds in guiding loved ones and what it means to remember someone.

3. Making Papel Picado (Cut Paper Banners)

Papel picado is a traditional Mexican craft where colorful tissue paper is cut into intricate designs and used as decorations during Día de los Muertos.

Montessori-Friendly Craft:

Pre-cut tissue paper squares for younger children and let them use blunt-tipped scissors to make simple cuts.
For those developing fine motor skills, offer templates of traditional papel picado designs that they can follow, or let them create free-form designs.
Hang the banners around the classroom, creating a vibrant and festive environment.

4. Decorating Calaveras (Skulls)

Skulls, or calaveras, are an iconic symbol of Día de los Muertos and represent the joy of life. Traditionally, sugar skulls are made and decorated with colorful icing and paint.

Montessori Approach:

Use play dough or air-dry clay to mold simple skull shapes. Once dry, children can decorate them using paints, markers, or even natural materials like seeds or beads.
Talk about how these skulls are not scary but are meant to remind us of loved ones and the happiness they brought into our lives.

5. Storytime: Books about Día de los Muertos

Reading stories is a beautiful way to introduce new cultural concepts to young children. There are many wonderful books about Día de los Muertos that can help children understand the celebration.

Recommended Titles:

These stories can lead to discussions about traditions, the importance of family, and the ways we can remember those we love.

Sensitive Discussions About Life and Death

In a Montessori classroom, it’s important to approach conversations about death with sensitivity, especially with younger children.

Use this opportunity to talk about the cycles of life in nature—plants growing, flowers blooming, and eventually returning to the earth.

Through Día de los Muertos, children can learn that death is a part of life and that remembering our loved ones keeps them close to us in spirit.

By introducing children to the beauty and meaning of Día de los Muertos, we foster a sense of wonder, respect for different cultures, and connection to the world around them.

In the Montessori classroom, we can use this celebration as a way to help children explore life, love, and remembrance through hands-on activities that engage their senses and their hearts.