Free printable Cinco de Mayo coloring pages, lesson plans and activities

 

Cinco de Mayo, or Fifth of May, celebrates the victory of the smaller Mexican army over the mighty French juggernaut, in the Battle of Puebla, 1862. Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day, but many Latino Americans celebrate it. Here are free printable Cinco de Mayo coloring pages and Mexican crafts

Whimsey Coloring offers free printable Cinco de Mayo coloring activities and coloring pages. 

Enchanted Learning has free printable Cinco de Mayo lesson plans, games, crafts, puzzles and lesson plans to explore Mexican geography, culture and history.

Kiddy House provides free Cinco de Mayo coloring printables linked on from the Cinco de Mayo homepage. Color Mexican children in traditional costumes, maps and flag of Mexico, plus fiesta coloring pages.

Surf Net Kids has free printable Cinco de Mayo coloring pages, including some whimsical chili peppers in sombreros as well as a Mexican couple in ceremonial and traditional dress.

DL-TK is your one-stop source for free printable Cinco de Mayo crafts, coloring pages, games, Mexican history and social studies lessons, booklets and more. Create a complete classroom or homeschool unit to explore Cinco de Mayo and Mexican history and traditions. Here's the page on Mexico coloring pages, lesson plans and activities. Color some for Cinco de Mayo greeting cards and party decorations.

Monday Mandala lists a gajillion free Cinco de Mayo printables including Mexican games, crafts, puzzles, greeting cards and more.

Cinco de Mayo means the fifth of May. But it isn't Mexican Independence Day nor the equivalent of the U.S. Fourth of July. Cinco de Mayo is the day Mexicans remember El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (Battle of Puebla). Cinco de Mayo is mostly an Americanized Latino holiday. But also a great day to explore Mexican culture. Here are free printable Cinco de Mayo lesson plans, worksheets and games.

Mr Donn has free printable Cinco de Mayo activities, games, coloring pages, Powerpoint presentations, social studies worksheets, history lesson plans and culture study activities. Lesson Plans offers links to Cinco de Mayo printables.

A-Z Teacher Stuff has free printable Cinco de Mayo unit and lesson planner kit with materials, worksheets, games, crafts, recipes, movies and activities.

Enchanted Learning has free printable Cinco de Mayo worksheets, mini-booklets, history and social studies lesson plans. Print a map of Mexico, Mexican flag, info on the Battle of Puebla, Mexican leaders, posters, history, images and recipes. Print a nice poster featuring Cesar Chavez and other Mexican labor activists, political figures, scientists, artists, musicians and more.

The Teachers Corner has free printable Cinco de Mayo crafts, counting lessons, words in Spanish, cultural heritage activities and more. Lesson Planet has free printable lesson plans on Cinco de Mayo to sample.

For preschool and younger kids, visit DL-TK for free Cinco de Mayo coloring pages, crafts, games, puzzles and recipes. Kids Soup offers free Cinco de Mayo printables to sample.

Apples 4 the Teacher offers free printable Cinco de Mayo lessons, maps, history projects, puzzles, games, music, crafts, recipes and more. There are ideas for several ages groups. ELCivics has printable Cinco de Mayo lessons for older students

DIY Recycled Cardboard Fort, Play Store and Theater crafts for kids

Hello Omschooligans and welcome to another day of recycled cardboard craft projects with teacher Omi! Here at the Omschool, we're celebrating Earth Month by making crafts for kids using recycled cardboard. Today we're making a transformable recycled cardboard puppet theater, playhouse, play store and and cardboard forts. Use these Earth Day cardboard crafts for kids in preschool learning centers to teach science, dramatic play and art. 

What you'll need:

These crafts for kids require recycled cardboard but you'll want to make sure that there are many kinds of recycled items: 

• glass jars
• plastic containers
• Styrofoam pieces
• metal cans
• grocery items 

You'll also need: 

• a recycle bin (teacher Omi's best friend for hands-on lesson plans!)
• scissors
• stapler
• glue
• markers
• tape 

Now just add some children and voila--an Earth Month of crafts for kids! 

