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May, what a delightful month. Flowers are in bloom, the buds on bushes and trees are bursting and everything seems to be green. It’s also a time when you see the fluttering of butterfly wings. So, I have included a fun butterfly sandwich to make with your grandchildren when they come for lunch. They can also create a poem or story about a caterpillar in the shape of a caterpillar. You can download the pattern. Cinco De Mayo is May 5th and what better way to celebrate than to make tacos together. A recipe is included so your grandchildren can use their measuring skills to create their taco. Memorial Day is a time to reflect on those that have past on. This can be a special time to share memories of loved ones that your grandchildren may have never known or do not remember. A pocket watch pattern can be used to write down memories and you can even include a photo. This can become a keepsake for your grandchildren.  I hope you enjoy these ideas and please share your experiences with me on my blog.

Download Hungry Caterpillar Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. It’s a story about  a tiny caterpillar who eats and eats until he becomes a big, fat caterpillar. He builds a small house around himself and after two weeks, he becomes a beautiful butterfly. When you’re finished let your grandchildren write their own “hungry caterpillar” story using the caterpillar pattern. Download the pattern and cut out the two sections of circles. Glue them on a piece of paper to form a caterpillar. Write the story on each section. Add eyes, feet and antennae.

Butterfly sandwiches are great fun to make with your grandchildren. Each person can create their own using peanut butter, jam, raisins, carrots, celery, grapes. The possibilities are endless and they’re so much fun to eat. While you’re making the sandwiches you can make up poems or songs about butterflies. I’ve included one that my grandchildren and I made up.

Butterfly
Butterfly, oh butterfly
Dancing across the sky.
Butterfly, oh butterfly.
First you are low then you are high.

Download the Gold Watch pattern and write special memories of a loved one who has past on. Attach a photograph if one is available. Invite your grandchildren over for a special night to share memories. It might be fun to include some characteristics your loved one had that you recognize in your grandchildren. What a great way for them to connect with their ancestors and it would become a special keepsake. If your grandchildren aren’t close enough to invite over you can send it in the mail.

You could share the book Grandfather’s Gold Watch as part of your special time together. It’s the story of  twelve-year-old Peter who receives a gift from his grandfather as he bids farewell to Denmark and sails with his family to America. It is a beautiful gold watch. His grandfather tells him the watch will remind him to ask himself, what have I done with my name? What have I done with my time? His grandfather’s words stay with him his whole life and keep him connected to his family.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by making tacos. Have your grandchildren use measuring cups and spoons to create their tacos. This will help them learn an important math skill.

For each taco you’ll need: 1 hard taco shell, 1/8 C of cooked chicken or ground beef, 1/8 C of grated cheese, 1/2 C of chopped lettuce, 1/2 Tbsp of sour cream, and 1/2 Tbsp of salsa.

Cinco de Mayo means “fifth of May” in Spanish. It’s an important day in Mexico and is celebrated each year with a fiesta.  The story of Cinco de Mayo began over 100 years ago with a young orphan boy, Benito Juarez who grew up, studied law and became a governor. He eventually was elected president of Mexico. Juarez wanted to make Mexico a better country, so he helped write the constitution and worked to make reforms. The common people of Mexico loved him but the large landowners resented him and asked France to come help oust Juarez. The French planned to capture Mexico City  on May 5, 1862 but the untrained Mexican army won a temporary victory over the professional French army. Eventually the French drove Juarez out of Mexico, but the United States stepped in and pressured France to leave. The French withdrew and Juarez returned.  This is a day important for all of North America because the United States helped drive a foreign power from North American soil, and no foreign power has invaded since.