Guilford County Schools ACES Program
Weekly Theme: Fiesta Fun – Centers Activities
Art Center
Mexican Flowers
Give each student 3-5 different colored squares of tissue paper and have them set the one on top of another. Show the children how to fan fold and then wrap a twist tie around the middle of the fan folded paper. Have each child carefully open his flower by pulling the different colors of paper upwards or downwards to separate each layer.
Fiesta Lanterns
Give each child a piece of construction paper and allow them to decorate any way they wish. (crayons and markers) Next, have the children fold the paper in half length wise. They should then cut 1'' cuts apart beginning at the fold but leave one 1'' border around the edges except the fold. Have the children then unfold and roll each long edge of the paper in a circle and staple. Use the hole punch to make two holes in the top, then tie a piece of string to the hole as a hanger.
Paper Chains
Cut red, white & green paper strips & let the children make chains to decorate the room.
Maracas
Folk music and dancing are a distinct part of Mexican culture! You can join in the rhythm with these maracas! You will need: 9-inch paper plate, markers or crayons, handful of dried beans or rice, stapler, five or six strips of colored crepe paper or streamers.
First, decorate the outside (bottom) of the paper plate- use bold designs and bright colors! Fold the plate in half and put a handful of beans or rice inside. Staple it shut. Then staple the colored streamers to the curved side of the plate. Now shake your maraca, and make your own music!
Mexican Mosaics
The Mexican city of Puebla is recognized for its brightly painted Talavera tiles that decorate the outside of many buildings. You can create your own Mexican-style tile with this project! Draw a sketch on a 5 inch square piece of white construction paper. Then decide which colors you would like to feature on your tile. Tear these colors from tissue paper sheets, or from old magazines. Then arrange and glue the paper pieces to cover the drawing, including the background.
Ojo de Dios
Ojo de Dios means "eye of God" in Spanish. The Mexican Indians made them for good luck pieces. Cross 2 sticks. Tie the yarn in a knot around the sticks where they cross. Weave the yarn over one stick, then around & under, then over the stick toward the next stick. Do this on each stick. Continue around the square doing the same thing for all the rows. Change colors whenever you'd like to. Start a new color by tying it to the yarn.
Board Game Center
Mexican Loteria
Mexican loteria is a wonderful traditional card game similar to “Bingo.” However, it is also a form
of folk art, as each of the colorful cards has an image of popular Mexican figures, such as “El
Catrin” (The Gentleman), “La Chalupa” (The Flower Boat), etc. There are many different variations of these colorful cards, including loteria cards with images from the Day of the Dead, fruits, and other unusual figures.
The game is played in a similar way to bingo, except that Mexicans use beans as place
markers, and the name of each card is called out during the game. In Mexican homes
everywhere, you can here the game being played: “La Muerte! La Catrina! La Sandia! La
Campana!”
You can print cards from this site: http://gallery.elsewhere.org/v/loteria/
Building/Manipulatives Center
Mexican Mosaics
Have students build Mexican Mosaics with Lego® blocks.
CATCH Kids® Games
CATCH Kids-(K-5)-#12, #121; (3-5)-#149, #285
Computer Center/Computer Lab
Mexico for Kids
http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/index_kids.html
Cinco de Mayo Webquest
http://www.zianet.com/cjcox/edutech4learning/cinco.html
Dramatic Play Center
Add different Hispanic/Latino play foods and a sombrero or other Hispanic clothing to home living. You can also add Hispanic dolls to home living and the dollhouse.
Gross Motor Center
Mexican Hat Dance
Have the children make a giant circle while holding hands. Explain that when you begin the music they should all begin to walk sideways. When the name of a child is called, that child leaves the circle, walks to the middle of the circle and dances around the hat until another child's name is called. They may then rejoin their classmates and the dance continues.
Chili Pepper Relay
Divide students into two or more teams and have each team form a line. Give each team a long red balloon (their "chili pepper). They must pass their chili pepper down the line as quickly as possible. The first player passes it between his legs, the second over her head, the third between his legs, and so on. When it reaches the last child, she must race to the front of her team's line and start the chili pepper down again. The relay ends when the first player from one of the teams reaches the back of his team's line, gets the chili pepper, and returns it to the front of the line.
Jumping Beans
Direct children to jump like jumping beans whenever they hear music playing, and to stop immediately when the music stops. Anyone who moves after the music stops is out. Play until one winner remains. (Use Mexican music, of course.)
KidzLit®
(K-2)-The Adventures of Taxi Dog
(3-5)-Shark Lady
Listening Center
Latin Playground CD - Kaplan
Music Center
Cinco de Mayo Song (sung to the tune of Pop Goes the Weasel)
France invaded Mexico in 1862
The French were strong and powerful
Cinco de Mayo!
The leader of the Mexicans was General Zaragoza,
He was smarter than the French.
Cinco de Mayo!
It was the fifth of May in 1862.
The French lost; the Mexicans won.
Cinco de Mayo!
Cinco de Mayo (to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?")
Cinco de Mayo,
Cinco de Mayo,
The fifth of May,
The fifth of May
Is the anniversary
Of a great victory
For Mexico.
For Mexico.
Today's a Day to Celebrate (to the tune of "London Bridge")
Today's a day to celebrate,
Celebrate, celebrate,
Today's a day to celebrate
Courage under fire.
The Mexican Army, they were poor,
They were poor, they were poor,
The Mexican Army, they were poor,
But that did not stop them.
They followed orders and charged ahead,
Charged ahead, charged ahead,
They followed orders and charged ahead,
Routing the French forces.
A great victory they did win,
They did win, they did win,
A great victory they did win
In the Battle of Puebla.
Today's the Fifth of May (to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")
Today's the fifth of May,
"Cinco de Mayo," we say,
Let's join hands and sing and play --
It's Cinco de Mayo today.
Reading Center
K-3
Cinco de Mayo (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by Mary Dodson Wade and Nanci R. Vargus
Mexico ABC’s by Sarah Heiman
Hola Jalapeno by Amy Wilson Sanger
Colors of Mexico by Lynn Ainsworth Olawsky
3-5
Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo by Dianne M MacMillan
Let's Go Traveling in Mexico by Robin Rector Krupp
Saturday Market by Patricia Grossman
Mario's Mayan Journey by Michelle McCunney
Riddles
How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas?
Fleece Navidad
What did the necktie say to the Sombrero?
"You go on ahead. I'll hang around for a while."
What Spanish name begins the Star Spangled Banner?
Jose ("Oh, say can you see?")
Which is the left side of a taco?
The side that’s not been eaten!
Why did the man take a siesta with a ruler?
Because he wanted to see how long he slept!
Science and Nature Center
JMG-Gardener Handbook: Ch. 6, pg. 134-Avocado Seed Soak
July 2008 1 Activity ideas obtained from ACES staff and public domain materials