Together in Kwanzaa

Book: My First Kwanzaa - Karen Katz - 2003

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Multicultural Theme: Learn about the holiday, Kwanzaa while learning about the importance
of family, friends, working together, and traditions.

Materials: The book My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz, candles (3 red, 3 green, and 1 black for
each student), a Styrofoam rectangle for each student, art supplies to decorate (paint, paint
brushes, markers, stickers, construction paper, scissors, glue, tape) whiteboard, story hat map
worksheets (the supplies above will be used for each student to make/decorate their own kinara),
reading comprehension worksheet

Standard: CCSS.ELA- Literacy. RL. K.1: with prompting and support, ask and answer
questions about key details in a text

CCSS.ELA- Literacy. RL. K.3: with prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and
major events in a story

Objective: students will be able to explain the story setting, characters, and events, while
answering basic questions about the story My First Kwanzaa, with a classroom
activity/discussion and a worksheet done in small groups, with 95% accuracy (teacher will be
doing the lesson with the students, so it will be fun (the most important part) and to ensure each
child understands the material)

Procedure:
Introduce: Hold up the book My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz and say to the children,
“Today we are going to read this story together! It’s going to teach us about the holiday
Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa traditions, and the importance of family, friends, and working together.”
Have a brief discussion on what family means to them and write their answers on the
whiteboard.

Read: Teacher will read the story to the entire class

Discuss: Together, as a whole group, we will identify the characters in the story, where
the story takes place, and the traditions the family practices to celebrate Kwanzaa (major events).

1. What is the name of the object that is made from shiny wood? (kinara)

2. How many candles are there and what colors are they? (7 total, 3 red, 3 green, 1 black)
3. What happens on the first day of Kwanzaa, who comes to visit? (neighbors)

4. How does the little girl feel when her mom braids her hair? (proud)

5. Do you and your family have any holiday traditions? If so, what?

Activities:
Ø Working in small groups, students will discuss and fill out their reading
comprehension worksheet (we will go over it as a class)

Ø Students will create their own kinara, as seen in the story, with the art supplies
provided. They will have the opportunity to design what they imagine by
coloring, painting, cutting, gluing, etc. (hands-on)

Evaluation: The students will turn in their worksheets for grading and the teacher will
openly “grade” their kinaras by giving compliments on their creativity and artwork.