Kwanzaa Virtual Field Trip For Kids

Come and learn about the history and symbolism of Kwanzaa on this virtual field trip for kids and be inspired with ways your family can honor the spirit of Kwanzaa– perfect for a homeschool unit or as part of a fun global education at home.

a collage graphic with 2 pictures of Kwanzaa with a text title in the center

For parents- Learn more about Kwanzaa so you can help guide your children through this guide. Listen to the interview or read through the show notes for the podcast episode Celebrating Kwanzaa with Ashley Causey-Golden

About Kwanzaa
Books
Activities and crafts
Ways to celebrate Kwanzaa
- Daily activities

About Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa, celebrated from December 26th – January 1st, was founded in 1966 as an African American cultural holiday. It focuses on seven principles based on African culture to build and reinforce community. Kwanzaa’s name is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits.”

Facts for kids: https://kids.kiddle.co/Kwanzaa

Learn about Kwanzaa: https://youtu.be/I9f-IVRESvc

The Official Kwanzaa Website

https://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.html

Each day of Kwanzaa represents a different principle, or “Nguzo Saba,” in Swahili. The seven principles are:

Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race
Kujichagulia (self-determination): define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves
Ujima (collective work and responsibility): to build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together
Ujamaa (cooperative economics): to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together
Nia (purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness
Kuumba (creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it
Imani (faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle

Traditions

https://www.oprahmag.com/life/a34894511/kwanzaa-traditions/

Books

Seven Candles for Kwanzaa read aloud: https://youtu.be/FBxXzc70-nw

Additional books to read for Kwanzaa:

https://afrocentricmontessori.com/educatordownloads/booksforkwanzaa

Activities and crafts

Kwanzaa Planning Calendar Countdown Cards

https://afrocentricmontessori.com/montessorinspiredprintables/kwanzaa-planning-calendar-countdown-cards

Kwanzaa Matching and Question Game

https://afrocentricmontessori.com/montessorinspiredprintables/kwanzaamatchingandquestiongame

Kwanzaa Activity Pack

https://afrocentricmontessori.com/montessorinspiredprintables/kwanzaaactivitypack

Make a popsicle stick kinara: https://youtu.be/2Ci9bpKlX1g

Make a Kwanzaa picture frame: https://youtu.be/aR8b7F8HMxQ

Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com/holidays-seasons/kwanzaa/

Ways to celebrate Kwanzaa

We can all honor the meaning of Kwanzaa by learning more about the African American community and culture.

Find lots of different kinds of virtual events here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/online/kwanzaa/?q=kwanzaa&mode=search

Virtual Kwanzaa celebration in Ohio: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2832191253767450/permalink/2832224827097426

Black News Channel virtual celebration: https://blacknewschannel.com/press-room-njpacs-annual-kwanzaa-festival-marketplace-free-and-virtual/?fbclid=IwAR1Ui8kMBl8DsN3FNnzDok6MF4fgiNFamzDx3zXSkaT563Zncwayn23o3b8

Daily activities

Day 1

Sesame Street video on racism: https://youtu.be/XopxsSdecbc

Standing up to racism town hall (3 parts): https://youtu.be/TGJXR-EVYVs

What is white privilege and systemic racism (for kids): https://youtu.be/NZkGWmrIRFU

Tips for parents for talking about race with your kids: https://www.embracerace.org/resources/teaching-and-talking-to-kids

https://firstnamebasis.libsyn.com/212-how-to-talk-to-your-children-about-racism

https://www.pbs.org/parents/talking-about-racism

Day 2

Learn about black history: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPMtkf1FE5XLOdz7ZehUyLA

Learn about black scientists and inventors: https://youtu.be/glZpu0xMSuM

Learn about African countries:

Ethiopia: https://www.localpassportfamily.com/2020/06/e-is-for-ethiopia-ethiopia-for-kids-virtual-tour.html

Kenya: https://www.localpassportfamily.com/2020/06/k-is-for-kenya-kenya-for-kids-virtual-tour.html

Zimbabwe: https://www.localpassportfamily.com/2020/07/z-is-for-zimbabwe-zimbabwe-for-kids-virtual-tour.html

Day 3

Learn about an African country and support a service organization there

Kenya: https://www.localpassportfamily.com/2020/12/global-service-advent-kenya-activities-and-service-ideas.html

Ethiopia: https://www.localpassportfamily.com/2020/06/e-is-for-ethiopia-ethiopia-for-kids-virtual-tour.html

Nigeria: https://www.localpassportfamily.com/2020/12/global-service-advent-nigeria-activities-and-service-ideas.html

Zimbabwe: https://www.localpassportfamily.com/2020/07/z-is-for-zimbabwe-zimbabwe-for-kids-virtual-tour.html

Support black owned charities supporting black communities

Find a charity here: https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=8032

Day 4

Support black authors

http://hereweeread.com/african-american-natural-hair-book-lis

and purchase them from a black owned bookstore: https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/books/a33497812/black-owned-bookstores/

Day 5

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture has many different events planned in December including their “Artists at Home” series and a special webpage all about Kwanzaa that will launch on December 26th.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/about/news/national-museum-african-american-history-and-culture-celebrates-kwanzaa-and-offers

You can watch the Live chat with Astronaut Victor Glover referenced on the page above here: https://youtu.be/h4Pkjqs5hOE

Learn about black heroes

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Read-Like-A-Rock-Star/Category/Social-Studies-Units-271755

For older kids: https://blackhistoryintwominutes.com/

Famous men: http://hereweeread.com/2019/02/lets-hear-it-for-the-boys-50-picture-book-biographies-to-read-year-round-featuring-males-of-african-descent.html

Famous women: https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14276