1. El Día de los Muertos
Nicho Project 1

2. Nichos
“Nichos” are shadow boxes/dioramas depicting “calacas” – skeletons - in a living situation. They are satirical in nature and are used to poke fun at the living and even death itself. They typically have a funny title, caption or pun. For example:

3. Materials
You will need a shoebox and other materials such as: clay, construction paper, paints, markers, glitter, etc.
You do not have to use any particular material but students in the past have had great success with Crayola Model Magic (found in hobby stores, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.).

4. Nicho Instructions
Decide on a witty theme/pun or a famous personality/memorable scene.
Make a list of the materials you will need to find/purchase.
Find an average size shoebox that you can use.
Do NOT use the lid as extension of the scene – the nicho must be completely inside the main part of the shoebox.
You may use the lid as a “frame” by closing the box and cutting out the middle.
Nichos may be made vertically or horizontally, depending on how much space you need.
Calacas (skeletons) MUST be handmade! Plastic, store-bought items, etc. may be used in other décor but not in the making of the actual skeleton(s).
Your goal is a festive, folksy look. Have fun and be creative!
Be sure to cover the entire shoebox (no brands, labels, etc. should be showing) and create a decorative border.
Don’t forget to add your theme/pun or the name of your famous personality.
Write your full name, teacher and class period on the back of the completed nicho.

5. General Project Information
Project directions and theme ideas are available online on the class Web site.
Nichos will be graded based on creativity, neatness, details, theme relevance and following directions.
This project will be worth a major grade so get started!
You can start bringing projects in the last week of October.
Any questions or doubts? Just ask!
Due Dates:
10/28 5