Attribution: By timlewisnm (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gozalewis/4533466093) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Cinco de Mayo is almost here! I love teaching about this holiday. There’s so much to celebrate! I wish I could take my students into the heart of the Latino community to be a part of a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Until that day, I’ve found an engaging video from “Moo!” at Teacher’s Discovery. This has been one of my favorite purchases and worth the expense!
I love this Cinco de Mayo video for so many reasons! First, it is rich in culture and authentic. Students watch footage filmed on Olvera Street in Los Angeles during the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the U.S. You see streets lined with papel picado, hear mariachi music, and listen to Mexican-Americans talk about what Cinco de Mayo personally means to them.
Second, this video explains the history of Cinco de Mayo. Many students have no idea why the holiday is celebrated. And, who can blame them for being confused? There are many misconceptions about the holiday that need to be cleared up! The narrators, María and Brett, will do just that. Watch these two students take to the streets of L.A. to explore answers to some important questions.
What happened on May 5th, 1862?
Why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the U.S.?
What is the difference between Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day?
Lastly, students are engaged throughout the entire video as they learn how and why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated. They hear the story of the Battle of Puebla - how a small group of unequipped, inexperienced Mexican peasants defeated the most powerful army in the world! They learn about true Mexican heroes, Benito Juárez and General Zaragoza. And, they discover the national dish of Mexico, Mole Poblano with all of its surprising ingredients!
So, if you are looking for an easy way to integrate culture and set the stage for meaningful discussion - download the video, serve up some agua fresca and enjoy! Your students will love it.
Length: 25 minutes
Cost: $29.99 (available for instant download)
Value: Helping your student understand the real meaning behind Cinco de Mayo – priceless!
Link: Moo! Cinco de Mayo Video (not an affiliate link)
Update: You can upload this video to YouTube for Google Classroom! It also comes with a free quiz! (See link above).
¡Feliz cinco de mayo!
Additional Resources: Find the resources you need to enrich and support your unit on Cinco de Mayo to Make. Learning. Fun.
