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 Lesson Plan

To help Family and Consumer Science educators bring Día de los Muertos into the classroom, we’ve sourced this thoughtfully crafted lesson plan focused on the cultural observance. This resource gives an overview of the Dia de los Muertos’ history and guides students through a baking activity centered on baking Pan de Muerto. Here’s what the lesson plan includes:

Introduction to Día de los Muertos: Background information and discussion questions that help students understand the origins, meaning, and traditions of the holiday.

Baking Activity: Students will make Pan de Muerto, 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.

Classroom Engagement: The lesson includes prompts and reflective questions to encourage students to share what they’ve learned and relate the holiday’s themes of family, memory, and respect for ancestors to their own experiences.

For students, baking Pan de Muerto 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.

By incorporating the Día de los Muertos lesson plan from the Home Baking Association, educators provide a memorable and enriching experience that helps students develop culinary skills and cultural knowledge. We encourage you to use this lesson plan in your classrooms this fall, and share the spirit of Día de los Muertos with your students as they bake and learn together.

Download these additional recipes to incorporate in your classroom activities!