Students Use STEAM Skills to Create Sugar Skulls

Nick Jones's Spanish classes have been exploring Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), diving into its origins, history, significance and the traditions that accompany this celebration. One tradition is the creation of calaveras de azúcar, or sugar skulls. These decorations, traditionally made from sugar paste and adorned with colorful royal icing, trace their origins back to pre-Columbian civilizations, where ceremonial skull ornaments were offered to ensure safe passage into the afterlife. Calaveras are placed on altares (altars) as ofrendas (offerings) during Día de los Muertos on Nov. 1 and 2, to honor and remember ancestors and loved ones who have passed.

In place of traditional sugar, eighth graders are leveraging the 3D modeling and printing capabilities at the Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space. After studying the historical and artistic significance of calaveras, students created their own unique designs inspired by their personalities and interests. They began by sketching their ideas on paper and then brought their designs to life in the IDEA Space, learning to use Blender, an open source 3D printing software, to sculpt and carve their one-of-a-kind creations into model skulls. Blender is used by professional artists, designers, developers and engineers. Next week, students will print their sculptures, then paint them with acrylic pens.

"Through this project, students not only gain a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of Día de los Muertos, but also develop their skills in modern technology and artistic expression," Mr. Jones said. "We are excited to see their creativity come to life and look forward to displaying their finished 3D-printed calaveras as a tribute to this rich tradition."