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Middle [6th-8th] Lesson Plan

Day of the Dead Tombstones

Created on August 08, 2013 by aliparisi


Students will create and construct a tombstone that describes their “bad habit” which they would like to bury.


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THE PLAN
7 sessions; 60 minutes per session

Students learn that… The Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead, is a day of celebrating and honoring the dead.
The students learn how to… create and construct a tombstone that describes their “bad habit” which they would like to bury.
The students learn to (or to be)… recognize that certain values and beliefs may be shared and reinforced through a celebration across many cultures.

Scrap paper, pencils, cardboard, tape, newspaper, flour, acrylic paint, plastic cups, glue.

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

Students will discuss a slideshow of images featuring Mexican culture and the Day of the Dead rituals and traditions.
On the second day, students will discuss how their year is going and what things they could do to change for the positive. Class will discuss bad habits. What kind of bad habits do you have? Which ones are you working on breaking? How can you describe your bad habit visually? How will you construct your tombstone? How will you celebrate this?
day 1: sketch, brainstorm
day 2: contruct
day 3-5: paper mache
day 5-7: paint sculpture

class critique/ rubric/ display in school court yard "cemetery".

THE STANDARDS

Visual Arts Standard 1:
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes


[5-8] Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas
[5-8] Students select media, techniques, and processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of their choices

Visual Arts Standard 2:
Using knowledge of structures and functions


[5-8] Students select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of their ideas

Visual Arts Standard 3:
Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas


[5-8] Students use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks

Visual Arts Standard 4:
Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures


[5-8] Students know and compare the characteristics of artworks in various eras and cultures

THE FEATURES
Arts and Crafts Movement, Folk Art

Color/Value, Form, Unity/Harmony

Acrylic, Painting, Paper Mache, Sculpture

English/Language Arts, Multicultural Studies