Elementary and Middle School
Monday, November 9, 10 a.m.
Bowker Auditorium
Sugar Skull brings the traditions, symbolism, and music of Día de los Muertos, as celebrated within Mexican and Mexican‑American communities, to life through live music, theatrical storytelling, bold visual design, and audience participation. Presented as a bilingual experience, the performance invites students to listen, move, respond, and connect throughout the show.
What Will My Students Experience?
During the performance, students will experience:
- Live music and infectious rhythms that set the energy of the performance
- Stylized movement and theatrical storytelling that communicate emotion without words
- Vibrant visual elements inspired by sugar skulls, colorful costumes, and altar traditions
The performance guides audiences through the meaning and customs of Día de los Muertos, emphasizing celebration over mourning and joy over loss, helping students understand how communities honor loved ones through art and tradition.
Interactive Elements
Throughout the performance, students are invited to actively participate through: call‑and‑response moments with the performers. These interactive elements keep students energized and emotionally connected, transforming the performance into a shared cultural experience rather than a passive presentation.
Language
This bilingual performance (English and Spanish) mirrors the cultural landscape of the tradition, supporting students with varied language experiences by allowing meaning to emerge through music, movement, and familiar cues rather than translation alone.
What Will My Students Learn?
Students will learn how traditions are passed down across generations and how artistic expression helps communities honor their ancestors and build identity. Many students leave with a deeper sense of empathy, curiosity, and cultural respect.
In addition, students will also:
- Learn the cultural significance of Día de los Muertos and how it differs from other traditions
- Understand the role of symbolism, color, and ritual in Mexican culture.
- Explore how music, movement, and visual art communicate memory, love, and celebration.
Did You Know?
Día de los Muertos was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its cultural importance and enduring role in Mexican life.
What Should I Know?
What Is Día de los Muertos?
Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrated annually on November 1 and 2. Rooted in Indigenous traditions and shaped by Spanish colonization, the holiday honors deceased loved ones through remembrance, storytelling, music, and food.
Families create ofrendas (altars) decorated with photos, candles, marigolds, sugar skulls, and favorite foods of those who have passed. These offerings reflect the belief that loved ones return in spirit to be remembered and celebrated.
Why Are Sugar Skulls Important?
Sugar skulls are decorative representations of deceased loved ones. Far from being frightening, they are colorful, joyful, and often personalized. Sugar skulls symbolize:
- The celebration of life
- The sweetness of memory
- Acceptance of death as a natural part of life
Their playful appearance reflects the heart of Día de los Muertos — honoring the past while embracing joy and connection.
A Closer Look
On Día de los Muertos, color functions as a visual language, with specific hues carrying symbolic meaning rather than decorative intent.
Color choices are intentional, not aesthetic:
- Orange and yellow → life, sun, guidance
- Purple → mourning and reflection
- Pink → celebration
- White → purity and remembrance
These colors appear consistently across costumes, banners, and altars, creating a recognizable visual rhythm throughout Día de los Muertos spaces.
Think About It
Use these questions to deepen student reflection:
- How does Día de los Muertos celebrate life rather than focus on loss?
- Which symbols stood out to you, and what do you think they represent?
- How did music and movement help tell the story?
- How does your family or culture honor traditions or loved ones?
- Why is remembering people important to communities?
- How did the performance make you feel, and why?
How Can I Connect This to What I Am Teaching?
Sugar Skull: A Día de los Muertos Musical Adventure offers meaningful entry points across grades and disciplines, supporting both content knowledge and skill development.
World Language and Global Studies
- How does Día de los Muertos reflect Mexican perspectives on life, death, and remembrance, and how might these differ from other cultural viewpoints?
- What do shared traditions of honoring ancestors reveal about universal human experiences across cultures?
- How do symbols, rituals, and visual elements function as a form of cultural language?
History and Social Studies
- How did Indigenous beliefs and Spanish colonial influences combine to shape Día de los Muertos as it is practiced today?
- In what ways do traditions evolve over time while still maintaining cultural meaning and identity?
- How can celebrations like Día de los Muertos serve as acts of cultural preservation or resistance?
Language Arts
- How can memory, family, and tradition be expressed through narrative, imagery, or symbolic detail?
- What role does symbolism play in communicating meaning when words are limited or absent?
- How do visual and sensory details contribute to storytelling?
Music Education
- How do rhythm, instrumentation, and vocal styles contribute to the mood and meaning of ceremonial or cultural music?
- What role does music play in shaping collective experiences during cultural traditions?
- How might musical elements reinforce themes of remembrance, celebration, or connection?
Visual Arts
- How do color, pattern, and design function symbolically in Día de los Muertos imagery?
- In what ways do artists balance tradition and individual expression when creating sugar skulls or altar designs?
- How can visual elements communicate complex ideas such as memory, identity, or celebration?
Social‑Emotional Learning
- How does Día de los Muertos approach loss differently from other cultural traditions?
- What can this celebration teach us about maintaining connections with those who have passed?
- How do shared rituals help individuals and communities process grief and memory?
Educational Standards Alignment
While the following list is not a complete list of applicable standards, it provides a set of relevant standards you can use to develop lessons in line with state and national standards and requirements.
Massachusetts History and Social Science Framework (2018)
Global Studies / World History Themes
- Cultural traditions and belief systems
- Cultural continuity and change
- Global exchange and influence
Connection
Students explore how Día de los Muertos reflects cultural beliefs about life, death, and remembrance.
Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Framework (2019)
Theatre / Connecting
TH:Cn10.1
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art
TH:Cn11.1
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context
Connection
Students interpret how performance communicates meaning through storytelling, symbolism, and participation.
Music / Responding and Connecting
MU:Re7.1
Perceive and analyze artistic work
MU:Re8.1
Interpret intent and meaning
MU:Cn10.1
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experience
MU:Cn11.1
Relate artistic ideas to cultural and historical context
Connection
Students analyze how music supports mood, meaning, and cultural celebration.
Dance / Connecting
DA:Cn10.1
Relate movement ideas to personal experience and world knowledge
DA:Cn11.1
Understand movement as a reflection of cultural values and traditions
Connection
Students explore how movement expresses celebration, memory, and shared cultural practice.
Visual Arts / Connecting
VA:Cn10.1
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experience to make art
VA:Cn11.1
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context
Connection
Students examine how color, pattern, and symbolism communicate meaning and cultural identity.
National Core Arts Standards (NCAS)
Creating
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
Performing / Presenting
Interpret and present artistic work
Responding
Perceive, analyze, and interpret artistic work
Connecting
Relate artistic ideas and work to personal meaning and external context
Connection
Students engage with artistic expression as a way to understand culture, memory, and shared human experience.
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Culture
- How traditions reflect values, beliefs, and social practices
- How cultural expressions change over time
Individual Development and Identity
- Exploring identity through culture, history, and experience
Connection
Students examine how traditions support identity, remembrance, and community connection.
CASEL Social and Emotional Learning Competencies
Social Awareness
- Respect for diverse cultures and perspectives
- Empathy and understanding across experiences
Self-Awareness
- Recognizing and expressing emotions
- Reflecting on personal responses to art
Relationship Skills
- Collaboration and communication
- Awareness of group dynamics and shared responsibility
Connection
Students develop empathy and emotional awareness through themes of memory, loss, and celebration.