Recycled cardboard fort walls

Show children how to open cardboard boxes and attach them together to form large sheets for roof and walls of cardboard forts. Reinforce cardboard forts with taped on sticks, yard sticks, rulers, recycled plastic straws, etc. Hold recycled cardboard walls upright and tape one stick on both sides, at angles, from wall to floor. These temporary props keep walls from toppling. 

Cardboard fort windows

Cut windows in recycled cardboard play fort walls. Staple old towels or scrap fabric to windows for curtains. Paint cardboard fort exterior or drape with large blankets, sheets, tablecloths or curtains. Create a village of forts where children can visit back and forth. Let them fill forts with pillows, stuffed animals, books and snacks. 

Recycled cardboard play store

Repurpose cardboard forts into a play store. 

• Tape recycled cardboard shelves to inside by making hinges (tape one piece under the shelf and one on top, by making an L shape and attaching both to wall and shelf). 
• Collect food packages, cans, bottles, boxes and containers from the recycle bin. Assemble them on play store shelves. 
• Students should design a sign to entice customers. 
• They can make fake checks, credit cards and play money. 
• Bag play store groceries in recycled grocery bags. 
• Create a scanner "gun" from a plastic water pistol. Remind kids to say "beep" when checking out groceries for their customers. 

Recycled cardboard crafts: play theater

Instruction Card: The Transformable Puppet Theater

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Project: Recycled Play Theater	Prep Time: 15 mins	Difficulty: Medium
Materials:	Tools:	Yield:
1 Large Appliance Box	Utility Knife/Scissors	1 Tabletop or Floor Theater
Old Curtains or Fabric	Duct Tape
Tension Rod or String	Markers/Paint

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Instructions

1. Prepare the Base: Select a large cardboard box. If using a refrigerator box, keep it upright. If using a smaller shipping box, open the top and bottom flaps to create a "tunnel."

2. Cut the Stage Window: On the front side of the box, draw a large rectangle about midway up (eye level for the "puppeteers"). Carefully cut this out to create your stage opening.

3. The Proscenium Arch: Decorate the area around the window with paint or markers. You can glue on cardboard "scrollwork" or a marquee sign at the top.

4. Install the Curtains: * Option A: Poke two holes on either side of the window inside the box and thread a piece of clothesline through.

   • Option B: Use a small tension rod wedged inside the box frame.

   • Hang your scrap fabric or old towels to act as the stage curtain.

5. Backstage Access: Ensure the back of the box remains open so the "actors" can crawl in and out easily.

6. Stabilize: If the theater feels wobbly, use the "Plus-Sign" method from your fort-building section: tape a yardstick or heavy cardboard strip diagonally across the interior corners.

   
   
   

The Show Must Go On! 

• Have students write a play to put on in their theater.
• Write a script and cast characters. 
• Make costumes, props and scenery from the recycle bin.
•  Haul out the instruments and make the play into a musical or opera. 
• Choreograph a dance number.

✂️🖍️✂️🖍️✂️🖍️✂️🖍️✂️🖍️✂️ Omi’s Pro Tip: Use the leftover cardboard scraps from your Stage Window to make handheld props like magic wands, swords, or flowers for the actors to hold! 🖍️✂️🖍️✂️🖍️✂️🖍️✂️🖍️✂️🖍️

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Project: Recycled Stage Scenery	Prep Time: 10 mins	Difficulty: Easy
Materials:	Tools:	Yield:
Flat Cardboard Sheets	Markers or Tempera Paint	2-3 Background Flats
Cardboard Tubes (Paper Towel)	Tape or Hot Glue
Sponges (for texture)	Utility Knife

Instructions

1. Select Your Setting: Decide if your play takes place in a "Magic Forest," "Outer Space," or a "City Street."

2. The "Flat" Method: Take a large, flat piece of cardboard. Draw the outline of your main feature (like a giant tree or a skyscraper). Cut it out carefully.

3. Make it Stand Up: * The Tube Stand: Cut a slit into the top of two paper towel tubes and slide the bottom of your cardboard scenery into the slits.

