DLTK's Countries and Cultures Crafts for Kids
Mexico Activities for Kids (including Cinco de Mayo)

As many of you know... I'm Canadian, not Mexican. One of our Mexican viewers wrote to us with some information about Mexican customs and holidays. Click here to read what Guadalupe had to say.

Mexicans have a celebration called Cinco de Mayo every May 5th (Cinco de Mayo means the fifth of May). Click here to learn more about the origins of Cinco de Mayo.

image of the world famous Chichén Itzá in Yucatán, Mexico

Kulkukan's Pyramid, Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, Mexico
Photographed by David Stanley; used with permission under C.C. BY 2.0

In Mexico, while there isn't an "official" language written down in the rules, almost everyone speaks Spanish, making it the main language you'll hear. But guess what? Mexico is full of amazing languages! Over 7 million people speak languages that have been around in Mexico for a super long time, way before Spanish. Some of these cool languages include Nahuatl, Maya, and Zapoteco.

Mexico is a big and colorful country sitting snugly in both the Northern and Western parts of our world map. It's made up of 32 states, kind of like puzzle pieces that all fit together to make the whole country. And it's got some cool neighbors! The United States is to the north, and to the south are Guatemala and Belize. The Pacific Ocean gives Mexico some beautiful beaches on the west, and the east side has the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea for even more beach fun.

Capital city:  Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)
National Bird:  Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
National Dog:  Xoloitzcuintli (Canis lupus familiaris)
National Arthropod:  Chapulin (Sphenarium purpurascens)
National Feline:  Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
National Flower:  Dahlia (Dahlia pinnata)
Currency:  Mexican Peso (MXN)

Mexico Activities:
	Mexican Recipes (my favorite thing about "Mexico themes" in our household is the food!)

	M-E-X-I-C-O Song (tune of B-I-N-G-O) - includes sheet music Fray Felipe (Brother Philip) Song La Casa Del Conejo (The Rabbit's House) Activity Song

	Day of the Dead Activities
Neat Facts: Home to the world’s largest pyramid, called Cholula! Color TV was invented by Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena, born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico!
Mexico Printables:
	Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Printable Activities Mexican Animals Coloring Pages

	Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Printable Activities Mexican Money Information and Worksheets

	Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Printable Activities Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Tracer Pages and Posters

	Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Printable Activities Mexico Coloring Pages from Coloring.ws

	Printable Worksheets - Mexico and Cinco de Mayo themes Anagram Sudoku Word Mining Word Search
Famous ancient landmarks in Mexico include: Chichén Itzá: Imagine a giant pyramid rising from the jungle, where ancient Mayans once roamed. This place is called Chichén Itzá, home to the famous Kulkukan's Pyramid. It's not just one pyramid, but three nestled inside each other like a mystery waiting to be uncovered. It's so cool that people from all over the world come to see it, and it's even protected by UNESCO to keep its secrets safe forever. Monte Albán: Picture a city on a mountaintop, with views that stretch as far as the eye can see. That's Monte Albán, a city built by the smart and resourceful Zapotecs, who knew just how to keep their city safe and sound. It's like something out of a comic book, with ancient pyramids and houses that archaeologists are still discovering today. And guess what? It was one of the very first cities to be planned out, way back in 50 B.C.E.!
Mexico Crafts:
	All About Mexico Quilt Paper Craft Grade school and up

	Animals of Mexico a wide variety of crafts and coloring pages

	Aztec (Mexican) Pottery

	Bean Bracelets Kindergarten and grade school

	Bird Rattle (Parrot or Macaw) Kindergarten and grade school

	Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Crafts for Kids Cactus

	Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Crafts for Kids Dora the Explorer

	Hot Pepper Paper Craft preschoolers and up

	Ichardo I Alphabuddy preschoolers and up

	Lucha Libre Wrestler Paper Doll Craft preschoolers and up

	Lucha Libre Wrestler Toilet Paper Roll Craft preschool and kindergarten

	Maracas Grade school and up

	Mariachi Paper Doll Craft preschoolers and up

	Mariachi Toilet Paper Roll Craft preschool and kindergarten

	Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Crafts Navidad

	Ojo de Dios (God's Eyes) Kindergarten and grade school

	Papel Cortado Age 3+ (must be able to use scissors)

	Pinata - Super Simple Version use yellow, red and green to make it more "Mexican flag themed" preschool and kindergarten

	Pinatas preschool and kindergarten

	Place Mats Kindergarten and grade school

	Shrinky Dinks Grade school and up great for making keychains or necklaces

	Sombrero (newspaper) Kindergarten and grade school

	Sun Connect the Dots

	Sun Handprint Craft

	Tissue Flowers for your Hair preschool and kindergarten

	Tissue Flowers and Vase Elementary school and up colorful paper flower making is a Mexican art form.
Other Mexico Activities:
	Other Mexico and Cinco de Mayo Activities Online Jigsaw Puzzles

For a resource for North Americans (and others) to find out where they reside, please see this interactive map of Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages. A disclaimer from the project: "This map does not represent or intend to represent official or legal boundaries of any Indigenous nations. To learn about definitive boundaries, contact the nations in question."

Neat Facts:

Famous ancient landmarks in Mexico include: