Kwanzaa Placemats

Black, red and green strips of paper are woven through a yellow piece of paper to make a decorative place mat for a festive Kwanzaa meal with making friends.

Good for ages 7 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.makingfriends.com/world/kwanzaa_mat.htm

Kwanzaa Tissue Paper Kinara

Cardboard tubes are painted red, black and green to commemorate the traditional Kwanzaa kinara with moms gone global.  She then puts in orange tissue paper to represent the flames.  Traditionally, during the Kwanzaa celebration, one candle is lit each day in recognition of each principle.  The candles are displayed in a special holder called a kinara.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.momsgoneglobal.com/kwanzaa-for-kids-global-lessons-from-this-american-holiday

Kwanzaa Book

Green and red strips of paper are woven onto a black scrapbook to make a photo or historical album to help celebrate Kwanzaa with better homes and gardens. 

Good for ages 6 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bhg.com/holidays/kwanzaa/crafts/kwanzaa-family-history-book/

Kwanzaa Kufi Hat

Felt strips are cut and glued together to make a Kwanzaa Kufi with making friends.  Many grandfathers and other older men wear a kufi every day to symbolize their status as wise elders, religious people, or family patriarchs.  It has become identified primarily with persons of West African heritage, who wear it to show pride in their culture, history, and religion and is traditionally, when worn by men.  The kufi is a sign of peace, mourning, renewal or protection of the mind.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.makingfriends.com/world/kwanzaa_hat.htm

Paper Kwanzaa Chain

A great craft to discuss the seven principals for Kwanzaa.  Each loop includes the name of each symbol.  Kids can also draw or cut out pictures for the symbols as well. Free kids crafts shares the details.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/kwanzaa-chain/

The Seven Principals of Kwanzaa:

Each represents values and concepts reflective of African culture and contribution to community building and reinforcement. The basic symbols in Swahili and then in English are:

Mazao (The Crops)The African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.

Mkeka (The Mat)The tradition, history and the foundation on which we build.

Kinara (The Candle Holder)The roots of continental Africans.

Muhindi (The Corn)Children and the future which they embody.

Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles)The Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs.

Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup)The foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.

Zawadi (The Gifts)The labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.

There are also the supplemental symbols of the flag:

Bendera (The Flag)The colors of the Kwanzaa flag are the colors of the Organization, black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle.