Yesterday, when I started my Cinco de Mayo lesson, I was reminded of how kids generally like a good battle. Aside from all of the traditional cultural elements of the holiday, kids like hearing about the battle of Puebla and how the Mexicans were outnumbered and outgunned, but they still beat the French. They really get fired up about it. I like to make the point to my students that if the French would have won, then we probably would not be learning Spanish but rather French. I also tell them about the popularity of the holiday in the United States, and how we should be very thankful to the Mexicans for winning the battle of Puebla because if the French would have conquered Mexico, then they probably would have tried to conquer the United States as well. Cinco de Mayo presents so many learning opportunities for elementary Spanish students.
El cinco de mayo – Kids like a good battle.
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