Creating a Lower School Ofrenda

Lower School students completed a study of the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead. Kindergarten - fourth grade studied the customs of the family-oriented holiday. In art class they made calaveras (skulls), esqueletos (skeletons), and candle holders for velas (candles). In Spanish class, the first and second grade students made paper flowers and fourth grade students colored calaveras. In the SAGE Dining Room, they tasted Pan de los Muertos, a sweet bread made especially for the holiday. 

Lower School students enjoy working with clay. It is very satisfying for them to create three dimensional works of art and to feel accomplished in the medium. Third graders used clay to make the human figure in skeleton form. They observed and drew bones onto fired clay and posed their figures doing an activity for Día de los Muertos. They also made coil pots, which served as candle holders for their beeswax candles. 

An ofrenda was constructed in the LS Media Center featuring the Chargers’ beautifully crafted pieces. The display has very impressive artwork! Kindergarteners used the resist technique to paint lively versions of skeletons and a fiesta. First graders sculpted skeletons with pipe cleaners, Model Magic and paper. Second graders sculpted calaveras and decorated them to represent sugar skulls. They also cut calaveras out of colored paper and collaged the facial features to create masks. Fourth grade artists used clay and ink to create their own interpretations of sugar skulls. 

Learn more about Día de los Muertos with your child here: https://youtu.be/mLjG4d4ePcM

View more photos of the Lower School's ofrenda.