A Cultural Celebration!

Bright colors, costumes, celebratory symbolism, and life-affirming joy filled the Spanish classroom and overflowed throughout the school community during the past few weeks.

Dia De Los Muertos is a tradition that originated in Mexico as a demonstration of love and respect for family and friends who have passed on. It is a way to honor living traditions that are shared between generations. Communities celebrate with parades, parties, singing, dancing, and by making offerings.

At MDS, our youngest students sing songs, make masks, learn about the altars, and discover other ways of celebrating. Third graders create an altar honoring their loved ones, and fourth graders make alebrijes, the spirit animals that accompany souls. Middle school students make deeper cultural connections as they listen and share in the language, read, and write reflecting on their learning.

Developing cultural understanding is an important part of the MDS curriculum. As students learn about the beliefs, values, and experiences of others, they develop empathy, tolerance, open-mindedness, and appreciation for the similarities and differences between cultures.

After learning about this cultural celebration, students are invited to join the community in Marion to participate in a Dia De Los Muertos festival. Each year we have several families choose to attend. It's exciting to see learning come to life both in and out of the classroom!