Read and Draw Activity - Cinco de Mayo

Looking for a way to blend literacy with a cultural celebration that doesn’t involve glitter in your coffee?

This Cinco de Mayo Read and Draw Activity is the perfect way to keep your 3rd–5th graders learning, reading, and drawingall while exploring the vibrant traditions of Cinco de Mayo!

Each page includes a short nonfiction passage that covers important facts about the holiday, its origins, traditions, foods, music, and more, followed by a drawing prompt where students illustrate what they’ve read. Think of it as a mini reading lesson dressed up in festive fun (minus the sombrero).

Ways to Use:

• Literacy centers with a cultural twist

• Social studies tie-in during May

• Fun Friday activity (still educational, we promise)

• Early finisher challenge

• Sub plans that actually make sense

Advantages:

• Promotes reading comprehension through creative visualization

• Encourages artistic expression tied to informational text

• Reinforces vocabulary and cultural understanding

• Supports diverse learners by combining text and visuals

• No prep, just print and let the learning begin

Students stay engaged, teachers stay sane, and everyone leaves knowing Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. (That’s September 16th—don’t worry, it’s in the passage.)