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

Kwanzaa Family-History Writing Activity Grades 1-6

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