El Día de los Muertos Project
1. You will create an ofrenda or altar to honor your person. Choose a person from the
list given or you may choose an alternate person with permission. Only one person
from the list per student may be chosen.
2. Research your person. Write at least two paragraphs (complete sentences) about your
person in Spanish which includes the following information: (25 pts.)
Birth/death
Nationality
Occupation
Facts about your person (5 minimum)
One or two accomplishments
Since the person is dead, you will write the paragraph in past tense. To put a regular
verb in past tense, if it is an –AR verb, drop the –AR and add “ó”. If it is an –ER or IR verb, drop the –ER or –IR and add “-ió”. Check the grammar section in the back
of your book for irregular verbs. (Examples: él nació= He was born /él murió= he
died)
Keep the paragraph simple and write it in your best Spanish. DO NOT USE A
TRANSLATOR! You may look up a few words but not entire sentences or
paragraphs.
3. Use a shoe box. Cover it with plain paper to create a parcela cementerio (grave plot).
Create a lápida (headstone). Attach the lápida to one end of your plot.
The lápida will include the following:
a. Name of famous Spanish-speaking person (5 pts.)
b. Dates of birth and death of the person (5 pts.)
c. His/her occupation (5 pts.)
d. points will be awarded for neatness and creativity of the lápida(5 pts.)
4. Decorate the plot with authentic elements of an ofrenda which include:
a. flowers (orange flowers, in particular marigolds, are traditional) (5 pts.)
b. candles ( candles may not be lit-battery operated preferred) (5 pts.)
c. a glass of water (only a small amount) (5 pts.)
d. a dish of salt (5 pts.)
e. calaveras (skulls) (5 pts.)
f. food that the person would have liked when he was alive (5 pts.)
(these can be plastic, clay or pictures)
g. objects that this person might have owned or enjoyed (10 pts.)
h. a picture of your person(5 pts.)
(check google. com images)
i. important facts you would like the class to know about your person (10 pts.)
(write them and place on your display)
j. points will be awarded for creativity and quality of the arrangement (10 pts.)
OVER
5. Write a question in Spanish that your classmates will answer about your person. The
answer must be found in your display. (10 pts.)
(example: ¿Quién era un jugador de béisbol para los Pittsburg Pirates? –Who was a
baseball player for the Pittsburg Pirates?)
Turn in your question and the answer the day before the project is due. Include the
answer and the English translation of your question when turning it in. On the day of
the presentation, students will visit all the plots and answer the questions. (10 pts.)
6. On the day of the presentation, you will show your ofrenda and describe it in detail.
In your presentation you will tell all of the information about your person in English.
(20 pts.)
Extra Credit
a. Music-bring in music that the deceased performed or would have listened to (5
pts.)
b. Food- bring in food that the deceased might have enjoyed that the class will eat
that day. Make sure you are culturally correct: Mexican food for a Mexican
person, etc. (10 + pts. depending on effort)
DUE DATES:
2ND HOUR, 5TH HOUR
Oct. 28 –Question due
Oct. 29- Project due
4th HOUR, 6th HOUR
Oct. 29 –Question due
Oct. 30- Project due
3rd HOUR
Oct. 30 –Question due
Oct. 31- Project due