Things You'll Need:
- Various colors of construction paper
- Newspaper strips
- Balloons
- Flour
- Water
- Glue
- Wire
- Crepe paper
- Large needle
- String
- Candy
- Large, flat washer
- Ribbon or raffia
- Tissue paper
- Pipe cleaners
- Wooden dowels
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Step 1
Construct a bulletin board with several flags from different nations. The flag of the United States should be the biggest, in the center of the others. The surrounding flags should represent several of the countries that have immigrants in the United States, and respective holidays. In May, highlight the flag of Mexico with Cinco de Mayo May 5th being in the white outer circle and the flag replaced. Months with two holidays can have two flags.
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Step 2
Develop a curiosity for the Mexican culture by creating a piñata out of two balloons, one much larger than the other, and four cardboard paper towel containers. You also need some paper mache and rolls of crepe paper. Paper mache both balloons and allow to dry. Give several coats until the outside is firm. Cut the paper towel cardboard containers at the top, at an angle so it fits snugly against the larger balloon. Tape across the back of the balloon, attaching both to form four legs. Attach the legs on the underside with masking tape also. Use wire to attach the smaller paper mache coated balloon to form a head, and paper mache all of this again to make secure. Continue the process once dry to make certain that the piñata, which now should look a little like a donkey, is firm. Cut a three sided opening in the back near where the tail will be, to fill with candy later and hook the string to hang. Attach ruffles of layered crepe paper, construction paper ears and strings of crepe paper for a tail. Thread a large needle with heavy string go through the hole and puncture to the outside from the inside, pushing the string through and forming a loop on the outside. Hanging on to the string on the outside, back the needle out of the hole and off the string. Tie a large flat washer to the end of the string coming from the inside, preventing it from slipping all the way through. Fill with candy, tape the opening closed, and hang as a piñata on Cinco de Mayo.
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Step 3
Cut larger pieces of paper to the shapes of sombreros. Have the children decorate them and put their name on the back. Hang the sombreros on a bulletin board until the day of Cinco de Mayo. Remove them and attach a paper band with glue. Allow the glue to dry and fit them on the child's head to wear as a sombrero.
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Step 4
Let the children make hot pepper wreaths with construction paper hot peppers, decorated and glued to a paper plate with the center cut out. Attach a bow of ribbon or raffia for an extra touch. Put the wreaths on a bulletin board.
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Step 5
Create classroom maracas. Fill a balloon with water until it is fist sized. Tie the balloon shut and hang from a low rack. Cover the entire surface with paper strips dipped in a mixture that is 50% water and 50% white household glue and enough flour added to make it a pancake mixture consistency. Cover thoroughly and allow to dry. Once it is completely dry remove the tie and dump the water. Gently pull the balloon out and insert 5-6 dried beans. Insert a wooden dowel leaving about 3" exposed and repeat the process with paper strips dipped in the water,flour, and glue mixture. Allow to dry. Have the children paint and when dry, coat with a layer of white household glue as a sealer. They each now has a maraca
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Step 6
Decorate with paper flowers. Cut flowers from construction paper or make tissue paper flowers by layering several 8" squares of tissue and folding it accordion style. Tie it in the center with a pipe cleaner and open each layer by separating it from the other and moving toward the middle.
