Celebrating the holidays as a family and passing on traditions is an important part of every culture. While your students have likely grown up with traditions of their own, winter is a great time of year to broaden their worldview and explore together the history, traditions, and special meaning behind the various winter holidays celebrated around the world!

Observed from December 26th to January 1st each year, Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States honoring African heritage and culture. The seven day celebration offers an opportunity to reflect upon each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa - Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Unity among family, community, nation and race is an important cornerstone in the history, tradition, and celebration of Kwanzaa and, as you and your students explore this winter holiday, we encourage you to participate in your own community building exercises - like the hand print wreath craftivity.

Hand Print Wreath Craftivity

The hand print wreath craft used to create this board is a great symbol of teamwork and unity, reminding students that they are tied together by mutual respect and friendship! Have your students work together to create it; tracing and cutting out their hand prints from green and red construction paper and assembling the cutouts into the shape of a wreath.

United in Friendship

• Background: Black bulletin board paper.
• Title: "Happy Kwanzaa! United in Friendship!"
• Border: Red scalloped trimmer.
• Decoration: Make your students' hand print wreath the focal point of the bulletin board, mounting it in the center and arranging the festive lettering/accents out around it.