Cinco de Mayo, Cinco de Whine-o

Ah, it's that time of the year again when Spanish students across the world begin bugging their worn out teachers for a party in celebration of a holiday they are clueless about.  I've never been big on classroom parties, not because I'm an "aguafiestas", but because I don't really think kids learn much from eating copious amounts of chips and salsa (the only thing the students usually remember to bring).  So, each year when the next group comes along and requests this party, I ask them to explain what they would be celebrating.  Party or no party, I will not let another student leave my classroom without knowing the answer to that question. 

This year, I have created an interactive, Choose Your Own Adventure style reading activity that will hopefully help them to see the history behind this holiday and what it has come to represent for modern day Mexicans and high school students who will try anything for a day off.  In this activity, the students will play the role of Benito Juarez, and be asked to make the same decisions he had to make.  Will he pay the money Mexico owes to Spain, France, and Britain?  Will he wait until the French reach the Capital before he rallies his troops?  Will he sit on the beach and drink Piña Coladas after the Battle of Puebla?  What WILL he do?

Here is the link:

Cinco de Mayo:  What Would Benito Juarez Do?

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