Red Socks and Yellow Socks s38

CHALLENGING WORDS

African candles colorful cousins holiday Kwanzaa reunion special stories stringing

SUMMARY

It’s Kwanzaa time! We dress up in African clothes and light colorful candles. Grandma visits with good things to eat and aunts, uncles, and cousins come from all over to share hugs, gifts and stories. --- Conversation Questions---

(1) Tell me what this story is about. (Answer) The celebration of Kwanzaa. (Follow Up) Explain why Kwanzaa is celebrated.

(2) Look in the book and find what days Kwanzaa takes place on. (Answer) December26th-January1st. (Follow Up) Name some other holidays that occur at this time of year.

(3) Imagine you were of African decent, how would you feel about celebrating Kwanzaa? (Answer) Any logical answer. (Follow Up) Name some other celebrations that celebrate heritage.

(4) Name the colors on the flag that the little boy’s dad hangs up. (Answer) Red, green, and black. (Follow Up) Name another holiday that is represented red and green.

(5) Recall a time when you participated in a family celebration. (Answer) Any logical answer. (Follow Up) Name some things that your celebration had in common with Kwanzaa.

(6) In the book, what did they call the map of Africa that Mama hung up? (Answer) The map of the motherland. (Follow Up) Name some other foreign countries in the would.

(7) Describe what motherland means. (Answer) The land where your ancestors came from. (Follow Up) Can you name the country or countries where your ancestors came from?

(8) Imagine you were the little boy in the story, what would be your favorite part of Kwanzaa? (Answer) Any logical answer. (Follow Up) Name some ways that you could help get ready for Kwanzaa.

(9) Look on age 8 and tell what colors the candles for Kwanzaa are. (Answer) Red, green, and black. (Follow Up) Name some other times we use candles.

(10) Tell me the phrase that Mama said each day. (Answer) It’s Kwanzaa time. (Follow Up) Tell what kind of stories Uncle Preedy read to the little boy. Activities

1. Draw the flag in the Kwanzaa celebration.

2. List some of the things the little boy’s family did to celebrate Kwanzaa.

3. Make a list of the African words for each day of Kwanzaa.

4. Write an invitation to a Kwanzaa celebration. Be sure to include the date and time.

Introductions

1. Have a picture of a kinara. Ask the child if they know what it is and what it is used for. Today we are going to read a story about the celebration of Kwanzaa.

2. Have some pictures of African costumes. Ask the child if they know what country a person wearing these clothes would be from. Today we are going to read a story about an American family that is celebrating their African heritage.

3. Have seven candles on the table. Ask the child to name some times when candles are used. Today we are going to read a story about a celebration called Kwanzaa that uses seven candles.

Book Title: My First Kwanzaa Book Author: Deborah M. Newton Chocolate Illustrator: Call Massey ISBN: 0-439-12926-5 # of Text Pages: 16 AR: N/A LEX: AD910 Building Oral Vocabulary 1 Kwanzaa 6 motherland 13 reunion Prediction Questions 2 What do you think will happen next? 11 What do you think the next day will be like? 14 Tell me what you think all these people will do.

This resource is provided by THE LEARNING CORPS—Barren County Board of Education, an AmeriCorps project funded in part by the Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service.