Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Today is a perfect opportunity to teach your kids about Cinco de Mayo which is Spanish for the "5th of May".  

Many people think Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican Independence Day, which is actually September 16th.  But Cinco de Mayo is the day the Mexican Army defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.  This defeat was a big, symbolic win for the Mexican Army because they were largely outnumbered by the French who were also better equipped for the battle.  In addition, historians have stated, had Mexico not defeated the French in Puebla on May 5, 1862, the result of the U.S. Civil War may have turned out differently.

Here are some videos and coloring pages you can use to teach your kids more about the history and significance of Cinco de Mayo.  

Fun Facts About Cinco de Mayo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t61-OBqbdCM

Cinco de Mayo Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19w04KBhILc

Click here for free downloadable coloring pages.  (Courtesy of coloringpages101.com)

You can also take this time to teach your kids some Spanish words.  

• Cinco = Five
• Mayo = May
• Sombrero = Hat
• Trompo = Spinning Top
• Fiesta = Party
• Piñata = a decorated figure of an animal containing toys and candy that is suspended from a height and broken open by blindfolded children as part of a celebration.
• Maracas = a pair of hollow clublike gourd or gourd-shaped containers filled with beans, pebbles, or similar objects, shaken as a percussion instrument.