Need Cinco De Mayo for kids ideas, celebrations, and learning resources for Spanish fifth of May teaching? Study Mexican heritage for cultural awareness and diversity studies and get fun ideas for Cinco de Mayo lessons plans and Cinco de Mayo crafts, including Mexico lessons for preschool to high school (even toddler activities)! Cinco de Mayo history for kids on May 5 is a great addition to your fun holidays for kids learning in homeschool or classroom celebration.
Fun Cinco de Mayo For Kids Ideas, Lessons and Kids Activities
What better way to learn about the Mexican holiday and different cultures than talk about Cinco de Mayo facts, Cinco de Mayo history, and do fun, traditional Cinco de May crafts, lessons, and projects! Whether you need Cinco de Mayo history for elementary students or preschool or even high school, here are fun Cinco De Mayo for kids ideas (especially if you’re wondering what activities can you do for Cinco de Mayo or want a thematic unit study).
How Do You Teach Kids About Cinco de Mayo
What activities do you do on Cinco de Mayo?
- Learn the real history of the day and about Cinco de Mayo traditions
- Study Mexico’s victory at the battle of Puebla
- Have fun writing about Cinco de Mayo
- Cut out paper Mexican Papel Picado (a favorite activity for Cinco de Mayo!) for decorating for Cinco de Mayo
- Discuss how is Cinco de Mayo celebrated in Mexico versus the United States
- Make homemade piñatas for fun Cinco de Mayo children’s crafts
- Read Cinco de Mayo children’s book or Cinco de Mayo children’s story
- Have a Cinco de Mayo children’s party with festive music
- Sing Cinco de Mayo children’s songs
- Make tissue paper flowers
- Experience authentic food served on Cinco de Mayo and make some Cinco de Mayo kid friendly recipes
- Create Mexican crafts and art like paper flowers (get Cinco de Mayo kid craft ideas below!)
- Watch videos on Cinco de Mayo celebrations and Mexico history / Cinco de Mayo children’s video
- Create fun Cinco de Mayo math activities (or Cinco de Mayo stem activities)
- Do some Cinco de Mayo toddler art
- Play some Cinco de Mayo games online
- Have fun with Cinco de Mayo children’s coloring pages
- Learn about traditional clothing and colors of the celebration
- Make some Cinco de Mayo recipes and traditional Mexican dish recipes
- Talk about Cinco de Mayo fun facts for students
- Search mariachi band near me and experience some authentic Mexican music as part of your Cinco de Mayo lesson plans
- Look for a Cinco de Mayo festival or celebration near you and attend some cultural activities! (Search Cinco de Mayo celebrations near me – there are many celebrations with Mexican Americans in the U.S! Add this to your fun things to do on Cinco de Mayo with family!)
Be sure to include awareness of the Mexican culture in your Cinco de Mayo lesson plan objectives!
Keep scrolling for more fun activities for Cinco de Mayo, Mexico lessons for kids, and Cinco de Mayo projects, and fun way to add cultural holidays to your studies — whether you’re looking for great ideas for cinco de mayo projects for toddlers and preschoolers or fun Cinco De Mayo activities for kindergarten through high school ideas for the May 5th holiday!
What is Cinco de Mayo lesson?
You may be wondering how to answer what is Cinco de Mayo for kids. For a Cinco de Mayo lesson for kids, cover that the holiday is about how Cinco de Mayo celebrates the date, May 5th, of Mexico’s victory over France in the Battle of Puebla and the culture of Mexico.
FUN FACT: Cinco de Mayo (5 of May) is not Mexico’s Independence Day. (That is on September 16th). This is a common misconception!
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MAY ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR KIDS
Let’s also talk about some Cinco de Mayo for preschoolers…
How do you teach preschoolers about Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco De Mayo children’s activities for preschool and younger kids:
- Make piñatas: Preschoolers love to make and decorate piñatas. You can use paper mache or simply decorate a paper bag with colorful streamers and fill it with treats for the children to enjoy.
- Dress up: Have your preschoolers dress up in traditional Mexican clothing such as sombreros, serapes, and colorful dresses. This will help them get into the spirit of the holiday.
- Make maracas: Preschoolers will have fun making their own maracas using paper cups, beans, and colorful decorations. They can then use their maracas to play along with traditional Mexican music. (Definitely add this to your cinco de mayo activity for preschoolers. They have so much fun with this Cinco de Mayo craft!)
- Decorate with papel picado: Papel picado is a traditional Mexican decoration made from tissue paper. Preschoolers can make their own papel picado using tissue paper and scissors to create colorful designs or even color their own.
