How To Teach Kids

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican army over the French army at the Battle of Pueblo on May 5, 1862.  It is a significant victory because the French had not been defeated for almost 50 years and the Mexicans were outnumbered almost two-to-one, so the battle was not in favor of the Mexican army.  Also, it is a significant battle because it was the last time a foreign country invaded the Americas. Although many people have this misconception, it is not Mexican Independence Day which is in September.

ACTIVITIES:

• Have an activity center with Mexican dresses, pinatas, and other items.  Place books about Cinco de Mayo in the center.
• Have a pinata party where the children take turns trying to break the pinata and release all the candy.  Pinatas can be bought at some Mexican restaurants such as Pulidos or at a party supply store.
• Make a pinata with paper mache.
• Let kids make bean burritos.  Have soft flour tortillas already warmed.  Mix water with a can of refried beans to make an easily spread consistency.  Let kids spread refried beans on their tortilla, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and roll up.  Enjoy eating!
• Have kids learn how to count to ten in Spanish.  Play Spanish Bingo by called out numbers in Spanish and having numbers 1-10 on Bingo cards.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

• Cinco de Mayo by Kate Torpie.  Full color photographs, history & customs, directions for making a pinata, and a recipe.
• Cinco de Mayo:  Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith.  Great book with nice, large illustrations.  Book explains history, traditional dances, dress, and food of this celebration.
• Cinco de Mayo (Holidays and Festivals) by Alice K. Flanagan.  Covers the history, symbols, and customs of the holiday.  Beautiful illustrations, interesting facts, and additional resources are included in this book.
• Cinco de Mayo (Read About Holidays) by Mary Dodson Wade and Nanci R. Vargus.  Scholastic.
• Cinco de Mayo:  Yesterday and Today by Maria Christina Urrutia.  Beautiful illustrations.  Historical references.

Colorful, creative workbooks that interest children are a great teaching tool.  For younger children who need a lot of repetition learning certain skills, workbooks with stickers and fun learning activities are very helpful.  If there are pages that involve tracing and the child is tired of tracing with a pencil, try using a washable marker.  Let the child choose what color to use, and the activity will be more enjoyable.

Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 as a day to teach about the environment.  It is celebrated on April 22 in the U.S., and many countries around the world now celebrate Earth Day.  It occurs in the spring in the northern hemisphere and in the fall in the southern hemisphere.  In 1990, 200 million people around the world participated in Earth Day which boosted awareness about recycling.

ACTIVITIES:

• Plant a small tree sapling at school or in the yard at home.
• Have children plant seeds in Styrofoam cups and water them as needed.  When plants get big enough, tranplant outdoors.
• Have a newspaper drive and have children bring newspapers.  Class or student that brings the most gets a certificate or some reward.
• Have an aluminum can drive and have children bring soda cans that have been rinsed out with water.
• Take a field trip to a recycling center.
• Have a guest speaker from a recycling center.
• Have children sign a pledge that they will turn off the water while brushing their teeth so they won’t waste water.
• Collect used clothing to donate to a charity.
• Have children bring items from home that aren’t used anymore (and might be thrown away).  Have a brainstorming session for ideas of ways to reuse the item in a different way.  Think “out of the box.”
• Decorate a large box to use as a recycling container for paper.
• Earth Day Birthday by Pattie Schnetzler contains activities for kids.
• Earth Day Crafts by Carol Gnojewski.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS:

• Earth Day by Margaret McNamara.  Good for ages 4-6.  Child learns that even small ideas can help a lot.
• Earth Day by Trudi Strain Trueit.  Good for ages 6-7.  Scholastic Books.
• Earth Day by Linda Lowery.  Good for ages 7-9.  Tells about Earth Day in 1970 & 1990.  Discusses pollution, environmental destruction, and wasting of natural resources.
• Earth Day – Hooray! by Stuart J. Murphy.  Good for ages 7-12.  Teaches how important it is to take care of the earth, whether by recycling cans or planting flowers.
• Dora Celebrates Earth Day! (Dora the Explorer Series) by Emily Sollinger.  Good for ages 3-7.  Dora finds simple things to do at home that helps the planet.
• Earth Day Birthday by Pattie Schnetzler.  Good for ages 4-10.  Can be read or sung to the “Twelve Days of Christmas” as it tells about 12 North American species in their natural habitats.  Includes suggestions for Earth Day activities.  Great illustrations!

CHILDREN’S DVD’S:

• RECYCLING / The Earth at Risk by Schlessinger Media.  Good for grades 5 and up.