WebQuest

The Celebration of Kwanzaa

Process

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This five day lesson is designed so that you will understand the importance of Kwanzaa and why it is celebrated by millions of African Americans. Using Arizona's standards we will study Kwanzaa through American History, World History, Civics/Government, Geography, and Economics. 

Objective: You will learn how and why Kwanzaa was created. Dr. Maulana Karenga is  a Professor and Chair of the Department of Africana studies at California State University, Long Beach.  Dr. Marenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 after the Watts Riots of 1965 in Los Angeles, California, he wanted to unify the African-American people. He created Kwanzaa as I cultural holiday based upon the ancient customs of Africa. Kwanzaa is a Swahili word that means "First Fruit," which comes from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza". It is celebrated on the 26th of December until the 1st of January.  Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday and is celebrated in the United States and the world. It is a holiday to  celebrate family, community, culture, and to restore the roots of the African culture. Kwanzaa is centered around "The Seven Principles" Nguzo Saba as it is called in Swahili, each day you will be given 2 of the seven principles  with the definition to write in your journals.

Assignment for Day 1: American History: Preparing the classroom for Kwanzaa

Journal words and definitions for today:

  1. Umoja (Unity) (oo-MOE-jah) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
  2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Materials:

  1. Search the Internet how Kwanzaa decorations
  2. Red, green, and black construction paper and paint.
  3.  Glue
  4. Scissors
  5. Paper
  6. Red tissue paper for the flame
  7. Seven cardboard tubes (paper towel rolls)


 Group: You the  class as a whole will create using the traditional colors with other materials to transform the classroom in preparation for a Kwanzaa celebration after we have completed the five-day lesson period. The activity may take a day or two to finish, so it will be a work in progress.  We will use the Promethean board for instructions on how to make the kinara (candle holder).  

http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/kwanzaa-kinara/

Assignment for Day 2: World History: Kwanzaa Color Collage Shades of Africa

Journal words and definitions for today:

  1. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) (oo-Jee-mah) -To build and maintain our community together to make our brothers' and sister's problems our problems and to solve the together.
  2. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) (oo-Jah-mah) - To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit together.

Materials:

  1. Magazines
  2. Scissors
  3. Glue/paste
  4. Poster board

Individual work: Today you will work on individual projects, each of you will get magazines and cut pictures from the magazine that has the colors of red, green, and black. You are to make sure that all of the colors are on one picture, you are to them glue/paste the picture on the poster board, after you have finished you will present your work to the class.

 Assignment for Day 3: Civics/Government

Journal word and definition for today:

  1. Nia (Purpose) (nee-AH) - To make sure as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Materials:

  1. 1 Black candle
  2. 3 Red Candles
  3. 3 Green Candles
  4. Promethean Board
  5. Federal Powers vs. State Powers Video

 Group: You will work to in pairs of two today to  research how the three branches of government work together and for the good of the people, each of the members of the paired team will then report their findings to the class.

Assignment for Day 4: Geography

Journal words and definitions for today:

  1. Kuumba (Creativity) (koo-OOM-bah)- To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.

 Group: Using the Promethean Board and the interacting activities you will each have a chance to locate African countries where Swahili is spoken with assistance if you are not sure of the locations.  Brazzaville, Nairobi, Mogadishu, Kinshasa, and Tananarive. 

Assignment for Day 5: Economics

Journal words and definitions for today:

  1. Imani (Faith) (ee-Mah-nee) - To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Materials:

  1. Straw Mat Mkeka (M-kay-cah)
  2. Candle-holder Kinara (Kee-nah-rah)
  3. Seven Candles Mshumaa (Mee-shoo-maah)
  4. Ear of Corn Muhindi (Moo-heen-dee)
  5. Unity Cup Kikombe Cha Umoja (Kee-coam-bay chah-oo-moe-jah)
  6. Gifts/Presents Zawadi (sah-wah-dee)

Group: Now that we have finished our lesson plan for the week and have completed the decorations for Kwanzaa and placed them around the room , we will now all gather and set around the table and enjoy our Karamu (Feast). Enjoy food, gifts that we have made, music, dance and good friends. 

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