It’s May, It’s May!

The lovely month of May is full of holidays and seasonal connotations. Celebrate this month every day through the following activities.

CONNECT:

• Cinco de Mayo is more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico. Learn about its history and importance at http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Holidays/Cinco/
• May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Learn more about these communities and their contributions at http://www.afk.com/resources/apahm.tpl
• The month of May is named after the Greek goddess Maia. Find out about her at http://www.ourladyofsalt.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=150:the-goddess-of-may-maia&catid=42:newsletter&Itemid=43

CREATE:

• Try some of these ideas for May-inspired activities: http://www.kidactivities.net/post/Ideas-for-Kids-for-the-Month-of-May.aspx
• Create a May calendar with holidays and celebratory birthdays, adding images for each event. Use these websites to fill in your calendar. Then plan your own way to celebrate one of these days, such as International Nurses Day on May 12. http://www.ducksters.com/history/mayinhistory.php. (Note: May is national Burger month so you could celebrate every day…)
• Dance around the maypole – and make it as a family activity: http://www.modernmom.com/f725b57c-3b45-11e3-8407-bc764e04a41e.html. Get ideas about music and dance at http://www.maypoledance.com/index.html

CARE:

• There are lots of ways to say thanks to mothers: making cards, poems, songs,crafts. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/mothersday/ has several simple ideas.
• Did you know how the Mayflower plant is linked to the pilgrims? Root out the history at http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/trailing-arbutus/mayflower-trailing-arbutus.htm, and learn how to grow this historic flower.
• Memorial Day remembers the people who died in wars or in the service of their country. http://www.military.com/memorial-day/celebrating-memorial-day-with-children.html provides ideas for ways for youth to honor these military heroes.

CAREER:

Almost three-quarters of mothers in the U.S. are in the workforce. http://www.naccrra.org/sites/default/files/default_site_pages/2012/ccgb_mothers_workforce_jan2012.pdf has several important facts about them and their issues.