ARTS AND CRAFTS

African Trade Beads- Submitted by Lisa in VA

We make African Trade Beads out of Model Magic and then color them. We put them in Tribal pouches we make out of felt (with beads hot glued on)

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Mkeka Placemat- Submitted by Lisa in VA

Each child makes a mkeka (placemat) with the Kwanzaa colors (red, black and green). Take a piece of 9" x 12" black construction paper and fold it in have the long way. Cut slits through the paper starting on the folded side and going about an inch away from the other side. Unfold. Take strips of red and green paper and weave them through the black. (Note: The only part I do is cutting the black paper. The children do the rest.)

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Kwanzaa Beaded Necklaces- Submitted by Patrisha

Measure out desired length of fishing line. Make a double knot at one end. String beads onto the fishing line. Use different colors and make a pattern. For example, put three red beads, three yellow beads, three blue beads, and then repeat the process. Use speckled beads. Make your own by dotting paint on solid-colored beads. Tie the necklace securely around a friend's neck. Make and exchange many strings of beads with friends. Have a great time celebrating one of America's own holidays!

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Kwanzaa Candle Favors- Submitted by Patrisha

tp rolls 1-per child, black, red and green construction paper, orange or yellow tissue paper, glue/scissors

Cover cardboard tube with glue and then any of the colors of contstuction paper. Cut a 10 inch square of tissue paper and place candy, nuts or a small prize in the middle of the square. Gather the tissue up around the prize and push the prize down into the tube so that the ends of the tissue papaer are sticking out like a candle flame. The tissue paper is the candle flame!

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Sand Beads- Submitted by Patrisha

Mix 1 cup of sands with 1/4 c. white glue in plastic tub. Pinch off enough sand dough to roll a bead in the size you want. With a nail, poke a hole through the center for stringing. If the dough is too soft to hold the hole, more sand until it is stiff enough so that the hole does not collapse. Let bead dry on tray until hard. Tape the end of a piece of yarn that is long enough to make a necklace and string the beads on it. Tie ends together to make a necklace. Can decorate beads by coloring them with markers or gluing tiny seed beads to them.

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FOOD AND COOKING

Benne Cakes- Submitted by Lisa in VA

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

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. 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!

Benne cakes are a food from West Africa. Benne means sesame seeds. The sesame seeds are eaten for good luck. This treat is still eaten in some parts of the American South.

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Kwanzaa Snack- Submitted by Lisa in VA

For Kwanzaa we eat raw vegetables such as celery, carrots, peppers, etc.... Surprisingly the children loved the raw vegetables last year.

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Fried Bananas- Submitted by Patrisha

6 med to large bananas; plastic knives; lemon juice; brown sugar; cinnamon; butter; frying pan; spatula; paper towels

Ask the children to peel the bananas and cut into 1/2" slices (you may want to do the cuting). Place banana slice on a plate and sprinkle a little lemon juice, brown sugar and cinnamon onto the slices. Put butter in the frying pan over med heat. Place a layer of slices in the frying pan. Fry both sides of the slices until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve.

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Chocolate Heaven- Submitted by Patrisha

You may also want to serve this with hot chocolate. Tell the students that cocoa and chocolate are made from the beans of cacao trees, which are found in the troplical rain forests of Africa. Ask students to name some different kinds of chocolate and ways it is used.

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Old-fashioned Hot Chocolate- Submitted by Patrisha

Mix together 1/3 cup of cocoa, 1 cup sugar and 3 quarts of milk in a saucepan over med heat (serves approx 15 students) Enjoy!

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CIRCLE TIME

Talk about these Kwanzaa Facts- Submitted by Patrisha

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 in the U.S. by Maulana Karenga, a professor. The name Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest," comes from the African language of Swahili. Many of the new words you will hear associated with Kwanzaa are Swahili words.

During Kwanzaa seven candles are placed in a kinara (kee-nar-rah), which is a wooden candle holder. For each day of Kwanzaa, one candle is lighted to celebrate a special principle. These principles come from beliefs held by families in many parts of Africa.

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Principles of Kwanzaa- Submitted by Patrisha

The seven principles of Kwanzaa are: unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. On each of the seven days, families will participate in an activity which symbolizes that day's principle. For example, on the sixth day of Kwanzaa people make up dances to perform for family and friends, showing creativity.

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Kwanzaa Gifts-- Submitted by Patrisha

Kwanzaa gifts are called zawadi (zah-wah-dee), are made by hand. Gifts ymbolizing African ancestry. Some examples are: fabric dolls with black-button eyes, homemade storybooks with African folk tales, and necklaces strung with specked beads. These zawadi are made and given by adults and children alike on Kwanzaa. Day of Kwanzaa- Submitted by Patrisha

Choose a day of Kwanzaa with the group. Plan a performance for that day. llustrate the Kwanzaa Principle of the day.

Some ideas are:

unity: Write and sing a song about the unity in school community

self-determination: Write books or read stories about determined people who achieved great goals.

responsibility: Make posters encouraging responsible behavior in the community. Plan a community service day for school.

cooperative economics: Start a small business with your group in School. Work together to raise money. Use profits for the common good.

purpose: Find and bring videos or story books to school. Choose stories where characters show strength of purpose. Discuss the videos or stories.

creativity: Open an art gallery.

faith: Have children of different faiths describe their beliefs. Invite clergy or other religious people to school.

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Kwanzaa Books- Submitted by Lisa in VA

Imani's Gift at Kwanzaa by Denise Burden Patman Kwanzaa by A.P. Porter Kwanzaa by Deborah M. Hewton Chocolate My First Kwanzaa Book by Deborah M. Hewton Chocolate

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MISC

Kwanzaa- Submitted by Christi

Kwanzaa is a 7 day African-American celebration that begins on December 26. This holiday was created in 1966 in the United States by Maulana Karenga. Kwanzaa combines traditional African practices with African American goals and ideals. The word Kwanzaa means first fruits in Swahili. Kwanzaa centers on 7 principals with one principal being celebrated each day. Each night a candle is lit in a Kinara. The family discusses one of the principals and how it can be practiced in daily life in an effort to strengthen the sense of the African heritage. During Kwanzaa families and communities gather for an exchange of homemade gifts and toward the end of the holiday a festive meal called a Karamu is held. This is a lively event with African dishes, music, singing and dancing.

Kwanzaa is an African- American holiday that celebrates the harvest and teaches principles that go far beyond ethnic boundaries.

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Kwanzaa- Submitted by Patrisha

An African-American holiday of Kwanzaa is a holiday in which people celebrate their Aferican heritage. (Dec 26 - Jan1) The holiday is based on traditional "first fruits" or harvest.

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Kwanzaa Info- Submitted by Lisa in VA

This year (1996) marks the 30th anniversary of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday that celebrates the harvest and teaches principles that go far beyond ethnic boundaries.

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