BOCA BETH: One Song at a Time

Many of us might run to a Mexican restaurant tonight to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Some of us might fix tacos and nacho cheese dip for the familia/family for dinner in celebration of Cinco de Mayo!

But how many of us really know the meaning behind this date, this day of celebration?  Here is a three sentence, 40 second read on the history of Cinco de Mayo:

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16.

Now that you know a bit about the day, here are some quick, fun, and easy-to-do activities with young children to keep Spanish coming to life in their daily routine!

• Play our Boca Beth version of the traditional Latin American song titled Chocolate (which is the same spelling either in English or in Spanish - simply pronounced Choh-koh-lah-tay in Spanish).  If you don’t own the Limited Edition Bilingual music CD that has this song on it, just e-mail me at bocabeth@msn.com and I will send you the MP3 FREE of charge! 
• Words for this fun song are right here:  Chocolate
  This song is a chant – no melody behind it! Fun and fast!Chocolate, Chocolate,
  Bate, Bate, chocolate
  Chocolate, Chocolate,
  Bate, Bate, chocolate
  Uno, dos, tres-CHO
  Uno, dos, tres-CO
  Uno, dos, tres-LA
  Uno, dos, tres-TE
  Chocolate, Chocolate,
  Bate, Bate, chocolate.
  Chocolate, Chocolate,
  Bate, Bate, chocolate

  One, two, three HOT
  One, two, three CHOCOLATE
  One, two, three HOT
  One, two, three CHOCOLATE
  Hot, hot, hot chocolate
  Whip it up, hot chocolate!
  Hot, hot, hot chocolate
  Whip it up, hot chocolate

  Break of sound effect and music.

  Uno, dos, tres-CHO
  Uno, dos, tres-CO
  Uno, dos, tres-LA
  Uno, dos, tres-TE
  Chocolate, Chocolate,
  Bate, Bate, chocolate.
  Chocolate, Chocolate,
  Bate, Bate, chocolate

  

  Some simple activities to do with this song are to either gather together enough plastic or stainless steel mixing bowls for all of the children to have their own along with a plastic mixing spoon or (if old enough) small wooden spoons.  As this song is sung have the children mix up their chocolate with their bowls and spoons!  If the props are not available, show the children how to hold their imaginary bowls and mix with their imaginary spoons while the song is enjoyed.

  Food Ideas for Cinco de Mayo

  Based on the age of children you are having lunch with today, here are some fun food ideas:

  • Salsa and chips

  • Big Fritos with sour cream, chili & cheese and/or

guacamole for dipping

• Make your own taco station complete with meats

(chicken or beef), tomatoes, lettuce, cheese,

taco sauce and shells

• Flan, dulce de leche ice cream, Tres Leches

cake (available in many flavors these days) or

galletas/cookies from a local Spanish grocery

store.

Craft ideas for Cinco de Mayo:

• Have the children make their own

Mexican ponchos out of large brown

grocery bags with paints, sequins, beads,

feathers, foam shapes, etc to decorate

• Maracas can easily be made with two

paper plates stapled together (adult

supervision required), popsicle stick as

the handle and rice, pasta or beans as

the noise filler – children decorate the

outside of the plates prior to assembly.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

p.s.  (Remember to e-mail me at bocabeth@msn.com for your free MP3 version of that fun song!)