Need kids’ Cinco de Mayo ideas and learning resources for Spanish fifth of May teaching? Study Mexican heritage for cultural awareness and get fun ideas for Cinco de Mayo lessons plans, including Mexico lessons for preschool to high school! Cinco de Mayo history for kids on May 5 is a great addition to your fun holidays for kids learning in homeschool or in the classroom!
Fun Kids’ Cinco de Mayo Ideas, Lessons and Activities
What better way to learn about the day than talk about Cinco de Mayo facts, Cinco de Mayo history, and then 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 activities.
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
- Discuss how is Cinco de Mayo celebrated in Mexico versus the United States
- 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
- 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
- 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
Be sure to include awareness of the Mexican culture in your Cinco de Mayo lesson plan objectives!
Keep scrolling for more activities for Cinco de Mayo, Mexico lessons for kids, and Cinco de Mayo projects!
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.
ALSO CHECK OUT: MAY ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR KIDS
How do you teach preschoolers about Cinco de Mayo?
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 children’s books:
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.
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.
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
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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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.
CHECK OUT CINCO DE MAYO FOOD FROM OUR SISTER SITE:
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Cinco de Mayo Recipe Ideas
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 Activities, Crafts, and Lessons & MORE
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 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 up!
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 some 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
- Make Churros
- Make a Mexico lapbook
- Do a 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 maracas 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
- Look for a Cinco de Mayo festival or celebration near you and attend! (Search Cinco de Mayo celebrations near me)
HAVE FUN WITH CINCO DE MAYO ACTIVITIES!
WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THESE KIDS’ CINCO DE MAYO IDEAS!
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