Cinco de Mayo Crafts and Activities

Cinco de Mayo Art Projects For Kids

Fall is just around the corner, and with the cooler weather comes more inside time for the little ones. Naturally, they’re going to need something fun and creative to keep them busy. Help your kids prepare for Halloween by constructing these adorable craft projects! They’re easy and fun to make and the kiddos will love displaying them for the holiday.

Maracas of Paper Mache

This craft takes a few days, but is great fun for the kids. The kids will love it when they are done because they will have their own musical instrument – Maracas!

Supplies List:

Newspaper strips
White glue
Small balloons (at least 1 per child – 2 if you want them to have 2 maracas each)
Clothes pins (the old-fashioned kind used to make dolls)
Brightly colored tempera or craft paints
Masking tape
Dried beans or peas

On day 1, put a tablespoon of the beans or peas into the balloons and blow up until they are the size you want for your maracas.  Tie the balloons and secure them to the clothes pin handle using the tape. Cover the entire handle (clothes pin) with the masking tape as well. Be sure the balloons are held to the clothes pin well by placing several layers of tape where it meets the clothes pin.

Now it’s time to start the paper Mache. You may want to make sure the children have old clothes or a paint smock on the day you do this activity. Mix the white glue with a little water in a bowl. Next, dip the newspaper strips into the mixture and place them all around each balloon covering it entirely. Repeat this step, giving the balloon two or three layers of newspaper. Once you finish, hang the maracas up to dry overnight. 

On day 2, make sure your maracas are good and dry. If not, give them another day. Using a straight pin or a needle (teacher, you’ll need to do this part and may want to do so before the children arrive in class on day 2) poke a small hole into the morocco to pop the balloon. Now, the children can begin painting their maracas. Once they finish decorating, hang them to dry overnight again.

Tomorrow, their maracas will be completely dry and it’s time to shake ‘em, shake ‘em, shake ‘em. Have a parade for Cinco de Mayo or play some Spanish music and let them dance and use the maracas to keep the beat.

Pin the Medal on Ignacio Zaragoza

Helping young children to understand the meaning and reasoning behind Cinco de Mayo can sometimes take a little extra care.  Cinco de Mayo has a lot of meaning and children need to be aware of why it is such a celebration. 

One way to help them understand is by teaching them through playing games.  One fun game that they can comprehend is Pin the Tail on the Donkey.  For Cinco de Mayo though it needs to be a little different. Why not play Pin the Medal on Ignacio Zaragoza?  Not only is the game fun to play but it can teach your preschoolers a little about this holiday.

Begin by making a cardboard cut out of Ignacio Zaragoza.  It doesn’t have to be extravagant because the kids won’t really care.  Be sure to place a sombrero on his head and make his clothing bright colors that will stand out for the kids. 

Also make a number of cardboard cut out medals.  You can place Velcro strips all over the cut out of Juarez and then place on piece on the back of each medal.  Velcro is not expensive and can be found in just about any store.  Also be sure to color the medals silver and gold.

Now here’s how to play the game.  Talk to the children a little bit about Cinco de Mayo.  Just the basics but things they will remember.  Once you have talked a little about the holiday then start the game. 

Ask questions about Cinco de Mayo being sure they are questions you covered in your talk.  When a child answers correctly they have a chance to pin the medal on Ignacio Zaragoza. Give them a medal and blindfold them.  Now be sure you stay close so no one gets hurt.  Have them stick the medal on the cardboard cut out. 

Whoever comes closest to his heart wins the game.  Now the hard part is trying to remember who placed what medal where.  You can identify them in your own way but I’m sure the children won’t let you forget. 

This game is a lot of fun and can be a great learning experience for small children.  Have fun and enjoy the celebration.  Isn’t that what Cinco de Mayo is all about?

The Sombrero Dance

What’s a celebration without games?  Cinco de Mayo is a celebration and what better way to celebrate than with music and fun.  Not only will this game teach preschoolers a little about Cinco de Mayo but also about Mexican traditions. 

Remove all the large objects from the room you plan on playing in.  You will need one less chair than you have children.  Place the chairs along the walls of the room but not all together. 

Next, you need a sombrero and some great Mexican music.  The Mexican Hat Dance is a fun little song that kids enjoy hearing.  If you can’t find that song any Mexican type song will do. 

Place the sombrero in the middle of the room.  Before the game begins place the children in a circle around the sombrero.  Now start the music.  The kids can dance around the hat in any fashion they please. Now stop the music.  When the music stops they must run and find a chair to set in.  The child who doesn’t have a chair is out of the game. 

Play continues in this fashion until only child is left.  They are the winner. Give them a small basket of goodies for their efforts.  Let the children who have been removed from the game have their own little dance while the music is playing in a separate area. This will help to keep them occupied and they won’t feel left out in anyway. 

Once the game is over go ahead and play the music a little longer.  If you know how to do the Mexican Hat Dance give them a little lesson. It will be a fun time for all and they will have something to take home to show Mom and Dad. 

Playing games is a great way to help children to understand things like holidays.  It gives the lesson a lot of fun and keeps the children interested from beginning to end. 

Be Careful What You Say Game

I’m sure you have been discussing a little bit about Cinco de Mayo for a few days before the big celebration.  The kids have an idea of what it’s all about and why the day is so special.  This is a fun game to play that can last the whole celebration.  It perks up the ear of each child and gives them a reason to pay attention to what is going on around them. 

