Free printable Cinco de Mayo I Spy for kids (2 ways to play). Let the kids have fun (& sneak in learning) with this free cinco de mayo printable for kids.
Cinco de Mayo! Enchiladas are baking (white chicken or beef & rice…your choice), the smells filling the air. If you’re like me, there is a margarita nearby. The “Fiesta” banner is bright against the wall.
And the kids are happily playing Cinco de Mayo I Spy. It should keep them occupied for at least a FEW minutes. haha.
There are two games below. In one of them, it shows how many of each item there are- the kids have to find them and cross them out. In the second, the kids have to find how many of each item there is.
Depending upon age level, one might be more appropriate than the other.
Instructions:
• Print options: regular paper works just fine!
• All of the files are in pdf below. Just hit the “download” button.
• The default size of these is full page.
If you like this, you should check out the “Cinco de Mayo & Mexican” page! It’s full of delicious Mexican-inspired recipes and more free Cinco de Mayo printables.
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History of Cinco de Mayo
Despite common misconception, Cinco de Mayo is NOT a celebration of Mexican Independence Day (which is September 16th). Instead, it’s a celebration of the Battle of Puebla, a Mexican victory in the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). By 1862, English and Spanish troops had withdrawn. But the French persisted.
In May 1862, 6,000 French troops- the forces of Napoleon III- set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles. The president of Mexico, Benito Juárez, managed to round-up a “ragtag force of 2,000 loyal men“.
The battle lasted all day long. The French retreated having lost almost 500 soldiers. Fewer than 100 Mexicans were killed in the battle. It wasn’t a strategic victory, per se, but it gave new heart to the resistance movement. It’s basically their version of the Alamo. Except they won.
In Mexico, it’s primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla, though other parts sometimes also celebrate it. People of Mexican descent started raising awareness of the holiday in the U.S. in the 1960s. Since then, it’s taken off. Critics of the celebration point out that some celebrations involve excess amounts of alcohol and negative stereotypes of Mexicans.
Since the holiday was originally shared in order to raise awareness in the United States, I vote for continuing to celebrate the holiday. And understanding the history behind it.
Cinco de Mayo I Spy
In this version, the number of items is clearly stated. The person playing has to find all the items.
In this version, the person has to find how many of each item there is on the page.
Do You Have Other Ideas?
I just started working on the Cinco de Mayo section of my website again. I let it go for a couple of years because of some harsh feedback I got. I was told my food wasn’t Mexican and I shouldn’t be posting it. But after some long, hard thought, I went back and made it clear that each recipe was INSPIRED by Mexican food. I made no claims to authenticity. And I love celebrating Cinco de Mayo. So it’s back on!
But, my question for you: do you have any other ideas of what you would like to see in this section? More Cinco de Mayo free printables for kids, such as games? Party decor? Something else? Just comment below!
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