This teacher’s guide gives K–5 educators the tools to teach Cinco de Mayo accurately and meaningfully. At its core is the 1862 Battle of Puebla — a stunning military upset in which a smaller Mexican army defeated French imperial forces, led by Zapotec president Benito Juárez defending his country’s sovereignty. The guide traces how Mexican miners in California celebrated the victory the same year it happened, how the Juntas Patrióticas Mejicanas organized civic support, and how the holiday grew into a distinct Mexican-American tradition long before commercial interests transformed it. Classroom activities are grounded in Puebla’s specific cultural heritage: Talavera pottery, mole poblano, and the city’s Carnival and battle reenactment traditions. Grade-differentiated discussion questions and guidance for welcoming family and community voices make this guide practical across K–1, 2–3, and 4–5.