Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that honors the lives of the deceased.

Celebrated in several Latin American countries, this joyous occasion can bring Latin culture to your center and promote inclusivity.

It's an opportunity to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away. If you're searching for fun Dia de los Muertos activities for your preschool, look no further. This blog post shares some ideas to help your children learn about this special holiday.

Classroom Altar

One of the most important Dia de los Muertos activities is creating an altar. An altar is a traditional part of the holiday, and it is used to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away.

Preschoolers in the classroom can all work together to make a beautiful remembrance. To create an altar, you will need a table, a white tablecloth, candles, pictures of loved ones, marigolds, and Dia de los Muertos skulls.

First, cover the table with the white tablecloth. Then, arrange the candles, pictures, marigolds, and skulls on the altar. You can also add other items that are significant to your loved ones.

Once the altar is complete, light the candles and say a memory for those who are being honored.

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Marigold Wreath

Another activity that your preschoolers can do to celebrate Dia de los Muertos is to make a marigold wreath. Marigolds are often used to decorate altars during the holiday, as they are believed to guide the souls of the dead back to their homes.

To make a marigold wreath, you will need some construction paper, preschool-friendly scissors, glue, and ribbon. First, help your students cut out five or six marigold shapes from the construction paper.

Next, have them glue the marigolds onto a piece of ribbon to create a wreath. Once the glue is dry, hang the wreath up in the classroom or on your Dia de los Muertos altar.

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Sugar Skull

Sugar skulls are a traditional part of the holiday, and they can be made from scratch or with a kit. If you want to make them from scratch, you will need some sugar, water, food coloring, and molds.

To make the sugar skulls, mix together 1 cup of sugar with 1/4 cup of water. Once the sugar is dissolved, add in a few drops of food coloring to desired shade.

Then, carefully pour the mixture into the molds and let them harden overnight. Once they are hardened, you can decorate them with icing, glitter, and other embellishments.

If you would prefer to use a kit, they can be found online or at many craft stores. This Dia de los Muertos activity for your kids will be sure to educate them and allow creativity to flow.

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Skeleton

This is a fun and easy project that your preschoolers are sure to enjoy. You will need a paper plate, child safe scissors, black paint, and markers.

First, have the kids cut out the center of the paper plate to create a hole. Next, encourage them to draw a skeleton onto the plate with the markers.

You can also add other Dia de los Muertos decorations, such as marigolds or skulls.

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Maracas

Day of the dead maracas are a fun and easy way to get your preschoolers involved in the holiday with some dance. You will need a paper plate, rice, markers, glue, and ribbon.

First, have your preschoolers decorate the paper plate with markers. Next, glue the ribbon around the edge of the plate. Once the glue is dry, pour some rice into the center of the plate and seal it shut.

Have a dance party in the classroom and your kids can then shake their maracas to add to the festiveness.

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Skull Mask

Our final Dia de los Muertos activity for kids is creating a skull mask. This is a fun way for your preschoolers to dress up and get into the spirit of the holiday.

You will need a white paper plate, black paint, markers, elastic string, and scissors. First, encourage your child to paint their paper plate to their liking. Encourage them to draw eyes, a nose, and a mouth on the plate to create a skull face.

Next, use the scissors to cut two holes on either side of the plate. Thread the elastic string through the holes and tie it in place.

Your preschoolers can then wear their mask during Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

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Dia de los Muertos is a fun and festive holiday that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. These Dia de los Muertos activities for kids are a great way to get your preschoolers involved in the holiday and create some lasting memories.

So, gather up some supplies and get started on these Day of the Dead preschool activities. Interested in more lesson plans for the season? Check out our fall themed lesson plans and ideas!

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