Day of the Dead / Colourful Calavera Folk Art
Colourful Calavera Folk Art
Children decorate a sugar-skull-style calavera with bright flowers, hearts and patterns, exploring a celebrated Mexican folk art form that is joyful and colourful rather than scary.
How to run it
- Show examples of decorated calaveras and explain they are a Mexican art form used to remember loved ones with colour and happiness, not a Halloween decoration.
- Give each child a simple calavera outline on card, and offer a flower, heart or butterfly outline as an equal choice for anyone who prefers.
- Decorate with symmetrical patterns using markers, paint pens, sequins and coloured paper petals.
- Display the finished artworks together with the marigold flowers.
You will need
- calavera outline templates on card
- flower, heart and butterfly templates
- markers and paint pens
- sequins and gems
- coloured paper
- PVA glue
Make it easier or harderYounger children can colour and add stickers; older children can design their own symmetrical pattern on blank card.
SafetyKeep small gems away from children who mouth objects.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 4, Outcome 1Children use pattern and colour to express themselves through a traditional folk art style.
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