Quick Programming Ideas 5

5 de Mayo Literacy Activity

Cross-curricular subject areas: English Language Arts, art, Spanish Language, History and cultures

Age level: Prek- 1st grade

Suggested Time Frame: May 5th 

Lesson Objectives: The learners will be introduced to the historical context and cultural traditions of families celebrating Cinco de Mayo. 

Supplies:

• Book for read-aloud Cinco de Mayo 

• Scissors

• Colorful construction paper for papel picado

• Crayons

• A coloring page of the Mexican flag

Procedures: 

Invite students for a fun read-aloud for Cinco de Mayo by Emma Carlson Berne. 

Ask students to participate in read-aloud. Ask them if they have any family traditions they do or if their family celebrates 5 de mayo. 

Afterward, invite them to color a Mexican flag or have them use paper and scissors to create their own papel picado, which is a traditional shopped or punched decorative paper used for banners. They come in many shapes and colors. The technique would be similar to when students create paper snowflakes. 

Closing: invite students to share their flags and papel picado. You can connect the papel picado to create a banner to display student work.

You can use student work to create a display celebrating 5 de Mayo. 

Assessment: Informal assessment as observation while students participate in read-aloud and discuss family traditions. Encourage students to collaborate and display their work for their parents. You will need to supervise while they are cutting papel picado.