As educators, sharing traditions from around the world helps broaden students’ cultural understanding and appreciation, and Día de los Muertos is an ideal holiday to explore. This vibrant Mexican tradition, celebrated on November 1 and 2, invites families to honor and remember their loved ones who have passed. It’s a time for joy, reflection, and community, combining ancient Aztec customs with Spanish Catholic influences. Día de los Muertos is celebrated across Mexico, Latin America, and in communities worldwide, making it a meaningful way to introduce students to a rich cultural tradition that they may encounter in their own communities.

Día de los Muertos dates back over 3,000 years to Aztec rituals that honored the Lady of the Dead, a goddess associated with the afterlife. When Spanish settlers arrived, these Aztec customs blended with Catholic celebrations like All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, creating a unique holiday. During Día de los Muertos, families remember loved ones by decorating gravesites, sharing memories, and creating ofrendas (altars) adorned with flowers, candles, food, and photos. At home, these altars welcome the spirits back for the celebration, and traditional foods like Pan de Muerto—a sweet, round bread decorated with dough “bones”—are offered to honor the deceased. This bread is symbolic, representing both life and death, and is meant to be shared with joy and remembrance.

Why Teaching Cultural Traditions Matters

Teaching students about Día de los Muertos is more than just introducing them to a holiday; it’s a chance to show the importance of valuing cultural diversity. By learning about customs that are different from their own, students build empathy, understanding, and respect for others. This lesson plan helps make Día de los Muertos both accessible and engaging, as students get hands-on experience baking Pan de Muerto while learning the significance of the ingredients, shapes, and flavors associated with this cultural bread.

Día de los Muertos Baking Activities

To help Family and Consumer Science educators bring Día de los Muertos into the classroom, we’ve sourced this some great reasources focused on the cultural observance. Learn about the history of Dia de los Muertos and engage in baking Pan de los Muertos together.

Baking Activity: Students will make Pan de los Muertos, learning about its special role in Día de los Muertos celebrations. The recipe is easy to follow and allows students to actively engage in baking while discussing the symbolism of the bread’s shape and decorations.

For students, baking Pan de los Muertos is both a culinary adventure and a meaningful way to connect with another culture. The bread’s unique decorations and sweet, citrus flavors make it a favorite classroom activity, and students are sure to appreciate the opportunity to create a festive and delicious treat that carries so much tradition.

Download these additional recipes to incorporate in your classroom activities!

Sugar Skull Sugar Cookies are a delightful and festive treat that brings a touch of whimsy and color to any celebration! Inspired by the vibrant and intricate designs of traditional sugar skulls, these cookies are not only visually stunning but also deliciously sweet. Often associated with Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), sugar skulls symbolize the remembrance of loved ones who have passed away, serving as a beautiful way to honor their memory.

These cookies are made from a soft and buttery sugar cookie dough, perfectly shaped and decorated with royal icing in an array of bright colors and intricate patterns. Each cookie becomes a canvas for creativity, allowing bakers of all skill levels to express their artistic flair. Whether you’re hosting a Día de los Muertos celebration, a Halloween gathering, or simply looking to add some fun to your baking repertoire, this Sugar Skull Sugar Cookies recipe from Rodelle is sure to impress!

Engage all of your student’s senses as you discuss world culture in the family and consumer sciences classroom. Listen to this free audio book when doing your Day of the Dead baking activities today! Esmerelda’s Journey Home: A Dia de los Muertos Adventure by Nicholas Beatty, performed by Pamela Atherton!