Teach your preschool children about the importance of music in the Mexican culture with this art project, which comes from the website Enchanted Learning. Provide each child with four paper plates. Using markers, crayons, sticker and any other art medium, ask the children to decorate the back of the paper plates. Once their plates are decorated to their liking, staple two plates together, face to face. Leave a small slit open, which you will use to slip in dried beans. Place 10 to 15 dried beans inside the slit. Once filled, seal the slit with staples. Next, provide students with three colors of crepe paper streamers. Ask them to pick out their favorite colors. Once they have selected their colors, cut eight streamers 6 inch streamers for each child. Using the stapler, attach four streamers to the bottom of each child's plate. When the maracas are complete, have the children shake their maracas and dance to Mexican music.
Images of the sun are commonly found in Mexican art. Mexicans hold the sun in high regard due to the positive energy it possesses. Teach your preschool children about the important role of the sun in Mexican culture by having them create a hand print sun. Prior to the activity, make circles on yellow construction paper and cut out. Make sure that there is one for each child. Supply them with crayons and markers and ask them to decorate their circles how ever they desire. Next, provide children with yellow and orange construction paper and pencils. Ask them to trace their hands on the paper. If they have difficulty, assist them. Have each child make about 10 hand hand prints. Once their hands have been traced, cut them out. You will likely have to do the cutting out for those who have difficulty working with scissors. Once the hand prints have been cut out, give them back to the children and have them attach them to the back of the circles with a stapler, representing rays of the sun. Display their Mexican inspired artwork around the classroom.
The sombrero is a traditional hat worn by Mexicans to provide protection from the hot sun. Have your preschoolers learn an appreciation for the Mexican style of dress with this art project. Provide each student with a paper plate. Using paint, markers, stickers, crayons, pom poms and any other art medium you think appropriate for this project. Using the art supplies, have them decorate their paper plates. Next, supply each child a paper cup. Using the same art supplies, have them decorate the paper cups. Attach each child's decorated paper cup to the center of her decorated paper plate. The result is a mini sombrero. Display them around the room or use them as centerpieces for a Cinco de Mayo party.