El Día de los Muertos WebQuest
OBJECTIVE / TASK / PROCESS / RESOURCES / EVALUATION / CONCLUSION / HOME
OBJECTIVE
You and your team of hotshot detectives have been asked to investigate the crowd of people gathering in a local cemetery. The town's mayor is afraid of some skullduggery, but you can put her mind at rest--it's just a celebration of El Día de los Muertos! But what exactly is this Day of the Dead all about? When does it take place? And why?
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TASK
With your team, put together a presentation that explains, and more importantly shows, the mayor what El Día de los Muertos is all about. Be sure to cover the following aspects:
* The history of El Día de los Muertos
* Where and how it is celebrated
* What role José Guadelupe Posada plays
* Different kinds of folk art that are representative of El Día de los Muertos.
Presentations can take a variety of formats, but must include both a written and an oral component. Examples of each follow:
WRITTEN ORAL
* Newsletter
* Brochure
* Storybook
* Notes for PowerPoint Presentation
* HyperStudio Presentation
* Web Page
* ??
* Drama /Re-enactment
* Courtroom Drama
* Puppet Show
* PowerPoint Presentation
* HyperStudio Presentation
* Presentation of a Web Page
* ??
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PROCESS
1. Before you assign roles, take a look at the resources provided from the Internet to get a feel for the investigation and what El Día de los Muertos involves. Make sure you check out at least one site from each category and make notes about the information it provides, graphics that might be used, additional links that could prove useful, and any ideas for hands-on artifacts (visuals) that would support your presentation. (A great strategy is to assign a different site to each member of the team.)
2. Now, look at the roles below and what they entail. Assign one role to each member of the team.
Team Manager
As team manager you have full responsibility for this team. You will manage all aspects of the project by assisting the research, production, and archive managers meet their obligations to complete the project. Excellent interpersonal and management skills are required here. You may need to assist the researcher collect resources, help the production manager build a web page or multimedia stack, or organize materials with the archive manager. You are ultimately responsible for meeting your project deadline.
Research Manager
Your job is key to the success of this project. You must be relentless in your quest for finding just the right quote, picture, or sound bite. Your team will rely on effective use of your detective skills as you search the collections.
Archive Manager
Excellent organizational skills make this job a challenge. You will keep track of all materials that your researcher locates and check to be sure that resources are compatible. For example, are your sound clips for the correct platform? You will keep the original files, and back up files, and organize the final project.
Production Manager
This position requires you to build the final product. You must gather materials from your archive manager and work with the researcher during production. You will need to be flexible and resourceful as you work with last minute changes; manage graphics, sound or movie clips; and deal with the unexpected occurrences of producing a product.
3. Make an outline of the information you've gathered so far. Think about what else you need to fill in the gaps for the mayor.
4. Brainstorm with your team the kind of format you would like to follow for your presentation and then, continue to collect information and materials accordingly.
5. Be sure to document all information and material sources for inclusion in a bibliography to be presented to the mayor with your presentation.
6. Proofread and edit all material before the presentation.
7. And remember!! Keep it simple!
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Day of the Dead RESOURCES
Here is a list of Internet resources, but don't forget that the Information Center and the Public Library also carry a wide assortment of resource materials. Most of the sites listed below have been borrowed from a similar activity that can be found at the Calaveras Home Page from Dog's Life Video.
Background on the tradition
Los días de los muertos -- an explanation of the celebrations with pictures from Cholula, Mexico.
dead.html -- background from the MATC Latino Students Association.
The Day of the Dead, Through the Eyes of the Soul-- text and book excepts from a journalist who has been researching the Day of the Dead for over ten years.
El Dia de los Muertos -- overview with an emphasis on food.
Day of the Dead-- well-informed summary from the Boeckman Center for Iberian and Latin American studies.
Mexican holidays -- including Day of the Dead.
Overview (Spanish) -- background on the tradition for Spanish speakers.
Día de los Muertos--an overview of the celebration
History
Jose Guadelupe Posada -- samples of the artist's work.
Pre-Columbian Art -- life and death in ancient Mexico.
Background on Dia del los Muertos and Halloween.
muertos.html -- History of indigenous celebration in Mexico.
Celebrations in the United States
Día de los Muertos in Monterey
Hispanic heritage comes alive at All Souls Day celebration -- a celebration in Detroit's Mexicantown.
LatinoLink: El Dia de los Muertos -- the celebration in San Francisco
Day of the Dead in Southern California
Younger Children's Day of the Dead site -- from Northern Arizona University.
Celebrations in other parts of the world
The Day of the Dead, All Souls Feast in Oaxaca -- Photographs and a description of the celebration in Oaxaca.
Day of the Dead -- background and photos with links to a map of Mexico and information on its indigenous people.
Folk Traditions
Los arcos (las ofrendas) -- a description on making an altar
Papel Picado
Calaveras de Azucar
Las flores
Papel Amate
El pan de los muertos
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EVALUATION
Your job as a topnotch detective depends on this presentation. The last team to present was canned--don't make the same mistakes they did.
* Cover all four areas for the presentation on El Día de los Muertos: history, traditions in the celebration, José Guadelupe Posada, and different kinds of folk traditions
* Document your sources
* Fulfill your responsibilities in the role you chose or were assigned
* Play an integral part in the final presentation.
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CONCLUSION
Upon finishing your presentation to the mayor, you should be able to answer the following questions about El Día de los Muertos:
1. What are some of the forms the celebration takes?
2. What is the connection between Halloween, All Soul's Day and El Día de los Muertos?
3. When was All Souls' Day originally celebrated?
4. Name some of the places in Mexico where the tradition is popular.
5. Who was Jose Guadelupe Posada?
6. Name some of the foods associated with El Día de los Muertos.
7. Describe some of the folk art associated with the Day of the Dead.
8. Do you think the tradition, as it is celebrated in the United States, has evolved or changed in any way?
In addition, take a closer look at the process and how you worked together as a team?
* What role did you take? How would you rate your performance in that role?
* What worked well for your team? What would you change?
* Were you satisfied with the final presentation format and delivery? Why or why not?
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The cemetery and skeleton graphics are from A Holiday Page.
The beaded bar is from IconBAZAAR.
Copyright © 1998 Deborah W. Espitia
Updated 25 October 98
All rights reserved.
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