Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday that is celebrated by many African Americans from December 26 through January 1. It was first introduced by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 as a ritual to welcome the first harvests to the home. He adapted the Swahili word kwanza (meaning “first”) to “Kwanzaa” to create a seven-letter word that represents the seven values and symbols of the holiday, each represented as a candle on a kinara.
During this holiday, families come together to celebrate their history, their culture, and the loved ones who lived before them. Over seven days, people share food, music, stories, and a drink from the unity cup.
Throughout the week of Kwanzaa, seven values are highlighted: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. In addition, Kwanzaa is also represented with symbols that signify unity such as ears of corn and other vegetables, fruit, nuts, a straw mat, a candleholder, a communal cup, and gifts.
Teach children about Kwanzaa during the holiday season with these free hands-on STEM, art, and writing activities.
Kwanzaa Unity Cup STEM Challenge Grades 1-4
In this activity, children learn about the tradition of the Kwanzaa unity cup and make their own unity cup in a fun STEM challenge.
Download this free Kwanzaa STEM Project here.
Kinara Art Project Grades 1-4
In this art activity, children create a colorful paper kinara, or candleholder, for the celebration of Kwanzaa. Choose green, red, and black construction paper to symbolize the colors of Kwanzaa.
Download this free Kinara Art Project here.
Kwanzaa Family-History Writing Activity Grades 1-6
Involve everyone in celebrating Kwanzaa with this free family-history writing activity. Children are prompted to write a story from their family history and share it with others.
Download this free Kwanzaa writing activity here.
For more holiday activities, read these Evan-Moor blog posts:
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Heather Foudy is a certified elementary teacher with over 7 years’ experience as an educator and volunteer in the classroom. She enjoys creating lessons that are meaningful and creative for students. She is currently working for Evan-Moor’s marketing and communications team and enjoys building learning opportunities that are both meaningful and creative for students and teachers alike