- Watch a Cinco de Mayo children’s movie
- Learn a traditional dance: Preschoolers can learn a traditional Mexican dance such as the Mexican Hat Dance or La Raspa. They can perform the dance for their families and friends.
- Cook traditional Mexican food or make some easy Cinco De Mayo snacks for preschoolers: Preschoolers can help make and enjoy traditional Mexican foods such as guacamole, quesadillas, and tacos. Do a REBUS recipe of taco ingredients and let them make their own tacos. (See Cinco de Mayo recipe links below!)
- Create Mexican flag art: Use paint, markers, or colored pencils to create their own versions of the Mexican flag.
- Play Cinco de Mayo games: There are many traditional Mexican games that preschoolers will enjoy, such as Lotería (a Mexican version of bingo) or La Pirinola (a spinning top game).
- Read books: Preschoolers can learn about Mexican culture and history by reading age-appropriate books about Cinco de Mayo or Mexican culture.
- Do Montessori puzzles of a map of Mexico
- Have a fiesta: Throw a party for your preschoolers complete with decorations, music, and traditional Mexican foods. Let them have fun while learning about the holiday and culture. Don’t forget to sing Cinco De Mayo children’s songs!
KEEP SCROLLING! The full list of Cinco de Mayo kid craft ideas and unit lesson ideas below! Fun Cinco De Mayo teaching lesson resources!
Cinco De Mayo Activities For Toddlers
Fun ideas for Cinco de Mayo for toddlers:
- Make a colorful paper chain in bright Cinco De Mayo colors: Link together to make a festive paper chain. Hang it up as a decoration for your DIY Cinco de Mayo celebration. Easy for Cinco de Mayo toddler crafts!
- Play with maracas: Give your toddler a pair of maracas like this to shake and play along with authentic music of Mexico. They’ll love the noise and movement! (One of my favorite Cinco de Mayo toddler activities!)
- Make a Cinco de Mayo sensory bin: Make a sensory bin of dried beans and colorful items to represent Mexico and the Cinco holiday.
- Sing cinco de mayo toddler songs. (Check out this fun video and use it with your maracas!)
If you have ideas for things to do for cinco de mayo with toddlers, let us know! We’ll add them to our list!
Cinco De Mayo Children’s Books
One of the best way to teach preschoolers about Cinco de Mayo is to read books about the holiday and also do some preschool crafts for Cinco de Mayo. Focus on Cinco de Mayo traditions and high level of the history of Cinco de Mayo in Mexico. Cinco de May is one of those fun subjects for preschool lesson plans!
Cinco de Mayo books for toddlers and perschoolers:
National Geographic Celebrate Cinco De Mayo
Celebrating Cinco De Mayo Fiesta Time!
Get Fun Party Ideas For Cinco De Mayo
Before we get to Cinco de Mayo activities for kids, let’s cover Cinco de Mayo history for students that will help with your studies.
Before we get to the projects, printables, and lessons, let’s discuss the history and why is Cinco de Mayo celebrated.
Why Cinco de Mayo Is Celebrated
When is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration on May 5th.
What does Cinco de Mayo mean?
Cinco de Mayo meaning translates to the 5th of May. It is also called Battle of Puebla Day in Mexico to commemorate Mexico’s victory over France.
What exactly is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the date of Mexico’s victory over France in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 during the Franco-Mexican War. Surprisingly, it is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico, especially in communities with a large Mexican-American population.
Many people wonder “What is Cinco de Mayo?”—especially in the United States where we seem to have adopted the day as a reason to eat Tex-Mex and drink low-priced margaritas.
And, many Americans think it is it has something to do with the Mexican American war.
(It doesn’t.)
It actually commemorates Mexico’s victory over France in the Battle of Puebla.
However, in the U.S. you will find cultural heritage festivals during Cinco de Mayo, with many putting an American spin on the activities than the more traditional Cinco de Mayo activities.
While we’re at it, let’s clear up something else:
Is Cinco de Mayo the Day of the Dead?
Cinco de Mayo is not the same thing as Day of the Dead. Cinco de Mayo happens on May 5th every year and commemorates Mexico’s victory in the Battle of Puebla. Day of the Dead, or 
Dia de los Muertos, is celebrated each year between October 31st and November 4th. It honors relatives and ancestors who have died.
OK! Now let’s cover Cinco de Mayo History and What are some fun facts about Cinco de Mayo?
What are some interesting facts about Cinco de Mayo?
How do you explain Cinco de Mayo to a child?
