Jose Posada, Calaveras and La Catrina

Grades 1-4 have been studying Jose Posada, a Mexican printmaker who primarily used calavera's as symbols of people in his political prints.  He is credited with making the print of La Catrina who is considered the grand dame of Dia de los Muertos.  La Catrina is the skeleton dressed up xtra fancy who symbolizes the ability of people celebrating Dia de los Muertos to 'laugh at death' and to celebrate life.
Each class studied Jose Posada's impact as well as the impact and popularity of La Catrina in the current Dia de los Muertos celebrations.  We also connected Jose Posada's life with Diego Rivera.  Rivera, the Mexican muralist married to Frida Kahlo, was instrumental in helping get Jose Posada the attention he deserved as a master printmaker and huge influence of his art in Mexico and internationally.
Each grade is creating a different type of project but based using calaveras as the subject matter.  Grade 3 also studied a bit about Keith Haring's life and impact and are doing a mash up project that mixes Jose Posada and Keith Haring together into dancing skeletons. 
Fourth Grade has been getting ready to make their own block print using carved styrofoam as a printing plate.  To get prepared they have been studying the concept of hatching which is using line to create value.  And to do that they have been following a guided drawing of Jose Posada's La Catrina.  Here are some of their beautiful drawings in progress: