| The Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo is rapidly | | | | lesson on Cinco de Mayo, you'll definitely want to teach |
| approaching and if you are like a lot of teachers, you | | | | the history of this May 5th holiday and its context in |
| may be looking at putting together some Cinco de | | | | the Maximilian Affair and how this event relates to |
| Mayo lesson plans to impart some of the historical | | | | American history as well. |
| facts behind this holiday to your students. Even though | | | | As you already know, Cinco de Mayo commemorates |
| the holiday originated in Mexico, it has become very | | | | the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of |
| popular in the United States; so well, as a matter of | | | | Puebla on May 5th, 1862. A lot of people think that the |
| fact, that it is more widely and enthusiastically | | | | holiday is Mexico's Independence Day, which of course, |
| celebrated here than it is in Mexico! There are both | | | | it is not - think of this as your chance to educate the |
| historical and cultural reasons for this difference - and | | | | next generation about the real history behind the |
| of course, you will want to get your students up to | | | | holiday. |
| speed while keeping them engaged in learning a little | | | | It is a great starting off point to teach your class some |
| more about Mexican and US history at the same time. | | | | lesser known facts about the US Civil War in your |
| Depending on the age of your students, the activities | | | | Cinco de Mayo lesson plans. Your students may be |
| and information you will include in your lesson plans will | | | | intrigued to know that the 5th of May was the |
| vary. Very young children won't be too likely to retain | | | | beginning of Mexico's resistance to France's invasion; |
| all of the dates and names which relate to the history | | | | resistance which kept Napoleon III's army too busy to |
| of this holiday, but you can still get them thinking about | | | | assist the breakaway southern states in the Civil War, |
| Cinco de Mayo through some fun activities such as | | | | with whom France was allied. The US repaid the favor |
| making red, white and green tissue paper flowers, | | | | following the Union victory in the Civil War, putting a |
| which are a popular decoration (as well as fashion | | | | naval blockade in place to prevent the French from |
| accessory) worn by men and women alike in the | | | | resupplying their troops or sending reinforcements as |
| parts of Mexico where Cinco de Mayo is celebrated. | | | | well as sending armaments and other supplies to our |
| You can also use the opportunity to teach even the | | | | allies south of the border. |
| youngest of students a little bit of basic Spanish by | | | | Cinco de Mayo is in many ways a celebration of |
| making a Spanish bingo game as part of your Cinco | | | | Mexico and the contributions that Mexican-Americans |
| de Mayo lesson plans. | | | | have made to our own culture, at least for those of us |
| If you're teaching older children, then you have a lot | | | | in the United States; and including some of these facts |
| more options available to you and while you may want | | | | in your Cinco de Mayo lesson plans can add some |
| to include some enjoyable activities as part of your | | | | educational value to this fun and festive day. |