Papa K and I were on a roll bringing books to life when the CORONAVIRUS came in like a whirlwind. All in-person class sessions and activities came to an abrupt halt. But, what fun we had prior to COVID-19! We shared our passion for the written word and expanded our literacy lab beyond Ms. Butler’s fourth-grade class to Ms. Dora’s fourth-grade kiddos at Buena Vista Elementary Enhanced Option school in Nashville, Tennessee. To our delight, we also had the opportunity to share with a group of inquisitive sixth graders in Ms. Poindexter’s class at Donaldson Middle School in Hermitage, Tennessee.
This blog series will be divided into four sections entitled “Literacy Remix I” “II,” “III,” and “IV.”
LITERACY REMIX I: Fun With KWANZAA
Before the holiday break, we read a book entitled Stick Man by Julia Donaldson to Ms. Butler’s fourth-grade class. The students were very familiar with Christmas, but we discovered most were unfamiliar with the African-American celebration of Kwanzaa which occurs December 26th to January 1st.
Armed with the book My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz and everything the students would need to learn about
Kwanzaa, we headed into the classroom. Since there were 22 students in the class, we placed a paper cut-out of an ear of corn for each student. To use the tools we had in a new way is an example of Kuumba (Creativity) a Kwanzaa principle. And we couldn’t forget the Mazoa. The crop of apples, yams, nuts, squash, and vegetables that represents the harvest.
First, the students had to locate Africa on the world map. I read aloud while Papa K helped the students set up the Kwanzaa table with a mkeka (mat), a kinara (candleholder) to hold seven mishumaa (candles), a kikombe (unity cup), and muhindi (ear of corn) for each child.
Discover, explore, imagine
The students had a blast dressing up in African attire
We introduced the Kwanzaa principles which include the following: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative/Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). After learning about the last principle and lighting the last candle, the students were presented with a zawadi, a gift to educate and enrich the students lives. A zawadi is often a book, homemade gift, or piece of artwork. In this instance the zawadi was a Merriam-Webster Notebook Dictionary for each student, gifted by Dr. Ryan Mire
We closed the lab session by singing a Kwanzaa song by Paula, to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star:
Kwanzaa Kinara burning bright
Now you share with us your light
May we always learn to share
with all children everywhere
Kwanzaa Kinara burning bright
Then we had a Karamu, a feast of homecoming, from Mama K’s kitchen.
POP QUIZ
Who founded Kwanzaa and why?
How are the candles arranged in a kinara?
Who typically lights the black candle and why?
What does the Mkeka represent?
True or false, Kwanzaa is a religious celebration?