Day of the Dead Spanish Culture Project Ideas, High School

This free collection of Spanish project ideas for high school helps students use real communication while learning culture. In this High School Spanish class project, students research Day of the Dead traditions, create a cultural display, and present original Spanish writing and speaking. The lesson also works as adaptable Spanish project for middle school with modifications.

Overview

This project-based learning unit centers on Día de los Muertos as a cultural topic for Spanish language learners. Students investigate how the holiday is celebrated in Spanish-speaking regions and compare it to familiar traditions. They complete multiple activities including a cultural research activity, a Spanish writing task, and a visual display. The lesson provides easy Spanish project ideas, a poster project, and research project ideas that build reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in Spanish 3 courses.

Subject Connections

The lesson connects language learning with social studies and art. Students explore beliefs about memory, family, and celebration in Hispanic culture, analyze symbolism in cultural objects, and communicate their understanding through Spanish writing and speaking. Students practice past tense narration and descriptive vocabulary while presenting information to an audience.

Learning Goals

• Describe a cultural tradition in Spanish
• Write a multi-sentence narrative using past-tense verbs
• Demonstrate comprehension by responding to spoken Spanish
• Create a visual representation of cultural information
• Deliver an oral presentation in Spanish

Materials

• Poster paper or construction paper
• Colored pencils or markers
• Glue or tape
• Printed images or student drawings
• Basic research resources (books or teacher-approved websites)
• Index cards for speaking notes

Preparation

• Prepare short background notes or slides introducing Día de los Muertos
• Collect images of altars, marigolds, sugar skulls, and offerings
• Create a simple checklist rubric for writing and speaking
• Set aside a classroom display area

Teaching Procedure

Each session fits a standard class period of 45–50 minutes. The full project takes approximately one school week.

Session 1 – Cultural Introduction

1. The teacher introduces Día de los Muertos using images and brief explanation. Students take notes identifying the purpose of the celebration and important symbols.
2. Students work in pairs to list differences between Halloween and Día de los Muertos. Each pair shares one comparison with the class.
3. Activity: The teacher distributes printed images of traditional altar items and explains that students must match objects to meanings. Using paper and markers, students label drawings of marigolds, candles, food offerings, and photos, then explain orally in simple Spanish what each item represents.

Session 2 – Research and Planning

1. The teacher assigns a short research task about Day of the Dead traditions in Spanish-speaking regions. Students gather 5–8 facts and write them in simple Spanish sentences.
2. Students sketch a design for a cultural poster or display representing an ofrenda.
3. The teacher models a short narrative in past tense. Students practice forming sentences describing memories and actions.

Session 3 – Writing Project

1. The teacher explains the main writing task: a personal letter in Spanish remembering a pet, imaginary animal, or fictional character.
2. Students draft at least ten sentences describing past experiences with the pet using past-tense verbs.
3. Activity: Students write a complete letter on lined paper while the teacher circulates giving feedback on verb forms. Students revise and produce a final copy, including a drawing or printed image, then mount it onto a decorated poster border.

Session 4 – Cultural Display Creation

1. The teacher organizes desks into a display area representing a class ofrenda.
2. Students place their letters and images as offerings and add labeled cultural objects.
3. Students complete short speaking notes on index cards describing their project.

Session 5 – Presentations and Listening

1. Each student presents their project orally in Spanish for approximately one minute.
2. Classmates listen and answer teacher comprehension questions about the presentation.
3. The teacher leads a discussion about cultural respect, memory, and the purpose of the celebration.

Assessment

Students are evaluated on written Spanish accuracy, completion of required sentences, clarity of oral presentation, and cultural understanding demonstrated during questioning. Listening comprehension is assessed through peer response questions.

Differentiation

• Provide sentence starters for developing learners
• Allow illustrated vocabulary lists for support
• Permit oral rehearsal with a partner before presenting
• Offer extended writing for advanced learners

Grade Adaptation

The lesson is designed for Grade 10 students, who complete a full past-tense letter with descriptive details and present their project in Spanish using limited notes. Grade 9 classes may shorten the writing and rely more on guided sentence structures. Spanish 3 and upper high school courses can expand the assignment with longer speaking presentations, richer cultural explanation, and audience questions.

For middle school, the project can be simplified by using present tense and reducing the number of required sentences while keeping the cultural focus.

Extension Ideas

• Create a Spanish menu project ideas activity featuring traditional foods
• Design sugar skull art for spanish crafts for high school
• Compile a class booklet of student letters
• Record video presentations for a digital spanish project based learning portfolio