Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the Classroom with Fiesta Fun!

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that celebrates the Mexican army's victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It's a great opportunity to teach students about Mexican culture and history while having fun in the classroom. In this blog post, we'll share some ideas on how to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the classroom and introduce you to our new digital resource, Fiesta Fun, which makes planning your Cinco de Mayo celebration easy and fun!

Ideas for Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in the Classroom:

Learn About Mexican Culture and History - Introduce your students to the rich culture and history of Mexico with books, videos, and other educational resources. You can also incorporate art projects and cultural activities, such as making paper flowers or learning traditional Mexican dances.

Try Traditional Mexican Foods - Food is an important part of Mexican culture, so why not introduce your students to traditional Mexican cuisine? You can make guacamole, salsa, or even traditional Mexican dishes like tacos or enchiladas in the classroom. Just be sure to check for any food allergies or dietary restrictions first.


Decorate Your Classroom - Create a festive atmosphere in your classroom with decorations such as papel picado, balloons, and streamers. You can also use our Fiesta Fun bulletin board letters and pictures to create a colorful and fun display.

Read and Write About Cinco de Mayo - Incorporate reading and writing activities into your Cinco de Mayo celebration with Fiesta Fun. Our product features 5 leveled reading comprehension passages with questions and a pinata writing activity to enhance writing skills. You can also have your students write about their favorite Mexican foods or traditions.

Attach with a brad for cuteness overload

Fiesta Fun is a comprehensive digital resource that makes planning your Cinco de Mayo celebration easy and fun. It features everything you need to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in your classroom, including 5 leveled reading comprehension passages with questions, bulletin board letters and pictures, a pinata writing activity, and "the perfect taco" craft and writing activity.

Our product is perfect for teachers who want to engage their students with fun and interactive activities that enhance learning while celebrating Cinco de Mayo. It's easy to use and customize for your classroom needs, and appropriate for 1st to 5th grade levels.

Cinco de Mayo is a great opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture and history in the classroom. With Fiesta Fun, you can engage your students with fun and interactive activities that enhance learning while celebrating this important holiday. Try some of our ideas for celebrating Cinco de Mayo in the classroom and get Fiesta Fun today to make your celebration even more fun and engaging!

The Ultimate Guide to Giving Fun End-of-Year Awards to Elementary Kids

The end of the school year is a time for celebration and reflection. As a teacher, one way to acknowledge your students' hard work and achievements is by giving out end-of-year awards. But why settle for boring certificates when you can make it fun and memorable? In this post, we'll share some ideas and tips for giving out fun end-of-year awards to elementary kids.

Get creative with categories: Instead of just giving out awards for "best student" or "most improved," why not come up with fun and unique categories that fit your students' personalities and interests? For example, you could give out awards like "Most Enthusiastic Reader," "Classroom Comedian," or "Future Scientist." Get your students involved by having them suggest categories and vote on the winners.

Make it visual: A simple certificate is nice, but why not take it up a notch by creating fun and colorful awards that your students will be proud to display? You can use free online tools like Canva or Piktochart to design awards with playful graphics, photos, and fonts. Alternatively, you can buy pre-made award certificates and add your own personal touches.  Check out some that I have available on Teachers Pay Teachers by clicking the pictures below!  They can either be printed as is, or you can type to personalize them!  

  

Add a prize: Who doesn't love a prize? Consider giving out small tokens of appreciation along with the awards, like stickers, pencils, or candy. You can even create a prize wheel or mystery box where students can choose their prize after receiving their award.

Celebrate together: Don't just hand out the awards and move on - make it a celebration! Plan a special end-of-year party or ceremony where students can dress up, enjoy some treats, and take photos with their awards. Make it a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next.

Be inclusive: Finally, remember to be inclusive and considerate when giving out awards. Make sure every student receives some form of recognition, whether it's a personalized award or a heartfelt thank-you note. Avoid categories that might be hurtful or exclusionary, and make sure to celebrate each student's unique strengths and achievements.

Giving out end-of-year awards is a fun and meaningful way to celebrate your students' accomplishments and show them how much you appreciate their hard work. By getting creative with categories, making it visual, adding a prize, celebrating together, and being inclusive, you can make it a memorable experience for everyone involved. So go ahead and let your imagination run wild - your students will thank you for it!  Hang in there... the end is in sight!  

End of Year Candy Awards HERE!

Animal Themed End of Year Awards HERE!  

The Power of Affirmations in the Classroom: Introducing Our Affirmation Collection for Students

As a teacher or counselor, you know how important it is to create a positive and supportive learning environment for your students. One powerful way to do this is by using affirmations - positive statements that help students develop a growth mindset, boost their self-esteem, and overcome self-doubt. That's why we're excited to introduce our Affirmation Collection for Students, a digital file that includes 20 affirmations in full color and less color versions, perfect for printing as posters or notecards.



But first, let's talk about the power of affirmations. According to research, affirmations can help students develop a positive self-image, increase their motivation and resilience, and reduce stress and anxiety. By repeating positive statements like "I am capable of achieving my goals" or "I believe in myself," students can start to reframe their thoughts and beliefs about themselves, leading to better academic and personal outcomes.

Using affirmations in the classroom is also a way to create a culture of positivity and encouragement. By displaying affirmations on posters or handing out notecards to individual students, you're sending a message that you believe in your students' abilities and are invested in their success. This can help build trust and rapport with your students and create a sense of belonging in the classroom.

Our Affirmation Collection for Students is designed to make it easy for you to incorporate affirmations into your classroom or counseling practice. The digital file includes 20 affirmations that are carefully crafted to inspire success and self-love, with options for both full color and less color versions. This means you can choose the version that best fits your needs and print them as posters or notecards, depending on your preference.

Whether you're a teacher, counselor, or parent, our Affirmation Collection for Students is a powerful tool for promoting positive thinking and boosting self-esteem. By using affirmations in the classroom, you can create a supportive and encouraging learning environment that helps your students thrive. I hope the end of your school year is unfolding beautifully... summer break is close. 💪