***Special note to parents: This is a secular class that introduces students to a CULTURAL celebration through the medium of art. Religion may be mentioned in a historical context to assist with understanding, but is NOT the focus of the content of this class.***

This class aligns with the National Visual Arts Anchor Standard 11:  Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.  Enduring Understanding:  People develop ideas and understandings of society, culture, and history through their interactions with and analysis of art. You can find the NVA standards here: https://www.nationalartsstandards.org/

The celebration of El Dia de Los Muertos has a significant historical impact on Western culture: it is the result of a blending of two cultures, and the subsequent expansion into others. The Spanish Conquistadors, upon entering Mexico in the 1500's, blended their celebration of All Souls with the Aztec custom of celebrating their ancestors, with depictions of skeletons and skulls. This celebration has spread throughout Latin America and into North America over the past 500 years, and most recently, has been depicted in movies and cartoons. 

This class is intended to foster cultural sensitivity, connectivity, and acceptance by comparing and contrasting El Dia de Los Muertos with similar customs celebrated in other countries, such as the Qingming Festival in Malaysia, and North American custom of celebrating Halloween, with its roots in Western Europe. Understanding that traditions from historically diverse cultures are fundamentally the same helps children make cross-cultural connections.

Through the guided drawing process, students will learn how to use simple lines and shapes to create fun symbols of celebration for Dia de los Muertos. 

My teaching style involves breaking the process down into smaller, easy-to-follow steps. I pace the class according to the needs of the students; if needed, I give fast finishers a break, allowing students who need more time to complete their work, the time to do so, and even then, finishing before class ends is NOT the objective. The examples in the picture are only suggestive; students may also request a particular favorite if time allows.
My classes are intended to be fun, informative, and a safe place to take artistic risks and make mistakes--that is experimentation, which artists do all the time!

At the end of class, students will be invited to share their creations no matter what their progress is.