   • The Easel Back: Tape a triangular scrap of cardboard to the back of your scenery to act as a kickstand.

4. Add Texture: Instead of just coloring, use old sponges to dab paint onto trees for leaves, or glue on crumpled bits of green tissue paper for a 3D effect.

5. Reversible Sets: Paint a "Day" scene on one side of your cardboard and a "Night" scene on the other. You can flip it over during "intermission"!

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Omi’s Pro Tip: Remind the children to design "Tickets", "Programs" and a "Showtimes" sign to post on the outside of the theater to encourage more dramatic play!

Homemade Recycled Cardboard Puppet Theater with free printable cardboard puppet patterns

 

Hello my Omschooligans! In our last visit to the Omschool, we made recycled cardboard castle. Today in the Omschool, we're making recycled cardboard puppet craft projects plus our own recycled cardboard puppet theater to perform in! 

Step‑by‑Step Outline: Recycled Cardboard Crafts for Kids

1. Context & Purpose

• April is Earth Month; focus on recycling and green living.

• Activity: Create homemade puppets and a DIY cardboard puppet theater using recycled materials.

2. Materials Needed for Homemade Puppets

• Fasteners: 4–6 brads (paper fasteners) per child

• Tools: Stapler

• Cardboard pieces:

  • Variety of shapes and sizes (2–8 inches)

  • Mix of geometric and irregular shapes

  • Long thin strips set aside for handles

• Optional decorations:

  • Wallpaper samples

  • Gift wrap scraps, tissue paper, construction paper

  • Paper tubes, ribbon, crepe paper, yarn

  • Faux feathers, gems, glitter/glitter glue

  • Markers, paint, silk flowers, pipe cleaners

3. Puppet‑Making Procedure

A. Prepare the Pieces

• Children select found cardboard pieces (no cutting or reshaping).

• Puppets may represent:

  • People

  • Animals

  • Fantasy creatures

  • Aliens

  • Personified objects (e.g., construction vehicles)

B. Plan the Puppet

• Lay out pieces before assembling.

• Puppets should have 2–5 body parts.

C. Decorate the Pieces

• Decorate each piece before assembly.

• Options:

  • Trace and glue paper onto pieces

  • Paint or color

  • Add embellishments after assembly

D. Assemble the Puppet

• Moving parts (arms, legs, tail, head):

  • Punch holes

  • Attach with brads

• Stationary parts:

  • Attach with tape or stapler

• Embellishments:

  • Attach with glue, tape, or stapler

• Handles:

  • Attach two cardboard strips, sticks, or rulers to operate the puppet

E. Story Creation

• Children collaborate to create a story featuring all their puppets.

  
  
  

4. Making the Cardboard Puppet Theater

A. Large Theater (Refrigerator Box)

• Cut a flap window that can open and close.

• Children climb inside and perform through the window.

• Puppets can be stored inside afterward.

B. Smaller Tabletop Theater

• Cut open a cardboard box.

• Stand it on a table.

• Children stand on chairs behind it to perform.

🎨 Omschool Resource Corner

If you'd like to make puppets from free printable patterns, here are links to related cardboard craft ideas and puppet patterns, Download & Print:

• Animal Paper Bag Templates - Great for "Personified Objects."

• DIY Sock Puppet Instructions - Includes a guide for placing eyes and noses.

• Free Printable Puppet Patterns

  Puppet Type	Theme/Characters	Resource Link
  Paper Bag Puppets	13 Animal templates (Lion, Penguin, Elephant, etc.)	Artsy Kids Zone
  Finger Puppets	Farm Animals, Monsters, and Fairytale characters	Teachers Pay Teachers (Free)
  Hand Puppets	Dragons, Crocodiles, and Safari animals	Happythought Patterns
  Sock Puppets	Mouth shapes and eye/ear templates	Ziptales PDF Guide

Pro Tip: The Perfect "Talking" Puppet

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The "Mouth" Template: The Ziptales PDF Guide is particularly useful because it provides the exact dimensions for the cardboard inserts used to make puppets "talk."