Kwanzaa is a celebration of African American family, community and culture created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. It lasts seven days, from December 26 to January 1, and each day is for one of the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). One more candle is lit on the kinara each day. The mkeka, a woven mat, is one of its symbols, and the Karamu feast is held on December 31.
Six pages for the week of Kwanzaa. Page 1 shows the December and January calendars: students color the seven days of Kwanzaa and answer questions about days of the week and days between dates. Page 2 is a table of the seven days and principles in order, with some days and dates to fill in, then questions about first to seventh. Page 3 counts by 7s to 70 and adds kinaras of 7 candles, then two stories about weeks and boxes of 7. Page 4 follows the candles: one more is lit each day, so the flames add up 1, 3, 6, 10 and on to 28. On page 5 students finish woven mat patterns and write each pattern with letters, like AAB. Page 6 shows woven mats as arrays: rows of squares, how many in all. The first problem on pages 3, 5 and 6 is a worked example.
Put a December and a January calendar side by side before page 1 and find December 26 together, then count on to January 1 across the two months. For page 2, read the principles aloud and talk about what each word means. On page 5, have students say the pattern out loud (stripes, stripes, dark) before writing it with letters, and build one with paper strips or colored squares.
Look at a calendar together and count the days from December 26 to January 1. Make a pattern with spoons, forks and cups and ask what comes next. Count by 7s while walking or clapping.
Kwanzaa math for the seven days from December 26 to January 1, a week that crosses two months and two years. Students read the December and January calendars, put the seven principles in order, count by 7s, follow the candles as a growing pattern and finish woven mat patterns and arrays.
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