| TeachersFirst Celebrates Kwanzaa |
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a scholar-activist who is currently the chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University in Long Beach. The word "Kwanzaa" is a Kiswahili term meaning "the first fruits of the harvest." The purpose of Kwanzaa is to reaffirm African-Americans' African culture, to reinforce the bonds between them as a people, and to introduce and reaffirm the value of the Nguzo Saba, The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday; it is a spiritual, festive and joyous celebration of life. Planning Materials Kwanzaa Information Center - A great resource for anything you ever wanted to know about Kwanzaa. Delves into Kwanzaa history in detail and describes the meaning of its symbols, and explains the significance and origins of the green, red and black flag. There are video and sound clips, a list of books for kids and other resources, and even a link to the Swahili dictionary. If you know nothing about this holiday, here’s the place to start! The Kwanzaa Web Site - Developed with the cooperation of the man who began it all, this site offers lots and lots of detail on every facet of the Kwanzaa observance and celebration. This makes it a great resource whether you're planning your own celebration or developing a lesson about the holiday. For students with Kwanzaa questions, this would be a great resource. Wrapped in Pride - Grades 4-12 - For an interesting lesson idea, start with this presentation on the creation and use of Ghanian Kente cloth, used in African festivals and ceremonies. This site from the Smithsonian shows how the cloth is made and describes the various ways in which Africans use it. The content is adaptable to many age levels. Fun and Games Khadijah’s Kwanzaa Page -- Grades 3+ - A simple site that describes each day of Kwanzaa and the principle celebrated. It explains Kwanzaa symbols, and also has a section that details the Kwanzaa Karamu feast held December 31. The best part is the section listing family activities – this includes instructions for making and playing the Oware game, a traditional African game, which would be a great activity for the classroom. Happy 3 Holidays! – Grades 2-4 -- A nice general site that discusses the seven days of Kwanzaa and what they mean, the origins of Kwanzaa, and how Kwanzaa is celebrated. Excerpted from a children’s book on Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington, the site also has an easy-to-follow recipe for "benne cakes," or sesame cookies. Sesame seeds are eaten for good luck.
Christmas Resources Copyright
© 2001-2006 by the Network for Instructional TV, Inc.
|
