TeacherVision - Lesson Plans, Printables and moreFree Trial  Member Benefits  Sign In    
Click Here
Jun 19, 2013
Search:  
  • Select a Country Please select your location to view
    the most relevant content for you.
1f2n3n
FREE Reference - 1st of 3 Free Items

View 2 more resources at no cost, and then subscribe for full access.

|
 

Kwanzaa Symbols & Celebration

This African American holiday season was developed in California in the 1960s so that African Americans could have their own special holiday at this time of year. "Kwanzaa" comes from the Swahili word meaning the first fruits of the harvest.

These are the symbols of Kwanzaa and what they stand for:

  • Kinara (kee-NAR-ah)--This is a candleholder for seven candles, standing for the family background. One candle is lit each evening. A black candle is in the middle to represent skin color, three red candles on one side represent struggles, and three green candles on the other side represent the future.
  • Mkeka (m-KAY-kah)--This straw mat represents the foundation on which all else rests.
  • Muhindi (muh-HIN-dee)--These ears of corn stand for the children of the family. One ear of corn for each is placed on the straw mat. Apples, nuts, and yams can also be added to remember the harvest from the earth.
  • Matunda (ma-TOON-dah)--This is fruit placed in a basket to represent the bountiful harvest. Bread is sometimes added.
  • Kikombe cha umoja (KI-kohm-bay cha oo-MO-jah)--This is a cup that represents "unity."
  • Zawadi (za-wah-DEE)--These are the gifts that children receive for the hard work they have done during the year. (In Africa, children are not allowed to ask for gifts; they do not make a wish list, for example, but are grateful for what they receive.)
Activities for Each Day of Kwanzaa
  • First day. Greet classroom members. Be together. The greeting is "Habari gani" (hah-BAR-ee GAH-nee) which means that someone is asking "what is new?"
  • Second day, "Kujichagulia" (koo-j ee-cha-goo-LEE-ah). Learn about family traditions and the traditions of your ancestors.
  • Third day, "Ujima" (oo-JEE-mah). Time to do something together in your class; perhaps fix up or clean.
  • Fourth day, "Ujamaa" (oo-jah-MAAH). Save coins all year and buy a gift that the whole class can share, not just one person.
  • Fifth day, "Nia" (NEE-ah). What is your strength? What is your purpose in life?
  • Sixth day, "Kuumba" (ku-OOM-bah). Devoted to creative endeavors. Make up a rhyme, a song, a poem, or paint a picture.
  • Seventh day, "Imani" (ee-MAHN-ee). Express faith that good things will happen in the future. Then enjoy a meal together.

Excerpted from Let's Read.

Highlights

End-of-the-Year Resources
The end of the school year is quickly approaching! Celebrate with fun activities, then prepare yourself and your students with report card advice, summer reading guides, summer math, and more.

Common Core Lessons & Resources
Is your school district adopting the Common Core? Work these new standards into your curriculum with our reading, writing, speaking, social studies, and math lessons and activities. Each piece of content incorporates the Common Core State Standards into the activity or lesson.

Top 10 Galleries
Explore our most popular Top 10 galleries, from Top 10 Behavior Management Tips for the Classroom and Top 10 Classroom Organization Tips from Veteran Teachers to Top 10 Free (& Cheap) Rewards for Students and Top 10 Things Every Teacher Needs in the Classroom. We'll help you get organized and prepared for every classroom situation, holiday, and more! Check out all of our galleries today.

June Calendar of Events
June is full of holidays and events that you can incorporate into your standard curriculum. Our Educators' Calendar outlines activities for each event, including: Summer Begins (6/21), Helen Keller's Birthday (6/27/1880), World War I Began (6/28/1914), and Meteor Day (6/30). Plus, celebrate Child Vision Awareness Month, National Rivers Month, and National Safety Month all June long!

Causes We Support: We Give Books
Visit We Give Books, an ever-growing, free online library of children's picture books! For every book read on the site, a brand-new book will be donated to a children's literacy campaign of your choosing. Read aloud to students or encourage them read independently, and you'll teach them to help others at the same time. Giving is as simple as reading!

Join TeacherVision
for $39.95 a year and start receiving benefits today!
Free 7-Day Trial

TEACHER NEWSLETTERS

Sign up today to receive timely, popular, and free classroom resources!

Free 7-Day Trial for TeacherVision®

Sign up for a free trial and get access
to our huge library of teaching materials!
Start Trial

Teacher Resources | Online Gradebook | Parenting | Reference Site | Homework Help | K-8 Kids | Poptropica
© 2000-2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.