You will need a safety pin for each child and any adult who may be at the celebration.  Liven up these pins with some bright colored beads and ribbons.  When each person comes in pin them on their shirt. 

When everyone has their own pin, explain how the game works.  Pick 2 or 3 words that are associated with Cinco de Mayo.  For instance you could use the words Mayo, five and Mexico.  Once everyone knows these words then tell them those words are off limits during the party.  No one can say them for any reason. 

Now the fun begins.  If someone is caught saying any of those words they lose their pin.  The person who catches them then becomes the owner of their pin.  It doesn’t matter how many pins they have they lose them all.  Now just because one person doesn’t have any pins doesn’t mean they can’t get them back.  They just have to open their ears and listen for someone to say one of those dreaded words. 

This gives everyone a chance to win the game no matter how many times they lose pins.  At the end of the celebration whoever has the most pins wins.  Find a neat little prize that is connected with Cinco de Mayo to give out to the winner.  Just remember you may have more than one winner so be prepared. 

Playing this game is fun and it opens up a way to help kids focus, listen and pay attention.  It’s easy for anyone to win no matter what happens to their own pin in the beginning.  Enjoy the game, have a good time and celebrate the holiday with a laugh or two.  Just remember don’t get caught! 

Cinco de Mayo Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunts are so much fun.  Getting the clues, looking for surprises and in the end finding the treasure is so exciting.  Kids love a good treasure hunt.  Why not incorporate one into your Cinco de Mayo celebration with the kids. 

Your treasure hunt can be based on a theme.  Why not 5?  The number 5 holds great significance with Cinco de Mayo and is also a number most preschool children know. 

All the clues should include the number 5.  For instance make the first clue something like you will find the next adventure in the 5^th book under the C’s. Try not to give them too much information though so they have to use their imaginations a little bit.  Don’t make them too hard though or the little ones won’t understand or be able to locate the clues.  Also don’t have too many clues.  The kids will lose interest if the game takes too long.

Once you have the clues figured out and hidden you need to make a treasure.  Don’t go all out.  Use a basket or even a brightly decorated box will work.  Place 5 items in the treasure.  This will be for the person who figures it all out first.  If you have a couple of kids who get it at the same time they can split the prizes between them.  The prizes shouldn’t be extravagant.  Its not really about the prizes anyway, it’s all about the hunt.

When the kids are ready read the first clue.  When that clue is found read it and so on until the treasure is found.  Be sure to explain why all the clues include the number 5.  This way they get a better understanding of not only the game but the holiday too.

Have some fun.  Make the clues colorful and put them in fun places to find.  Trick them just a little making it more fun to figure out where they are.  Remember it’s all about the hunt.

Cinco de Mayo Sombrero Craft

If you are having a Cinco de Mayo party for the children this year why not incorporate a few craft ideas into the fun.  Kids love crafts and these are pretty easy for any child to do.

One really great craft is making a sombrero.  Each child will need their own paper plate and paper cup.  Styrofoam works very well.  It is easy to glue and to decorate.  Be sure to supply glue, elastic, staple and a staple gun. You will also want to have plenty of crayons, pompoms, ribbon, colorful rick rack and glitter glue for them to make the perfect sombrero.

Help with their craft one of two ways.  The first way is to go ahead and glue the cup to the middle of the paper plate.  If you do this be sure the glue has completely dried before they go to work on their sombrero. 

Once they start have them go ahead and decorate their sombrero.  Help them with any gluing they may need to do.  Let them have fun coloring and using the glitter on their hats.  Let them use their imagination and remember that the more colorful the better. 

Once they have decorated their hats and all the decorations have dried help them finish it off.  Cut a piece of elastic that will fit securely but not tightly under their chin.  Staple one end of the elastic to the outside underneath edge of one side of the plate.  Secure the other end on the opposite side with another staple. 

The other way to do this is to let the kids decorate the hat first.  Then go ahead and help them glue the cup to the plate.  Again they will have to be patient while the glue dries.  It might be best to wait until the next day to finish them.  Then go ahead when the glue has dried and staple on the elastic.

Have Fun with Homemade Maracas

What do young children like better than making things?  Of course it’s making noise with those wonderful crafts.   This year during your Cinco de Mayo celebration why not get out some of those crafts items and make maracas.

Each child will need 2 paper cups. Styrofoam works well because they have fewer tendencies to tear during play.  They will also need a handful of beans, about 12 or so would be good for each child. Be sure to have plenty of decorating items such as crayons, rick rack and glitter glue.  Last but not least don’t forget some strong clear tape.

Have each child decorate their cups.  Let them use their imagination.  The more colorful they make them the better.  They can add rick rack with a little help from you.  Use glue sticks to attach the rick rack.  Glue sticks are much easier for small children to handle.  Also let them use some glitter glue to give their maracas a little sparkle.

Once they have them decorated you will want to let any decorations dry before moving ahead to the next step.  This will keep their beautiful works of art from being messed up by the tape or little hands. 

When they have thoroughly dried have each child place their beans in one cup.  Have them hold it bottom end on the table.  Now they need to place the other cup upside down on top of the first one.  The bottom of the top cup should be facing up.  Take the clear tape and tape the two cups together.  They will need you help with this part.