Honoring Our Roots: Learning Through Día de Muertos

"When education embraces tradition, students don’t just learn about culture — they learn to feel it, live it, and keep it alive."

At our school, we believe that preserving cultural traditions within the educational curriculum not only strengthens students’ sense of identity but also fosters emotional and social connection. This year, our Día de Muertos celebration became a vivid example of how emotionally designed activities can enrich academic learning and community life.

Each class from 6th through 12th grade was assigned a different Mexican state, exploring its unique customs, legends, music, and culinary heritage. Students prepared traditional altars, wrote calaveritas for staff members, performed regional music, read legends, and shared typical recipes — turning the school into a living museum of Mexican culture.

The project was fully interdisciplinary, involving language arts, history, arts, and music departments. Teachers collaborated to ensure that creativity, reflection, and research were meaningfully integrated. The result was a deeply emotional and educational experience that honored our traditions while developing communication, teamwork, and empathy among our students.


Story submitted by Claudia Terrés, American School Foundation of Chiapas