History of Halloween and Día de los Muertos Reading Passage & Activities

Looking for a fun and educational way for kids to celebrate Halloween and Dia de los Muertos? Look no further than this amazing reading passage and activity resource! Included are two reading passages – one on the history of Halloween for kids and the other on Dia de los Muertos.

Both passages are accompanied by vocabulary cards and activities, as well as links and QR codes to additional websites and videos. Reading comprehension pages for each passage are also included. This resource is the perfect way to learn about these important cultural celebrations while also having a blast!

What’s included in the History of Halloween Reading Passage & Activities

Included in the History of Halloween resource are two reading passages and plenty of vocabulary and comprehension activities to keep your students busy during the week of Halloween!

Here’s what’s included:

• Vocabulary Cards with key terms from the reading passage
• Posters that define the days
• Reading Passage for each holiday
• QR Codes for additional research for each holiday
• Graphic Organizer for note-taking for each holiday
• Short Answer Comprehension Questions for each holiday
• Comprehension Activities for Main Idea & Details and Cause & Effect
• Fact Sort where students can categorize the key events and attributes
• Discussion Questions
• Writing Page
• Answer Key

Vocabulary Cards about Halloween and Dia de los Muertos

The vocabulary cards are three-part vocabulary cards. Cut them apart and you have an instant hands-on matching activity!

Both reading passages have separate vocabulary words and activities. Combine the words to make a larger activity or leave them separated to focus on one holiday at a time.

You can also use one of the included worksheets where students cut out words and definitions and then match them. If you want to make the activity a little more challenging, provide the worksheet as a blank page and have students write the definition of the words.

Reading Passages for the History of Halloween & Día de los Muertos

Included are two reading passages. The first reading passage, about the history of Halloween, goes in depth about the origins of Halloween. It discusses how the Celts celebrated Samhain and lit bonfires that attracted bats!

It also discusses All Saints’ Day, All Hallows Eve and traditions in Britain and Ireland of going door-to-door. The passages moves onto traditions in the United States and why and how Halloween has become the community holiday it is today.

We have also included a nonfiction article about Día de los Muertos. This article touches on the history of the holiday and goes in depth about how it is celebrated and the symbols of the holiday.

Included with both articles are QR codes and links to websites and videos where students can do additional research about the holidays.

Comprehension Activities about the History of Halloween

We have included many comprehension activities to engage students.

In addition to graphic organizers and traditional comprehension questions, students can engage in activities that ask them to use common reading comprehension skills, such as cause and effect, sequencing, and identifying main idea and details.

How to Purchase the Halloween Reading Passage and Activities

If you are looking for a teaching resource to help your students learn about other cultures, we have just what you need. Our reading passage and comprehension activities for Halloween and Día de los Muertos will help elementary students understand these holidays better. And the best part is that you can purchase it now!

The Halloween and Día de los Muertos article and activities is available on my website and on Teachers Pay Teachers.

More Halloween Activities for Kids

Are you looking for more ideas and resources for Halloween? Check out these blog posts: