Fourth Graders Celebrate Día de los Muertos Through Art and Tradition

Fourth graders at The Peck School recently celebrated Día de los Muertos with a colorful and meaningful classroom project that brought this vibrant cultural tradition to life. After learning about the history and customs of the holiday, students discovered that Día de los Muertos—The Day of the Dead—is not a day of sadness, but a joyful celebration of remembrance.

They explored how families honor loved ones who have passed on by creating beautifully decorated altars, or ofrendas, filled with items that those individuals cherished in life—favorite foods, photographs, candles, and more.

To connect their learning with a hands-on activity, students decorated marshmallows to resemble traditional sugar skulls, a popular Día de los Muertos symbol meant to celebrate the personalities and memories of those who came before us. With bright colors, bold patterns, and plenty of creativity, each marshmallow calavera became a small, handmade tribute to the tradition’s joyful spirit.

Fourth graders not only created art, but also gained a deeper understanding of how cultures around the world honor memory, celebrate life, and keep loved ones close across generations.