Creator: The History Channel | visit site
Grade Range: 3 - 8
This PDF file offers a traditional (but reliable) look at Cinco de Mayo, beyond the food and fun! Learn about the historical impact of the holiday and its significance to Mexicans (and folks from other countries, as well). This pdf is set up as a study guide. It includes historical information, curriculum links (history, world cultures, and social studies), vocabulary words, discussion questions, extension activities, map challenges, related literature, and websites for additional information.
In the Classroom
This site is ready to use in class. Have cooperative learning groups debate the discussion questions. Better yet, turn the discussion questions into a class wiki, allowing students to input their thoughts on the wiki. Have students write a journal entry (as a blog) highlighting one of the discussion questions or from the perspective of someone living during the 1800s. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, have students replace pen and paper and create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Penzu, <a href="/single.cfm?id=11465">reviewed here</a>. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, challenge your students to create a blog using Edublog, <a href="/single.cfm?id=13449">reviewed here</a>. Share maps of Mexico on your interactive whiteboard or projector. The Extension Activity calls for students to create and label a map. MapStory, <a href="/single.cfm?id=14652">reviewed here</a>, would be the perfect tool for redefining student learning since you can have images, text, and video in the annotation, and it has a timeline feature. Have cooperative learning groups create commercials enhancing and highlighting what they have learned (be sure they include some new vocabulary words) or transform learning by having students create a video advertisement for your class’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. Use a tool like Typito, <a href="/single.cfm?id=18298">reviewed here</a> .
At Home
Share this site with your son or daughter to help build background knowledge about Mexico. Have them read over the discussion questions. More importantly, have him or her complete the Extension Activity, which is a map-making activity and will help him or her to remember what they learned about Cinco de Mayo. MapStory, <a href="/single.cfm?id=14562">reviewed here</a>, would be the perfect tool for this since you can have images, text and video in the annotation, and it has a timeline feature.
Tags
Subjects
Geography (US/World), History & Culture: The Americas, History & Culture: World, Social Studies, Social Studies, Spanish, World Languages, World Languages,