Kwanzaa celebrates seven principles ("Nguzo Saba" in Swahili), including:

• Unity (umoja), signified by the gathering of family, friends, and community
• Faith (imani)
• Purpose (nia)
• Collective work and responsibility (ujima) - the commitment to the high ideals of the African community
• Cooperative economics (ujamaa)
• Self-determination (kujichagulia)
• Creativity (kuumba)

On December 31, a Kwanzaa feast is enjoyed by family and friends. Maulana Karenga designed the feast to include the following:

• a straw place mat (mkeka),
• a holder for seven candles (kinara),
• candles (mishumaa),
• a variety of fruit (mazao),
• an ear of corn for each child in the home (vibunzi),
• a unity cup (kikombe cha umoja),
• modest gifts, especially for children (zawadi)

The following crafts projects use materials found around the house, like grocery bags, cardboard, paper, boxes, string, crayons, paint, glue, etc. See a page about color mixing to see how to combine paint to make all the colors of the rainbow.

EAR OF CORN PLACE CARD Make an ear of corn table place card from construction paper and unpopped popcorn.

KWANZAA PLACE MAT Make a woven place mat from construction paper.

STRING OF AFRICAN FLAGS Make a string of African flags from construction paper and yarn or string for Kwanzaa. When you're done, locate the countries on a map of Africa.

KWANZAA CANDLE CARD You can make a festive candle card for Kwanzaa.

KWANZAA CANDLES Make paper Kwanzaa candles that have secret treats inside. You can use these as a table decoration, then give them to children as an after-dinner treat.

AFRICAN COUNTRIES: A COLORING BOOK TO PRINT Print a coloring book of African countries for Kwanzaa. When you're done, locate the countries on a map of Africa, then label and color them.

FAMILY TREE CRAFTS These crafts celebrate and honor your ancestors.

Worksheets to Print

I Can Color Kwanzaa Words Color Kwanzaa words, including candle, gift, place mat, fruit, corn, vegetables, Africa, candle holder, family.	Draw Four Kwanzaa Items Draw four Kwanzaa items. Below each item, write its name.	Match Kwanzaa Words and Pictures Match 10 Kwanzaa words to their pictures. The words are corn, cup, candle, fruit, place mat, candle holder, family, gift, Africa, and vegetables. Or go to the answers.	Kwanzaa Alphabet Code Use the alphabet code to find the Kwanzaa message. Answer: "Kwanzaa means first fruits in Swahili."
Kwanzaa: Printable Read-and-Answer Worksheet A printable worksheet on Kwanzaa, with a short text, a matching activity, and questions to answer. Or go to the answers.	Write Eight Kwanzaa Words Find eight Kwanzaa-related words. Then, for each word, write a sentence containing the word. Sample answers: Candles, corn, straw, place mat, Africa, unity, cup, fruit.	Missing Letters in Kwanzaa Words Find the missing lettters in Kwanzaa words, and then color the picture of the word. The words are cup, corn, fruit, candles, Africa, gift, family, place mat, vegetables, and flag.	Unscramble Kwanzaa Words Unscramble the Kwanzaa words, and then color the picture of the words. The words are cup, corn, candles, fruit, gift, Africa, family, place mat, vegetables, and flag.
Match the Syllables: Kwanzaa Words Match two syllables to make 10 Kwanzaa words. The words are Kwanzaa, candle, holder, honor, present, purpose, culture, seven, goblet, winter. Or go to the answers.	Kwanzaa Spelling Word Questions Use the list of Kwanzaa spelling words to answer simple questions. Words: holiday, Africa, family, candle, cup, first, fruits, vegetables, corn, gift. Or go to the answers.	Put 10 Kwanzaa Words in Alphabetical Order - Worksheet Put 10 Kwanzaa words in alphabetical order. The words are: family, straw, place mat, Africa, unity, cup, fruit, corn, vegetable, gift. Go to the answers.	Kwanzaa Wordsearch Puzzle Find the words in the Kwanzaa wordsearch puzzle, then use the extra letters to find the secret message: "Kwanzaa is fun." Or go to the answers.
Kwanzaa: Word Hunt Worksheet How many words can you make using the letters from "Celebrate Kwanzaa"? Sample answers: cat, neat, zebra, ... Go to worksheet with 30 blanks or a worksheet with 50 blanks.	Picture Prompt - Africa Write a story about the picture showing a child pointing to a map of Africa - for young writers.	Picture Prompt - Kwanzaa Write a story about the Kwanzaa scene - for young writers. The picture shows Kwanzaa symbols, including a unity cup, a candlestick with seven candles, a place mat, corn, assorted fruit, and small gifts.	Write Ten Things About Kwanzaa A one-page printable worksheet. Write ten things about Kwanzaa (plus one thing you would like to change about it).
Kwanzaa Verbal Analogies Printable Worksheet Think about how the first pair of words are related to each other. Then, look at the next word and find the word that is related to it in the same way. Mark the answer. Example: cup --> plate : drink --> dish, eat, pottery, buffet, table. Or go to the answers.	Write a Thank You Note - for Early Writers Use this form to write a thank you note and draw a picture for someone special.	Africa: Shape Poem Write a poem about Africa inside the map. Or go to a pdf of the poem worksheet.	Africa: Perimeter Poem Write a poem around the perimeter (outer edges) of the map of Africa. Or go to a pdf of the poem worksheet.
Write a Thank You Note Use this form to write a thank you note and draw a picture for someone special.

Kwanzaa Books to Print

Kwanzaa I See... Printable Book A short book about Kwanzaa to print for early readers, with pages for the student to color and short phrases to copy. The pages are: I see candles, a unity cup, a place mat, corn, fruit, gifts, and Africa.

Kwanzaa I Can... Printable Book A short activity book about Kwanzaa to print for early readers, with pages for the student to color and short phrases to copy. The pages are: decorate the Unity Cup, do the fruit maze, color the candles by number, connect the dots to find Africa, match the place mats, and unscramble the words.

Related Pages -- Learn about Africa and African-Americans:

African Geography Maps, quizzes, flags, and more on the continent and countries of Africa.

African Countries: Label Me! Printout Label the countries of Africa. Answers

Africa: Label Me! Printout with First Letter Hints Label the countries and bodies of water of Africa, given the first letter of the places. Answers

Africa: Outline Map Printout An outline map of Africa to print.

African Rivers: Outline Map Printout An outline map of Africa's major rivers to print.

African Rivers Labeled: Outline Map Printout A labeled outline map of Africa's major rivers to print.

Africa: Zoom School Use a pictorial interface to get information on Africa. including maps, quizzes, animals, explorers, and printouts on Africa.

Flags of Africa

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Biographies of African-American Inventors

Black History Calendar

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