1. Kwanzaa
Laura Gilmore ED

2. Holidays
Grade 2
Kwanzaa

3. Objectives
The students will be able to explain what the Kwanzaa celebration is and why it is celebrated.
The students will recognize the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
The students will be able to name the three colors of Kwanzaa and what they stand for.
The students will be able to describe what is done during the Kwanzaa celebration.

4. Materials Empty Toilet Paper Roll
Construction Paper (in the colors you want for your candles)
Tissue Paper (yellow and orange)
String
Tape (or glue)
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Spoon
Treats (candy, little toys, crayons)

5. Materials Continued Paper for pictures about gifts
Kwanzaa crossword copies
Candleholder

6. Websites
Kids Domain
DougUSA.com
Kwanzaa, quanza, quansa, kinera, what is, seven principles of
Kids Zone
Kulture Kidz

7. Kwanzaa Crossword
The students will complete the Kwanzaa crossword in order to practice using the different words used to describe the Kwanzaa celebration.

9. Kwanzaa Candleholder
The teacher will discuss with the students what each of the candles in the Kwanzaa candleholder mean. The students will work together to set up the Kwanzaa candleholder in groups at their tables and talk about the order in which the candles would be lit.

10. Making Benne Cakes You will need: oil to grease a cookie sheet
1 cup finely packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted sesame seeds

11. Making Benne Cakes Cont.
Preheat the oven to 325°. Lightly oil a
cookie sheet. Mix together the brown
sugar and butter, and beat until they are
creamy. Stir in the egg, vanilla extract, and
lemon juice. Add flour, baking powder,
salt, and sesame seeds. Drop by rounded
teaspoons onto the cookie sheet 2 inches
apart. Bake for 15 mintues or until the
edges are browned. Enjoy!

12. Candle Treats Take your toilet paper roll and lay it down on your
construction paper. Use a ruler to draw a line on the
paper for the width of the paper roll. Use your scissors to cut along the line that you drew, Lay the Paper Roll down on the edge of the construction paper. Tape one of the ends of the construction paper to the Paper Roll, then carefully roll the Paper Roll until you get to the end of the construction paper. When the construction paper is all the way around the Paper Roll, put a piece of tape to hold the paper together. You can also glue the paper down

13. the Paper Roll, put a piece of tape to hold the paper together.
You can also glue the paper down instead of using tape. If you
do this, put a rubber band around the Paper Roll, and allow time
for this step to dry. Cut two squares of tissue...one of the yellow
color and one of the orange tissue paper. I use a nice sized square
here so my candle flame is nice and large. Also remember when
making this part of the candle, most of the tissue will be inside
of the paper roll…so be generous with it's size. Lay the tissue
down, one piece on top of the other. If you angle it like the
sample here to your left, both colors of the tissue will show
nicely in your finished project. Use a spoon to gently push the
tissue into the Paper Roll. Don't push too hard or the tissue may
rip. Once the tissue is in the Paper Roll... add your treats. This
can be little toys, candy, or

14. anything you would like to give the children for treats.
Once your treats have been added... tie off the end. Here we've used green
string... but that is only so you can see where we added the tie. With your fingers... work
up the tissue to form a tip to make it look like a candle flame.
Make as many candles as there are for your celebration...
at least one candle per child. These can be set up to be part
of your decorations.

15. Kwanzaa Gifts
The teacher will discuss the ritual of giving children gifts on the last day of Kwanzaa.
The teacher will instruct the children to write about and draw a picture of what kind of homemade gifts they would like to receive if they celebrated Kwanzaa.
They should think about the nature of Kwanzaa gifts and also what they would like. Kwanzaa gifts are traditionally homemade and creative.

16. Kwanzaa

17. Kwanzaa Kwanzaa means “first fruit” in Swahili.
Kwanzaa is an African harvest celebration.
Kwanzaa is a time of harvest, reverence, and celebration.

18. When is Kwanzaa? December 26th-January 1st
Kwanza was started in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor at California State University.

19. Colors of Kwanzaa Black for the race of our people
Red for the blood our people shed
Green for the hope and color of the Motherland

20. There is one principle for each of the seven days of Kwanzaa.
Principles of Kwanzaa
There is one principle for each of the seven days of Kwanzaa.

21. Imani

22. Kuumba

23. Nia

24. Ujima

25. Umoja

26. Kujichagulia

27. Ujamaa

28. Kwanzaa Celebration The Kinara is placed atop the Mkeka.
Each candle represents a distinct principle beginning with Umoja.
Candles are then lit each day alternately from left to right.
Three red candles should be placed on the left and three green candles should be placed on the right.
On the last day of Kwanzaa the children are given homemade gifts.