Facts about Cinco de Mayo for kids:
- Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for 5th of May
- Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s victory over France in the Battle of Puebla
- It is not Mexican Independence Day and is not a “Mexican July 4th”
- The holiday has nothing to do with the Mexican-American war
- Cinco de Mayo is not a national holiday in Mexico and is probably celebrated more widely in the United States
- Los Angeles throws the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the U.S., followed by Denver, New York, Phoenix, and Houston
- Locally in Puebla and Veracruz, Mexico, the day is a big deal and is celebrated as a holiday
- Places in Japan, Australia, and South Africa now also celebrate Cinco de Mayo
- President Roosevelt help make Cinco de Mayo popular in the U.S. to improve relationships with Latin countries
- 81 million pounds of avocados are eaten on Cinco de Mayo every year in the United States
- The holiday is celebrated with colorful clothing (“Puebla dresses” / China Poblana dresses), mariachi music, and a traditional Mexican folk dance called the “Baile folklorico”
Don’t miss the full Cinco de Mayo activities for students below!
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Now let’s get some ideas for Cinco de Mayo food that kids can make!
Cinco de Mayo Recipes: What do you serve at a Cinco de Mayo party?
What foods are served at Cinco de Mayo?
The official dish of the holiday is mole poblano because it is a traditional dish in Puebla. (Mole is pronounced moe-lay.) Mole poblano is a spicy chicken dish with a deep, dark reddish-brown sauce called mole. The sauce contains about 20 ingredients that includes chili peppers and chocolate.
Definitely add some these recipe to your party ideas for cinco de mayo! (SEE BELOW! There are even easy food cinco de mayo classroom activities ideas!)
CHECK OUT CINCO DE MAYO FOOD FROM OUR SISTER SITE:
Mexican Street Corn Off the Cob (Esquites) or Elotes Mexican Corn On Cob
Other traditional Cinco de Mayo food includes:
- Chalupas
- Lamb barbacoa that has been smoked underground in banana leaves
- Carnitas topped with queso fresco, pickled onions, and salsa verde in a corn tortilla
- Chiles en Nogada (poblano pepper dipped in egg batter, fried, stuffed with picadillo—a meat and dried fruit hash—and topped with walnut sauce, pomegranate seeds, and parsley)
- Pozole (traditional soup served on holidays)
- Tamale
Cinco de Mayo desserts include:
- Tres Leche cake
- Churros
- Flan
Have fun and make some of these recipes for Cinco de Mayo!
Cinco De Mayo Kid Friendly Recipes:
- Homemade guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Salsa (green salsa)
- Refried bean dip
How do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo with kids? List of Kids Cinco de Mayo Activities, Crafts, and Lesson Plan Ideas
Kids’ Cinco De Mayo Ideas [Cinco de Mayo Lessons Resources]
Now that you know the real Cinco de Mayo facts, here are some fun crafts, activities, and books you can add to your Cinco de Mayo lessons or theme unit studies that stay true to the traditions of Puebla and to the holiday. These are great for Cinco de Mayo activities for preschoolers and Cinco de Mayo activities for elementary school and up (not just Cinco de Mayo activities for spanish class!)
What can you teach kids about Cinco de Mayo?
- Watch a Cinco de Mayo VIDEO
- Then watch another really good video on Cinco de Mayo history
- Have a Cinco de Mayo Spanish class and learn Spanish
- Watch a Cinco de Mayo documentary (good for Cinco de Mayo videos for middle school and up!)
- Get Cinco de Mayo writing ideas
- Have a Cinco de Mayo party (don’t forget the decorations!)
- Make Mexican paper flowers or papel picado
- Watch Cinco de Mayo children’s movies that celebrate Mexican culture like Coco or Book of Life
- Have a taco bar at your Cinco de Mayo party
- Make Churros
- Make a Mexico lapbook
- Do a high school History of Cinco de Mayo lesson plan (Grades 9-12)
- Make authentic flour tortillas
- Make traditional mole poblano
- Learn about Mariachi music
- Read about the traditional China Poblana dresses worn in Puebla
- Make a fiesta skirt
- Make a tambourine and or some maracas using this kit and do some Cinco de Mayo music activities! (These are REALLY fun Cinco de Mayo preschool activities!)
- Make homemade castanets
- Learn about Talavera pottery, traditional pottery of Puebla
- Watch a short video on Talavera pottery
- Paint a Talavera-inspired coaster
- Watch a video of Baile folklorico (folk dance)
- Print Cinco de Mayo coloring sheets/ Cinco de Mayo worksheets / free Cinco de mayo coloring pages
If you have any favorite Cinco de Mayo lessons, worksheets and activities, let us know and we’ll add them to our list of activities!
HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO! HAVE FUN WITH CINCO DE MAYO ACTIVITIES!
