Celebrate Cinco de Mayo With These Fun Crafts!

Susan Morrow

Hello everyone!  This is Susan Morrow back from Keep 'em Thinking!  to share  some fun crafts to use with your students to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

I love teaching the kiddos about Cinco de Mayo.  It is such a fun festive way to celebrate Mexican culture.  Not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862. It wasn't until I started researching about Cinco de Mayo that I discovered more people celebrate this holiday in the United States than anywhere else in the world, including Mexico!

Whenever I am making a craft with the kiddos, I try to turn it into an activity where they have to demonstrate  understanding of what we have been learning in class. 

In my class, we learn about the history of Cinco de Mayo, and the parade, foods, clothing, crafts, music and dancing you will see at a Cinco de Mayo festival.  Of course, I love to use the book Cinco de Mouse-o with the little ones after we have been introduced to Cinco de Mayo.  As a culminating activity,  I have them do a little craftivity in which they summarize their learning. You can get a free copy of this craftivity by clicking on the picture below.  

  The Mexican culture uses bright, bold colors with symmetrical, geometric patterns in their fabrics and art.  For students who a good with cutting, it is fun to teach symmetry by making papal picado banners out of tissue paper. Papel picado means pierced paper in Spanish.  People make these banners to celebrate holidays and special occasions. 

  

You will need one sheet of 81/2 by 11 sheet of tissue paper.  Fold it in half hot dog style, then again hamburger style, and one last time hamburger style.  Have the students cut out designs on all four sides.  Unfold them and you have a symmetrical design cut out of the tissue paper. It's very similar to making paper snowflakes. Fold the top over a long piece of string to make a  papal picado banner for your class.  Of course, the kiddos have so much fun making these that you can have banners strung everywhere across your classroom in no time! 

Here are some fun books I like to use to accompany our study of Cinco de Mayo!

I hope you and your student have fun celebrating Cinco de Mayo!  Until next time, remember to Keep 'em Thinking!