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The objective for celebrating Cinco de Mayo in your classroom is to share a multicultural lesson, teaching your students about other cultures. You can, however, incorporate other lessons within the broader heading and provide a fuller experience of the holiday for your students. The following are some ideas for incorporating Cinco de Mayo into your curriculum.

History/Social Studies: Have children research Cinco de Mayo in books or on the Internet and have groups work together to make a poster that incorporates what they have learned in a creative way. You can also have them watch programs about Cinco de Mayo and do the same. Emphasize the rich cultural heritage of Mexico.

Language Arts: Have students write a short story, poem, or essay (depending on age) about Cinco de Mayo. You could also have them write about the experience of learning about/celebrating Cinco de Mayo in the classroom.

Language: Cinco de Mayo is a great opportunity to learn some Spanish. Teach students several words in Spanish that have to do with their daily activities before the day arrives and have them use them on 'Cinco de Mayo' day.

Math: possibilities are myriad for this one. Cinco means 5, so you could learn to count, add, subtract, multiply or divide by 5. You could also count things used for your celebration or make up math problems using the observation of Cinco de Mayo. There is also the distance from where you are to Mexico, measurement of ingredients for foods, and much more

Reading: Read children stories about Cinco de Mayo or have them read the books.

Science: Use recipes for Cinco de Mayo foods to incorporate not only math, but science. How does the mixing of certain ingredients result in a different flavor from the two or more separately? Why?

Crafts: Have children make decorations for your celebration. Mexicans use cut paper banners that can be easy to make if you keep it simple. Use a thin paper, fold like paper dolls, draw simple designs on the edges (1/2 diamond/square...), and cut them out. Use a straw at the top and run string through to hang the banners. It is neat to see how creative students can be. Some may need help with the cutting and understanding drawing on the edges. A Cinco de Mayo banner can be made on a computer and colored by all the students as a quiet time activity in the week before the event.

Cooking/Foods: Research foods found at Cinco de Mayo celebrations and allow students to prepare, or provide them to taste at the party. You can also prepare a dish together as part of your lesson. Get together with other classrooms and have each make a different dish for all to sample when classes come together for the official "celebration" time.

These things are great projects for several teachers from the same grade (or close grades) to work together on. This lends unity among the classrooms and keeps one teacher from having to do all the work. Be creative and let your students share their ideas as well and you can build a long-lasting memory for your students to take with them.

Decorating rooms and halls allows other students to also enjoy the celebration However you teach about Cinco de Mayo, have fun, and be creative: the students will love it!

Learn more about this author, Angela S. Young.
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