Unit 16: Kwanzaa

Click or select any word to translate.

Word List

  • n. Art is something creative that expresses ideas and feelings.
    My sister likes to look at the art in the museum.
  • n. A book is a set of printed sheets of paper that are held together inside a cover.
    The man smiles as he reads his favorite book.
  • n. Clothes are what people wear to cover their bodies.
    I bought warm clothes for the cold winter.
  • n. A community is a group of people who share the same area or interests.
    The community got together to plant trees.
  • n. December is the twelfth month of the year.
    The last day of the year is December 31st.
  • n. Dinner is the main meal eaten in the evening.
    I had a hamburger for dinner.
  • v. To end is to stop or finish.
    They are happy because the teacher wanted to end the class early.
  • v. To exchange is to give one thing in return for another.
    The men exchange business cards.
  • n. A family is a group of people who are related to each other.
    There are four people in my family.
  • prep. From shows a starting place or position.
    Chris studies from 10 o'clock to noon every morning.
  • adj. Green is the color of growing grass or leaves.
    I don't like green apples.
  • n. A person's home is the place where that person lives.
    The family likes to stay at home on the weekends.
  • n. January is the first month of the year.
    My birthday is in January.
  • adj. Red is the color of blood.
    Jack is wearing a red shirt.
  • adj. Seven is the word for the number 7.
    I have seven colored pencils on my desk.
  • v. To start is to begin doing something.
    Catherine has to start work at 8 o'clock in the morning.
  • adv. Together shows an action is done with another person or thing.
    Let's work together to finish the project.
  • n. A university is a school where people study for a degree.
    My dream is to go to a good university.
  • v. To wear is to have clothing on your body.
    The man has to wear a suit to work.
  • n. A year is a period of 365 days or twelve months.
    You become one year older every birthday.

 

Exercise

A ‣ Write the word that best fits each sentence.

  1. exchange / wear
    Please _____ a white shirt to work tomorrow.
    Let's _____ email addresses.
  2. community / university
    My brother is a math professor at a _____ .
    My daughter teaches babies how to swim at our _____ center.
  3. January / December
    The beginning of the year is in _____ .
    We celebrate the end of the year in _____ .
  4. book / art
    The author wrote a(n) _____ for his son.
    The artist created a piece of _____ for the gallery.
  5. dinner / home
    It's snowing, so let's eat at _____ .
    We'll have chicken for _____ tonight.
  6. clothes / family
    My _____ flew on a plane to Hawaii on our vacation.
    I have to wash my dirty _____ today.
  7. year / together
    Take your pet to a veterinarian at least once a _____ .
    Let's go to the dance _____ .

 

B ‣ Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.

  1. The flower is the color of blood.
    _ _
  2. I went to five countries in a period of twelve months.
    _ _ _
  3. I begin the day by taking a shower and eating breakfast.
    _ _ _ _
  4. The man is wearing a sweater that is the color of growing grass.
    _ _ _ _
  5. I drove here starting in the city.
    _ _ _

 

C ‣ Write the phrase that best fits each sentence.

  1. My family includes my _____.
    • a. in a week
    • b. in order to win the game
    • c. I go to sleep 
    • d. mother, father, and three sisters 
    • e. for school
  2. At the end of the day, _____.
    • a. in a week 
    • b. in order to win the game 
    • c. I go to sleep
    • d. mother, father, and three sisters
    • e. for school
  3. Diane needs new clothes _____.
    • a. in a week
    • b. in order to win the game 
    • c. I go to sleep 
    • d. mother, father, and three sisters 
    • e. for school
  4. We have to work together _____.
    • a. in a week
    • b. in order to win the game 
    • c. I go to sleep
    • d. mother, father, and three sisters
    • e. for school
  5. There are seven days _____.
    • a. in a week
    • b. in order to win the game
    • c. I go to sleep 
    • d. mother, father, and three sisters
    • e. for school

 

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday celebrated in the United States and other countries by people of African descent. It is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 each year. The celebration is dedicated to honoring African culture and working together as a community.

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Mualana Kareng. Kareng was an African studies professor at California State University. According to him, Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means "first fruit." Kareng wanted to create a holiday for African- Americans as a way for them to reconnect with their heritage.

The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red, and green. These colors are seen in decorations such as African pieces of art, baskets, and cloth. Millions of African-Americans wear African clothes during Kwanzaa and decorate their homes with fruit and vegetables.

Each day, a family will celebrate one of seven different principles of their African heritage, such as unity, faith, and community. Then, they light a candle. The candles are put on a candleholder called a "Kinara.” The middle candle is black, the three candles on one side of the Kinara are red, and the other three candles are green.

On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, families remember their ancestors and get together for a big dinner called a "Karamu." Traditional African-American dishes, which include chicken, fish, rice, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables are served.

Like Christmas, there are gifts which are exchanged on the seventh day. Books are always included because they symbolize the importance of learning about history and tradition.

Kwanzaa is a way of celebrating the end of the year by honoring African culture and traditions and to start the new year with family members as well as the community.

 

Reading Comprehension

Answer the questions.

  1. What is this reading about?
    • a. A celebration called Kwanzaa
    • b. The African community
    • c. The history of African-Americans
    • d. Where Kwanzaa was started
  2. What does Kwanzaa mean?
    • a. African heritage
    • b. Community 
    • c. First fruit
    • d. Candleholder
  3. What do families do on the sixth day of Kwanzaa?
    • a. They read a book about history.
    • b. They light three green candles.
    • c. They give gifts to each other.
    • d. They have a big meal together.
  4. Which of the following is true?
    • a. The colors of Kwanzaa are red, green, and yellow.
    • b. A candle is lit each day for seven days.
    • c. Mualana Kareng created Kwanzaa in 1996.
    • d. African-Americans decorate their homes with books.
  5. Why are books given as gifts for Kwanzaa?
    _____

 

Answer Key

Leave a comment

Name
Comments
Comments

Load more