Spanish Makerspace: Sugar Skulls
The Spanish Department at Perkiomen Valley High School wanted students to experience Spanish culture because immersing oneself is the best way to learn a language and culture. Unfortunately, it is unrealistic to believe that every Spanish language learner will be able to go on an international language excursion or travel to a Spanish-speaking country. However, it is possible to bring various cultures into the classroom. And that is just what Tracey Sutton did with her high school students for Halloween. She let them experience a Mexican tradition with her Spanish Makerspace: Sugar Skulls grant.
Dia de Muertos (or Day of the Dead) is celebrated in Mexico when the United States celebrates Halloween. This holiday is traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. During Dia de Muertos, gifts such as sugar skulls are commonly given to friends. Ms. Sutton’s class took part in this tradition by making sugar skulls in class on Halloween and Dia de Muertos. On the first day, Ms. Sutton’s classes learned the ingredients, measurements, and instructions on how to make the Sugar Skulls, and on the second day, they decorated their sugar skulls.
For this version of Sugar Skulls, the classes used small skull molds that students packed with sugar. Then the next day, students decorated the skulls with gel and toothpicks. After students finished their skulls, they could eat them or take them home. Reflecting on the experience, Ms. Sutton said, “the nice part about the smaller molds is that it forces them to slow down and focus on what they’re doing.”
See if you can follow the instructions!
Ingredientes
- una cucharadita agua de la llave
- una taza azucar regular
- una cucharadita polvo de merengue
- molde de calavera
Instrucciones
- Mezcla los ingredientes
- Empacar la mezcla en el molde
Let them sit for 4 hours (or overnight) to dry, and then decorate!
Foundation members visited each of these days and were able to participate in the making and decorating of the sugar skulls. It was great to see one of our grants in action and how involved the students got in the project. We look forward to the next installment of the Spanish Makerspace.
Support projects like Spanish Makerspace
Teachers don’t always have access to materials, technology, and other resources that can make the difference between a lesson forgotten the next day and one that lasts beyond graduation. That’s where you come in. Your contribution to the PVSD Foundation helps ensure that the Foundation can continue to support teachers in delivering enriching educational opportunities for all students when tax dollars and traditional revenue streams fall short.