English Lesson on Cinco De Mayo

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THE LESSON ON CINCO DE MAYO

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Cinco De Mayo. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that remembers a military victory against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo means May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a public or a national holiday in Mexico. It is largely celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French forces took place. Even though it is not a major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use it as a day to show their pride in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is false. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.

Cinco de Mayo today is a much bigger holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California since 1863. There are festivals and events all over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These include concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and drunk in huge quantities. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness activities to educate students about the importance of the day. One tradition does take place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in all other regional capitals.

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.

a military victory against

a.

major holiday in Mexico

2

Cinco de Mayo means

b.

celebrate the day

3.

it is not a

c.

May the fifth in Spanish

4.

show their pride

d.

nation’s independence

5.

Even non-Mexican Americans

e.

the French

6.

celebrate their

f.

in their culture

Paragraph 2

1.

It has been celebrated in California

a.

to the Mexican flag

2

There are festivals and events

b.

since 1863

3.

eaten and drunk

c.

capitals

4.

activities to

d.

all over the country

5.

pledge allegiance

e.

educate students

6.

all other regional

f.

in huge quantities

LISTENING GAP FILL

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration __________________ military victory against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo means May the fifth in Spanish. It __________________ national holiday in Mexico. It is largely celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French __________________. Even though it is not a major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and __________________ it as a day to show their pride in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans __________________ in the USA. Many people mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. __________________. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.

Cinco de Mayo __________________ bigger holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California since 1863. There are festivals and __________________ country to highlight Mexican culture. These include concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and __________________. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness __________________ students about the importance of the day. One tradition does take place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force __________________ the Mexican flag. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in __________________ capitals.

WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that remembers a military __________ against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo __________ May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a __________ or a national holiday in Mexico. It is __________ celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French forces took place. Even though it is not a __________ holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use it as a day to show their __________ in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people __________ believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is __________. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.

 

 

 

major
public
false
largely
victory
pride
means
mistakenly

Cinco de Mayo today is a much __________ holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California since 1863. There are festivals and __________ all over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These __________ concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and drunk in huge __________. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness activities to __________ students about the importance of the day. One __________ does take place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to the Mexican __________. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in all other regional __________.

 

 

include
 
educate
bigger
flag
quantities
capitals
events
tradition

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that memories / remembers a military victory against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo means / meaning May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a public or a national holiday in Mexico. It is largely / large celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French forces took place. Even through / though it is not a major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use it as a day to show their pride / proud in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people mistake / mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is false / falsify. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence / independent on September the 16th.

Cinco de Mayo today is a much bigger / large holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California for / since 1863. There are festivals and events all under / over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These include concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eating / eaten and drunk in huge quantities. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take apart / part in awareness activities to educate students about the importance / important of the day. One tradition does take place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to / up the Mexican flag. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in all other regional capitals / numbers.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that (1) ____ a military victory against the French on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo means May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a (2) ____ or a national holiday in Mexico. It is largely celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the (3) ____ against French forces took place. Even though it is not a major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-(4) ____ celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use it as a day to show their pride in their culture. Even (5) ____-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is (6) ____. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.

Cinco de Mayo today is a much bigger holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California (7) ____ 1863. There are festivals and events all over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These (8) ____ concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and drunk in huge (9) ____. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness activities to educate students about the importance (10) ____ the day. One tradition does       (11) ____ place in Mexico every year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag. This takes place in the capital Mexico City and in all other (12) ____ capitals.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.

(a)

remember

(b)

remembers

(c)

memories

(d)

memory

2.

(a)

publicity

(b)

publicly

(c)

public

(d)

publicize

3.

(a)

victory

(b)

victorious

(c)

V for victory

(d)

victor

4.

(a)

knowing

(b)

knew

(c)

knows

(d)

known

5.

(a)

not

(b)

no

(c)

non

(d)

none

6.

(a)

forged

(b)

false

(c)

untruthful

(d)

distorted

7.

(a)

since

(b)

for

(c)

by

(d)

until

8.

(a)

conclude

(b)

interlude

(c)

include

(d)

exclude

9.

(a)

qualities

(b)

quartiles

(c)

quarrels

(d)

quantities

10.

(a)

by

(b)

at

(c)

on

(d)

of

11.

(a)

do

(b)

take

(c)

make

(d)

give

12.

(a)

regional

(b)

divisional

(c)

zonal

(d)

departmental

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

a yiiamrtl victory against the French

2.

a aoitnanl holiday in Mexico

3.

a well-konwn celebration

4.

a day to show their irdpe

5.

latikmnsey believe

6.

their sant’noi independence

Paragraph 2

7.

a much grbegi holiday in North America

8.

tivslasef and events all over the country

9.

eaten and drunk in huge atneiiquts

10.

take part in awareness activities to caedeut students

11.

lepegd allegiance to the Mexican flag

12.

all other regional islpatac

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the victory against French forces took place. Even though it is not a

(    )

Cinco de Mayo today is a much bigger holiday in North America than in Mexico. It has been celebrated in California

(    )

false. Mexican’s celebrate their nation’s independence on September the 16th.

(    )

major holiday in Mexico, it is a well-known celebration. This is because Mexicans in the USA and other countries use

(    )

quantities. Many schools, especially those with large Mexican communities, take part in awareness

(    )

it as a day to show their pride in their culture. Even non-Mexican Americans celebrate the day in the USA. Many people

(    )

place in the capital Mexico City and in all other regional capitals.

(    )

year. Mexican soldiers, sailors and air force pledge allegiance to the Mexican flag. This takes

(    )

concerts, folk ballet and Mexican dancing. Mexican food and drink are also eaten and drunk in huge

1  )

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican celebration that remembers a military victory against the French on May 5,

(    )

1862. Cinco de Mayo means May the fifth in Spanish. It is not a public or a national holiday in Mexico. It is largely

(    )

mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day. This is

(    )

activities to educate students about the importance of the day. One tradition does take place in Mexico every

(    )

since 1863. There are festivals and events all over the country to highlight Mexican culture. These include

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

against     5     the     a     French     military     on     victory     May

2.

public     It     or     is     a     not     national     a     holiday

3.

in     to     their     show     culture     their     a     pride     day

4.

-     celebrate     Even     non –Mexcan     Americans     day     the

5.

their     Mexican’s     nation’s     celebrate     independence

6.

celebrated     in     California     since     1863     It     has     been

7.

country     events     There     all     are     over    festivals     the     and

8.

eaten     quantities     huge     in     drunk     and

9.

students     educate     to     activities    awareness     in     part     take

10.

Mexican     the     to     allegiance     pledge     flag

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

THE CINCO DE MAYO SURVEY

Write five questions about Cinco De Mayo in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about Cinco De Mayo for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Cinco De Mayo. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Cinco De Mayo. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Cinco De Mayo. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

ANSWERS

Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.


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