Cinco de Mayo Fiesta With Latino-Inspired Games, Crafts, Activities

Cinco de Mayo--"fifth of May" in Spanish--celebrates the Mexican victory at the Battle of Pueblo. It's not the Mexican independence day though it sounds like 4th of July in the US. Ironically, my Latino friends tell me Cinco de Mayo isn't a big thing in Mexico (except in the Puebla province) like it is stateside. Regardless, we Americans love our ethnic kitsch. And how to we observe holidays? We party! Or in this case, fiesta. Here's are kid-friendly Cinco de Mayo games, crafts, lesson plans, cultural activities and food! Now if ONLY I could find one of the tortilla chip hats like El Macho has in Despicable Me--that would really make the fiesta! Kid-Friendly Cinco de Mayo Fiesta With Latino-Inspired Games, Crafts, Food

Free Catholic Bible Easter Printables for Lent and Eastertide

Easter is the major feast day in the Catholic church. For forty days of Lent we've fasted, prayed and journeyed with Our Lord in His walk to Golgotha. In Lent, we take an inward spiritual pilgrimage amidst the activities of our everyday lives. Children in the Catholic faith take part in this journey as well. Some are making first reconciliation and are preparing for first Holy Eucharist. At the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, catecumens and candidates will be welcomed into the Church. Many will be baptized. The new Easter candle is lit for the first time. The sacred oils are blessed on Holy Thursday. The parish priest renews his vows of ordination. The Holy Eucharist is placed in repose for the three days of the triduum in a solemn and lovely pageant. Here are free printable lesson plans, Bible coloring pages to help children and adults experience Lent and Easter more deeply. Free Catholic Easter Printables 

Free Printable Origami, Kirigami, Pop-up Scissors Craft Patterns

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding and kirigami is the art of cutting paper to create stand up, pop up or three dimensional figures. Here are free printable origami and kirigami patterns and template for you to cut, fold and create. Let's celebrate Japan with these crafts. Free Printable Origami, Kirigami and Pop-up Scissors Craft Patterns, Stencils and Templates

Free Printable Samhain Crafts, Wiccan, Fairies, Witches Coloring Craft Activities

Along with Halloween, the Wiccan (pagan) holiday of Samhain is celebrated on Oct. 31, too. Samhain activities include bonfires, incantations and magic of all kinds. Here are free printable Wiccan, fairy and pagan coloring pages and crafts. These would fit in with Halloween celebrations, as well as literature studies involving witchcraft and magic-themed fiction. Weave these crafts and activities into lessons on Harry Potter. There are also crafts for other pagan celebrations in order of the wiccan year: Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltaine Litha, Lughnasdha, Mabon and back to Samhain. Read on...Free Printable Wiccan, Fairies, Witches Coloring Craft Activities