What is the pinata for?
Games! Educational Games!
These are one of my favorite things to add in to a unit study. I am always brainstorming in my own homeschool, how to make our lessons fun and interesting.
Don't underestimate the value of game play in education. A game can be a great way to set a lesson component into long-term memory, and it definitely is an easy way to get extra practice in for things like math facts and timeline dates. Some of our most valuable lessons can be taught through games.
Spanish missionaries to Mexico knew this well, and they incorporated the native games into their teaching of Christianity. One of those native games has become pretty famous, and I would even guess that you have played it before, probably at a birthday party.
The original piñata was round with ten spokes sticking out of it - Spanish missionaries explained the sins committed when the Ten Commandments were broken were represented in these ten spokes.
Pinatas were decorated beautifully with many colors - Missionaries to Mexico explained the lure of the Devil and his ability to appear attractive and even "good"
Each player is given a chance to wield the stick or "power of Christ" to demonstrate His defeat of sin and Satan.
When the piñata is broken, the false outer layer defeated, there are sweet treats to be found within just as forgiveness is sweet. There is always a plenty to go around and it is freely shared with others, just as Christ's forgiveness is available for everyone and freely given.
This game is an ancient tradition in Mexico and continues to be played in many homes, although it is most often found at Christmas parties. For the Mexico with Mickey unit study based on the Mexico exhibit in Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center, we've included step by step instructions for making a Mickey Mouse piñata from the original study that appeared in Vacation Education Epcot AND we've also added instructions for making a traditional piñata.
These are one of my favorite things to add in to a unit study. I am always brainstorming in my own homeschool, how to make our lessons fun and interesting.
Don't underestimate the value of game play in education. A game can be a great way to set a lesson component into long-term memory, and it definitely is an easy way to get extra practice in for things like math facts and timeline dates. Some of our most valuable lessons can be taught through games.
Spanish missionaries to Mexico knew this well, and they incorporated the native games into their teaching of Christianity. One of those native games has become pretty famous, and I would even guess that you have played it before, probably at a birthday party.
Pinata!
The original piñata was round with ten spokes sticking out of it - Spanish missionaries explained the sins committed when the Ten Commandments were broken were represented in these ten spokes.
Pinatas were decorated beautifully with many colors - Missionaries to Mexico explained the lure of the Devil and his ability to appear attractive and even "good"
Each player is given a chance to wield the stick or "power of Christ" to demonstrate His defeat of sin and Satan.
When the piñata is broken, the false outer layer defeated, there are sweet treats to be found within just as forgiveness is sweet. There is always a plenty to go around and it is freely shared with others, just as Christ's forgiveness is available for everyone and freely given.
This game is an ancient tradition in Mexico and continues to be played in many homes, although it is most often found at Christmas parties. For the Mexico with Mickey unit study based on the Mexico exhibit in Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center, we've included step by step instructions for making a Mickey Mouse piñata from the original study that appeared in Vacation Education Epcot AND we've also added instructions for making a traditional piñata.
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