Cinco de Mayo is celebrated each year on the fifth of May. It's a festive opportunity for sharing history and culture lessons with students through books, crafts and music.

Cinco de Mayo Children's Books:

All good lesson plans begin with quality children's books to immerse young learners in the sights, sounds and vocabulary of the theme they will be exploring. This list of Cinco de Mayo children's books offers a combination of "read by yourself" and "read to me" books. Most may be available at your local public library.

"Max Celebrates Cinco de Mayo" by Worsham, Adria F. Gallagher-Cole, and Mernie is a sweet Read-It! Readers books that is always a hit with young children.

"Cinco de Mayo" by Mary Dodson Wade and Nanci R. Vargus, is a Rookie Read Aloud book that is also a fun counting book.

"Celebrate! It's Cinco De Mayo" by Janice Levy, Loretta Lopez, and Miguel Arisa is very helpful and also available in Spanish.

"Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Mexican Hat Dance" by Alma F. Ada & F. Isabel Campoy has short stories to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

"Cinco De Mayo" by Linda Lowery, Barbara Knutson, and Linda Lowery Keep is an On My Own Holidays book for readers 9-12 but is more appropriate as a read to the group book for younger ages

"Handy Manny: Sinko de Mayo" by Marcy Kelman and Disney Storybook Artists is a Disney Handy Manny book that is very inviting to young story time listeners.

Cinco de Mayo Crafts:

Pinatas are often associated with Cinco de Mayo but in a classroom setting a pinata may create safety issues. These mini Cinco de Mayo pinatas are a fun and safe alternatives that allows each student to create and take home a Cinco de Mayo craft.

Supplies for Mini Cinco de Mayo Pinatas:

*Cardboard toilet tissue tubes or cut paper towel tubes

*Green, red and white tissue paper

*Glue

*Candy

To create the pinata look, simply tear off small pieces of tissue paper and create thick lines of each color. Once dry, fill the tubes with candy. Oriental Trading Company has special Cinco de Mayo candy available. Fiesta butter mints with a red chili design on the wrapper are only $6.49 for 120 pieces of candy. To finish and close the ends simply stuff large wads of the tissue paper in each end. This is an easy and inexpensive Cinco de Mayo make it and take it craft.

Maracas are another festive craft idea for Cinco de Mayo lesson plans. The great news is that there is very little to buy to create these Cinco de Mayo crafts other than paints. There are a variety of both

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