Day of the Dead Close Reading Passage & Comprehension Activities | 5th–6th Grade

Help your students explore the meaning and traditions of the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) with this engaging close reading comprehension activity for fifth and sixth grade. This resource includes a detailed nonfiction passage about the origins of the celebration, its connection to Mexican culture, and how families honor and remember loved ones through beautiful altars, music, and colorful decorations. It is designed to build reading, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills while helping students appreciate cultural diversity, remembrance, and respect for family traditions.

Students will complete a range of comprehension activities, including short-answer questions, grammar practice, a writing extension task, a multiple-choice quiz, a crossword, and a wordsearch — all supported by a teacher presentation to guide discussion and extend learning about the history, customs, and symbolism of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Everything you need for an engaging, ready-to-use lesson.

Included in this PDF printable resource:

• A teacher presentation to introduce the subject
• An informational text
• A comprehension activity with ten questions
• Two grammar questions about the text
• An extension writing activity
• A multiple choice quiz with seven questions
• An answer sheet for self-assessment or teacher use
• A crossword puzzle to consolidate learning
• A wordsearch puzzle

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This resource is great for:

• In class learning
• Independent work
• Homework
• Guided reading sessions
• Assessment practice
• Reading interventions
• Emergency sub plans

The activity requires NO PREP; it has a body of text that students need to read through thoroughly; then they can use the text to find the comprehension and grammar answers. All texts then have an extension activity for those fast finishers and answers, for teacher use, are on the final page of the document.

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