green and red construction paper cut into 3 in. squares
large piece of white construction paper
Objective: To create a handmade Kwanzaa mat called a Mkeka (em-kay-kah) of thier own.
1. Tell students about Mkeka's use (It is placed on the Kwanzaa table to represent the past and foundation of the African American people).
2. Let them know it is made by hand and is a symbol of tradition and history.
3. Each child will glue a pattern of the 3 colors on the mat.
4. When the glue has dried you can place a label on the back with the words "Mkekka: an African woven mat."
games to play...
songs to sing...
Stuff The Turkey
Brown paper bag
two small brown lunch paper bags
newspaper
tissue paper
tape
stapler
glue
Fold down about 4" of the large brown bag - keep the fold inside. Fold and staple in each of the four edges of the bag so that the opening is smaller. Smooth out the opening to make it rounded. Stuff the two small paper bags with newspaper. Twist the top of the bags and tape to form the drumsticks. Cut strips of the red tissue paper and glue around the twisted top of the drumsticks for decoration. Glue the drumsticks on the sides of the "turkey". For the stuffing, wad up pieces of the newspaper and tape together to form balls.
TO PLAY: Players stand back about four feet and take turns tossing the "stuffing" into the "turkey". See who can get the most in.
This is sung to the tune of the Hokey Pokey but the children will pretend that they are turkeys as you all sing things like:
You put your right wing in, put your right wing out, You put your right wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your left wing in, put your left wing out, You put your left wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your red beak in, put your red beak out, You put your red beak in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
clean paper towel tube
glue
construction paper
scissors
acorns
Cut a ring off of the paper towel tube about 2 1/2 inches. You can paint this, or leave it brown. Cut out different colored leaves from the construction paper. Glue the leaves to the top of the ring. Then add a couple of acorns for a finishing touch.
Here's a snack your kids will love! Take a pint of vanilla yogurt and put it in a bowl mix it with granola cereal, stir and serve it. It's a great snack idea.
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