10/26/2026

Morning Announcements

Morning Meeting Agenda

Mon · Social Studies Tue · Literacy Wed · Science Thu · Math Fri · ROAR + Houses
Social Studies of the Day

How the world celebrates this season

Around this time of year, different cultures hold different celebrations. Next weekend, families in Mexico and across the Americas celebrate Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead. It’s colorful, joyful, and all about remembering.

Día de los Muertos (DEE-ah day los MWER-tos) is a happy celebration in Mexico. Families remember grandparents and relatives they love by sharing stories, pictures, flowers, and favorite foods.

A Dia de los Muertos ofrenda with marigolds, photos, and sugar skulls

Bright colors, flowers, and decorations!

Let’s talk
  • What special days does YOUR family celebrate together?
  • Is there a family story someone has told you about a grandparent or relative?
  • Look at the picture — what colors do you see?
Reveal a fun factHide the fun fact
The bright orange flower is called a marigold, or cempasúchil (sem-pah-SOO-cheel). Families believe its strong smell and bright color help guide loved ones home for the celebration!
Try it

Share a memory! Turn to a partner and tell them about a happy time with someone in your family. Smiling while you remember is exactly what this celebration is about!

Late October and early November bring different celebrations in different cultures. Two often get mixed up — but they’re not the same thing at all.

Dia de los Muertos and Halloween compared side by side

Two different celebrations, two different meanings.

Let’s talk
  • Why do you think people sometimes assume Día de los Muertos is “Mexican Halloween”? Why does the difference matter?
  • Families build an ofrenda with photos and a relative’s favorite food. Why might food and photos help us remember someone?
  • Why do so many cultures hold celebrations at the end of harvest season?
Reveal the answersHide the answers
People confuse them because of the dates and the skeleton imagery — but Día de los Muertos is a family celebration of remembrance, warm and joyful, with roots going back thousands of years in Indigenous Mexico. Treating it as “spooky” misses its meaning. And harvest festivals are common worldwide because that’s when crops are gathered — a natural moment to celebrate, give thanks, and mark the turn toward winter.
Try it

With a partner: name a tradition your family keeps — a food, a song, a yearly gathering. Then explain why your family does it. Traditions almost always carry a reason inside them.

Additional Notes/Activities

If additional activities are needed for the Morning Meeting, they will be added here.