Cinco de mayo
CINCO DE MAYO
In this post you will find suggestions for a fabuloso Cinco de Mayo!
* Presentation. Below you will find attached a powerpoint presentation that teaches the history of the Battle of Puebla.
* Choral response story.
Suggestions: Use an overhead with little pictures of Benito, Zaragoza, Napoleon, Maximillian, Mexico and the responsive shouts. Explain to the students that whenever they hear these characters in the story, they shout with enthusiasm the appropriate response (give a little pause to cue them). Students could also dress as the characters in the story to lead the choral response. Now read the story:
The story of Benito Juarez and Cinco de mayo
Once upon a time there was a young country called Mexico which was ruled by Benito Juarez. (El heroe, Ole!) Sr. Juarez was a man who really loved his country. Unfortunately he owed a lot of money to some European countries.
Sr. Juarez wanted to pay the countries the money Mexico owed, but his new country didn't have a lot of money. Sr. Juarez thought and thought and finally decided to wait to pay those countries until Mexico had the money. He postponed the debts for two years, crossed his fingers, and hoped the other countries would agree.
The countries weren't very happy about the situation. France was really upset. The emperor of France was Louis Napoleon. (Dame dinero, dame dinero!) Napoleon really wanted his money and didn't approve of Sr. Juarez's (El heroe, ole!) plan. Napoleon gathered his troops together to send them over to Mexico to settle the issue.
Napoleon had a very skilled army with many sophisticated weapons. Sr. Juarez knew he needed to prepare a defense. He called on a young, handsome general to prepare the army, Ignacio Zaragoza. (No para! Sigue! Sigue!) Zaragoza rallied together a mismatched army of unskilled Meztizos and Zapotec Indians called Zacapoaxtlas. The army had little experience and few weapons, but they loved Mexico and wanted to defend her.
When Napoleon’s army arrived they unprepared for the resistance they met. Zaragoza's army put up quite a fight and defeated the army at Puebla on May 5, 1862. Napoleon was stunned! This raggedy little army packed quite a punch! Zaragoza's army felt a huge amount of pride for their victory which is still honored today every 5th of May.
Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there. Napoleon was only put off for a little while. On May 8th the army fought back and defeated the Mexicans. Napoleon established a new government in Mexico under the leadership of his relative, Maximilian of Hapsburg. (Viva Mexico!) Maximilian loved Mexico very much and wanted the country to be successful, but he had some troubles.
After a very shaky 5 years, Sr. Juarez returned to the capital city and regained control. Juarez then established a working government and helped build Mexico into the nation it is today.
* 5 de mayo
Cuento con elementos culturales y algunas palabras nuevas sobre como se celebra el cinco de mayo en Mexico. Cada oración es una casilla para que los alumnos hagan sus propias
ilustraciones:
1. La gente de Mexico celebra la batalla de puebla contra los franceses, el cinco de mayo.
2. La gente va al zocalo o plaza. Los mariachis cantan rancheras y tocan guitarras.
3. La gente come tacos, baila, canta, bebe refrescos y algunas personas se pintan la cara.
4. Las familias tradicionales se quedan en sus casas. Las abuelas cocinan mole, tostadas, tortilas y tamales.
5. Las personas ponen la bandera de Mexico enfrente de sus casas.
6. Hay un desfile militar. Los soldados marchan, los tanques pasan, los aviones vuelan, las bandas tocan y la gente mira.
7. Por la noche, hay juegos pirotecnicos en las plazas. La gente los mira y se divierte. La gente grita: Viva Mexico!
* LA FIESTA
Now that your students know the history behind Cinco de Mayo, plan a fiesta to celebrate the best Cinco de Mayo ever! For your fiesta:
* Students can create posters of Mexican art for decorations,
* Enlist volunteers, parents, community members, local restaurants to donate authentic food from Mexico
* Organize a Cinco de Mayo parade, costumes included
* Plan games and activities related to the celebration of Cinco de Mayo
* Decorate personal invitations and announcements for the celebration,
* Ask around in the local community for music or talented individuals to provide authentic music.
* Create a scrapbook or portfolio that documents what students have learned about the celebration.
¡Viva México!
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