English Language ArtsSocial StudiesK-2
Day of the Dead Vocabulary for Grade 2 ELL Readers
By Silvia D.
A short vocabulary worksheet that introduces key Day of the Dead terms such as ancestor, tradition, altar, ofrenda, and marigold, with a meaning column and a draw-it box for each word. It builds word recognition and cultural understanding and is designed for emerging English learners at the 2nd-grade level, with sentence frames to support oral and written responses.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a 20-30 minute warm-up or pre-reading lesson before a read-aloud about Día de los Muertos, so students have the vocabulary in hand when the story introduces these words.
- Discussion question: What does your family do to remember people who have passed away, and how is it like or different from an altar or ofrenda?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach each word with a real photo or object, read the definitions aloud together, and have students point to or act out the word before drawing.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to write one complete sentence using each word, or to compare a Day of the Dead tradition with a family tradition from their own culture.
- Estimated time: about 20-30 minutes for the full worksheet, plus a few minutes for pair sharing of drawings.
English Language ArtsSocial StudiesK-2
Day of the Dead Vocabulary for Grade 2 ELL Readers
By Silvia D.
A short vocabulary worksheet that introduces key Day of the Dead terms such as ancestor, tradition, altar, ofrenda, and marigold, with a meaning column and a draw-it box for each word. It builds word recognition and cultural understanding and is designed for emerging English learners at the 2nd-grade level, with sentence frames to support oral and written responses.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a 20-30 minute warm-up or pre-reading lesson before a read-aloud about Día de los Muertos, so students have the vocabulary in hand when the story introduces these words.
- Discussion question: What does your family do to remember people who have passed away, and how is it like or different from an altar or ofrenda?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach each word with a real photo or object, read the definitions aloud together, and have students point to or act out the word before drawing.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to write one complete sentence using each word, or to compare a Day of the Dead tradition with a family tradition from their own culture.
- Estimated time: about 20-30 minutes for the full worksheet, plus a few minutes for pair sharing of drawings.