DIY Life

El Día de los Muertos (All Souls' Day) is coming up, November 1 and 2. Observing the holiday yourself? Or just want to teach your kids what this Latin American celebration is all about? Either way, simple craft activities are a key way to engage children. Here are 5 easy (and inexpensive) crafts suitable for kids of all ages!

1. Skull face masks. Keep things simple with these face masks made from paper plates. Just pencil out a design, cut holes for eyes and then let the kids have at it with colorful paints. Thrifty Fun has full instructions, including the link to a page of templates.

No time? Cut corners with these printable skull (calavera) mask designs courtesy of Flickr member, Tiki Chris. These ones are kind of scary looking, making them more suitable for older kids or teens.

2. Pasta skeleton. Easy and ideal for small fingers, the pasta skeleton requires just pasta and/or dried beans, black construction paper and glue. It also helps teach little ones about anatomy. Enchanted Learning provides instructions plus a version of the skeleton with bones labeled to help kids learn.

3. Sugar skulls. So much fun to make, but you're going to have to explain to your kids up front that although they're called "sugar skulls" they're actually NOT for eating. Sorry, guys. Incredibly detailed instructions with lots of photos are available at the website Mexican Sugar Skull.

4. Skull coloring page. This free printable from Artyness is great for tots and older kids alike. A few completed examples demonstrate just how fabulous budding young artists can make these calaveras. Let your children experiment with eye-popping color combinations.

5. Felt banner. Here's an ideal craft for older kids, with thanks to Crafty Chica for the instructions (not to mention TONS of other Day of the Dead-related craft ideas!). With felt, templates and a glue gun, your kids can create their own felt banners in the style of those used to adorn altars honoring the deceased.

Learn more about the Day of the Dead! This Smithsonian site is kid-friendly and informative. Find other helpful articles about El Día de los Muertos at About.com.