Social Studies for Kids

HOLIDAYS
Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo celebrates a victory by the Mexican Army over the French Army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The importance in the Battle of Puebla is in the ability of a smaller, more poorly equipped army to defeat a larger, well-equipped one. The Mexican people also showed that they were willing to defend their homeland from invaders. This victory also punched a hole in the European mystique, which held that European governments and armies were by their very nature more powerful than other, smaller countries and their armies. Today, people celebrate Cinco de Mayo in a big way. They have festivals and fiestas. They dance special dances and eat special foods. They play special music on special instruments. They take part in sporting events. They make piñatas. People wear clothes of red and green, the colors of the Mexican flag.
ECONOMICS	GEOGRAPHY
Goods and Services One of the most basic ideas in economics is goods and services. More than anything else, money is spent on goods and services. It helps to know the difference between two.	How Geography Influences an Area's Economy To a great extent, the geography of a settlement determines what kind of industry grows in that settlement.
ANCIENT TIMES
Athens and Sparta: Different Yet the Same The two rivals of ancient Greece that made the most noise and gave us the most traditions were Athens and Sparta. They were close together on a map, yet far apart in what they valued and how they lived their lives.