The week-long holiday of Kwanzaa begins on December 26 each year. Celebrate African-American and Pan-African families, communities, and cultures with Kwanzaa worksheets, printable reading, arts and crafts activities, and much more.
Celebrate Kwanzaa in the Classroom
The seven days of Kwanzaa represent the seven principles, or Nguzo Saba, a set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga:
- Unity (Umoja)
- Self-determination (Kujichagulia)
- Collective Work And Responsibility (Ujima)
- Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa)
- Purpose (Nia)
- Creativity (Kuumba)
- Faith (Imani)
Introduce students to the background, history, and traditions of Kwanzaa with our printables, or integrate the holiday into the curriculum with choice boards that include Kwanzaa activities for elementary students, as well as activities for middle school grades.
Kwanzaa Worksheets, Printables and Activities
Explore our collection of teacher resources including lesson plans on the history of Kwanzaa, activities to help your students learn more about the culture and traditions of the holiday, Kwanzaa printables for writing holiday poetry, project instructions for creating paper chains and wrapping paper, vocabulary lists, biographies of important Kwanzaa figures, and more!
Kwanzaa Choice Boards
Perfect for early-finisher, extension, or take-home activities, these choice boards feature 9 activities based on Kwanzaa principles to help elementary and middle school students learn about the celebration of Kwanzaa.- Kwanzaa Choice Board and Activities for Elementary Students
- Kwanzaa Math Choice Board for Elementary Students
- Kwanzaa Choice Board for Middle School
Kwanzaa Printables
Teach your students about the background and traditions of Kwanzaa with these printables. Choose from reading passages with cooperative group work, gift-making, vocabulary worksheets, and craft activities.- Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa Creator (Coloring Page)
- Kwanzaa, the African-American Celebration of Ancestry
- Kwanzaa Background
- What Is Kwanzaa? Packet
- Happy Holidays
- Kwanzaa Craft Activities
- Kwanzaa Terms Matching Activity
- More Kwanzaa Printables
Kwanzaa Lesson Plans
Help students learn more about Kwanzaa with these lesson plans. Lesson activities include reading and researching folk tales, poem writing, and discovering more about the tradition of storytelling in Africa.- Winter Holidays
- Activities for African Folk Tales
- Holiday Poems >
- What Is Kwanzaa?
- African Storytellers
- More Kwanzaa Lesson Plans
Art Activities for Kwanzaa
Get into the holiday spirit in art class with these potato print wrapping paper and holiday paper chain activities, or explore Kwanzaa crafts with your students by making a paper Mkeka or a Kinara to display at school.- Potato Print Wrapping Paper
- Holiday Paper Chains
- Kwanzaa Craft Activities
- Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa Creator (Coloring Page)
Reading & Language Arts Activities for Kwanzaa
Celebrate Kwanzaa with reading and creative writing activities. Includes writing an acrostic poem and celebrating Kwanzaa in your classroom with activities suggested for each day of the holiday.Social Studies Activities for Kwanzaa
Explore Kwanzaa connections using these social studies resources. Choose from activities that introduce the background and history of Kwanzaa, poem writing, and research activities.- Winter Holidays
- Kwanzaa Activities (Grades K-8)
- Holiday Poems
- What Is Kwanzaa?
- Favorite December Holiday Printables Slideshow, Grades K-4
- More Kwanzaa Activities for Social Studies
More Winter Holidays
To explore more winter holidays with your students, try these holiday packets or browse our resource collections.- Holiday Packet for Grades K-6
- Grade 3 Holiday Math and Literacy Kit
- Holiday Choice Boards Essentials Kit
- Hanukkah Teacher Resources
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- Black Lives Matter E-Book: A Movement for Racial Justice
- Martin Luther King Jr. Choice Board for Elementary
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Activities Packet for Middle School
- More Black History Resources
