Activity Ideas Just For You Cinco de Mayo “King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom...” Daniel 4:1-47

According to http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo Cinco de Mayo—or the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States. Take this opportunity to teach children about diversity, other cultures, and battles/wars in other countries as well.

An activity that you can do to celebrate “Cinco de Mayo” with your children is to review with the children the history of “Cinco de Mayo”, along with creating the ambiance to have a “Piñata Party”! You can purchase a piñata at a local party store. You may also provide drinks and snacks, as you invite children from the community to come play and hit the piñata as they play Mexican typical games. Make sure that if you invite children from the community, they come with their parent(s) or a guardian.

Another activity you can do is to have festive Cinco de Mayo crafts for kids to make for this Fiesta. Shake it up with easy DIY maracas, or make some cute sombrero hats. Maracas What You Need: Egg Maracas • 1 Plastic egg Not sure what to do with all those leftover plastic Easter eggs? Make these • 2 Plastic spoons super easy and cool looking maracas! • Adhesive white paper • Felt pens of different color » Have children add about 1 tablespoon of rice or beans in the eggs. Make • Rice sure that the eggs are closed/sealed when done. • Beans » Assist children with taping the plastic spoons – one on each side of the easter egg.

» Give children a piece of adhesive paper to wrap over egg and spoons.

» Have children decorate maracas by drawing straight or zig zag lines around the paper. You may also provide other props for decoration such as bright color stickers or glitter.

Sombrero Hats What You Need: • Paper plate • Paper Cup If children need assistance, you may BROUGHT TO YOU BY: • Pipe Cleaners need to twist the pipe cleaners around the bottom of each cup and cut off • Puff Balls the ends. • Glue