Cinco De Mayo Activities and Games for Kids

Students are learning about diverse cultures at earlier grade levels as America has become a melting pot. Many parents rely on history and language teachers to introduce their kids to the origin of holidays such as Cinco de Mayo: a day that marks the victory of Mexican soldiers over French invaders during the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862; yet parents can take part in helping kids as young as preschool age to become culturally well-rounded by engaging them in simple and fun activities and games for Cinco de Mayo. Some examples are detailed below.

Cinco de Mayo or Mexican Culture Word Searches

Throughout my years in school, my teachers loved to incorporate word searches into their lesson plans. In contrary to the idea that word searches are a form of "busy work", they are very entertaining. Parents whose kids may or may not have learned about Cinco de Mayo in school can engage them in the fun activity of solving word searches that contain vocabulary words that relate to Cinco de Mayo. Examples include Mexican, French, puebla, invasion, battle, conquest, mayo... Prior to this, parents can explain this holiday or encourage them to read kids's books about Cinco de Mayo. This Cinco de Mayo activity can be used to reinforce important concepts that the child learned. Cinco de Mayo word searches can be printed from the website www.apples4theteacher.com or kids can solve the word searches online at this website as a timed game. Access to these word searches require Adobe Flash Player.

Paper Bag Ponchos

Another creative Cinco de Mayo activity for kids ages four and over is making paper bag ponchos that represent Mexican clothing. The supplies include large paper grocery bags, scissors, paint, paint brushes, water, paste, markers, crayons, and stencils. The poncho is made by cutting a hole, big enough for the child's head to fit through, into the closed end of the bag; slitting the sides of the bag; and having the children decorate the bag with paint, markers, crayons, and stencils; and then paste shredded strips of paper at the bottom of the poncho to resemble a tassel. This Cinco de Mayo activity is found on www.kinderart.com/multic/poncho.shtml.

Mexican Bean Bracelets

Parents can teach their children about Mexican-style jewelry that is known for its silver and turquoise appearance with stone-like add-ons. As a Cinco de Mayo activity, kids can make Mexican bean bracelets that resemble real bracelets. The materials needed include toilet paper rolls, construction paper, tinfoil, dried beans, scissors, glue, turquoise or bluish paint, and sequins. First, kids will paint the beans turquoise. Next, while the beans are drying, the kids will glue construction paper or tinfoil around the toilet paper roll. The roll is then cut lengthwise and afterward cut to the desired width of the bracelet. After gluing the beans and sequins to the bracelet, the kids will finally punch holes on each side of the bracelet and slide a ribbon through. This activity is found on www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/mexican_bean_bracelets.htm.

Musical Chairs with Mexican Music

Elementary school kids will really enjoy the Cinco de Mayo game of musical chairs played with Mexican music and a group of kids. As parent may know, chairs are arranged in a line with one less chair than the number of kids playing. Kids walk or skip around chairs while the music is playing and when the music stops the children rush to sit down. The kid without a seat is out. A great way to obtain Mexican songs for kids is from websites such as http://cnx.org/content/m12599/latest. This website allows parents to play traditional Mexican songs including "The Poll Parrot", "To Jerez We Will Go", and "The Gruel", which have been translated into English for children to sing along with.

Of most importance, introducing kids to Cinco de Mayo activities and games that are both enjoyable and educational is a great way to instill cultural appreciation within kids. As seen above, many of these kids activities and games are easy to plan and affordable, so why not engage kids in them as early as possible?

Sources

"Free Cinco de Mayo Word Search Challenge Vocabulary - Interactive Word Finds." Apples4theteacher.com.

"Make a Poncho-MulticulturalArt."Kinder Art.

"Mexican Bean Bracelets."DLTK.

Schmidt-Jones, Catherine. "Mexican Music: Three Fun Songs for Children." Connexions.