| With the wellspring of cultural knowledge available to | | | | remember. Our children need good principles to guide |
| educate African American children about our rich | | | | them thru life and this is an invaluable way to instill |
| heritage a solid anchor for all of this information is | | | | them. |
| Kwanzaa. Unless you know where you come from, | | | | For those a little more mature in age get them to |
| you can never arrive at where you should be going | | | | make a Kwanzaa calendar to place in their room, with |
| (huge paraphrase). Let's look at this quote... | | | | the symbols, their names and meaning. As an added |
| Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce | | | | way to remember Kwanzaa we discuss each |
| seven basic values of African culture which contribute | | | | separate symbol, name and meaning each month |
| to building and reinforcing family, community and culture | | | | leading up to Kwanzaa - giving you extra material to |
| among African American people as well as Africans | | | | which subjects like history, culture, languages, writing |
| throughout the world African community. These values | | | | and composition can be budded from throughout the |
| are called the Nguzo Saba which in Swahili means the | | | | year. |
| Seven Principles. Developed by Dr. Karenga, the | | | | Starting at those at the ages of 16 and up we let them |
| Nguzo Saba stand at the heart of the origin and | | | | choose a principle and go online to research examples |
| meaning of Kwanzaa, for it is these values which are | | | | of each Kwanzaa symbol being applied in the past, |
| not only the building blocks for community but also | | | | present and produce an example that can be used in |
| serve to reinforce and enhance them. Do a search for | | | | the future. The future application of their respective |
| the Official Kwanzaa Web Site and read to your | | | | Kwanzaa symbol can be next year or five years |
| hearts content. | | | | from now and triggers their use of critical thinking - |
| After learning American history, World history, the | | | | something that young leaders need to practice in order |
| history of art, music, writing and the like - African | | | | to be part of building family, community and culture. |
| American history is a must and I will touch on a way to | | | | A more in-depth lesson plan that can be used as a |
| add Kwanzaa to your curriculum. | | | | homeschooling guide to Kwanzaa can be found at the |
| First let's start with the little ones - the simplest way | | | | Learning to Give website. Each age group has a |
| that we use is with coloring pictures. Give them | | | | different activity planned for celebrating Kwanzaa in a |
| examples of of the seven symbols of Kwanzaa | | | | more structured format. |
| which you can find online and let them color them as | | | | Because of the richness of Kwanzaa and the |
| they desire. Remember to write the names of each | | | | principles that it points to as a reinforcement for |
| symbol and tell them the meaning of each one. As | | | | community, family and culture it's values should be |
| they get older they will begin to recall the meaning of | | | | rehearsed year-round just as Christmas in July and |
| the symbols and ask questions about each one. | | | | other holidays are touched upon out of season. We |
| Parents prepare ahead of time to answer their | | | | have the future of our nation's principles in our hands |
| questions about Kwanzaa as they will ask about each | | | | let's not forget to remind each other to keep those |
| one and it will probably be at a time when you are not | | | | principles. |
| at your computer or near a Kwanzaa calendar to | | | | |