How to Add a Computer-based Homeschooling Kwanzaa Course

A time of endings and beginnings. This special time is to culturally celebrate Kwanzaa, it is also similar to the daily endings and beginnings of a computer based homeschooling environment filled with moments of knowledge and understanding. Teaching our children all the knowledge and values shared by our society is culture and adds polish to their education while continuing to guide them with those values.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Ears of Corn
• Straw place mat
• Candle holder for seven candles
• Seven candles
• Hand made gifts

1. Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration which removes it from other religious celebrations that may offend or create tension. Books can be read before or during Kwanzaa and there are several DVD’s that can be used on personal computers for additional educational options. Nguzo Saba is Kiswahili for "Seven Principles", these are the foundation of Kwanzaa to lay a path for cultural diversity with many items parents can use to celebrate and educate.
2. Emphasizing a values centered life to our children early in their education establishes a road to being a good citizen and solves any social studies curriculum challenges. Computer based homeschooling thrives on subjects like these where the resources on the Internet can provide days of video learning, audio learning, discussion groups, even emailing someone from another country to learn and exchange cultural knowledge.
3. The youngest member of the family does the lighting of the Mishumaa Saba, seven candles: three red, one black and three green candles - in a kinara (candleholder) each night. The same member of the family then discusses one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa; this can be another chance for computer based homeschoolers to display their talents in a presentation. With encouragement some homeschoolers have even displayed their own videos for a few nights of Kwanzaa with audio and all the bells and whistles.
4. While Kwanzaa recipes are bountiful and varied, there is nothing that can make someone remember anything taught when you add food to the lesson. Traditional foods like Yassa chicken or a traditional drink like hibiscus tea during the karamu (feast) can make it simple to remember the principles and the Kiswahili language describing each value.
5. Setting a table for Kwanzaa always involves family; beginning with the Mkeka (straw placemat), the Kinara, Mishumaa Saba, Mazao (fruit), Vibunzi (ears of corn equal to the number of children), and Zawadi (hand made gifts). As an added touch you can cut out small paper place holders with the each child’s name to be placed under each of the Vibunzi. At some Kwanzaa celebrations computer based homeschoolers have even researched to find out the names of the various fruit being served each night.
6. The seven principles of Kwanzaa can be separately taught and expanded into other forms of social studies beyond these seven days. An example is the principle of 'self-determination' that can be viewed from a social studies standpoint to show different peoples around the country or world whose society benefited from 'self-determination' thriving in their communities.

Tips & Warnings

• Kwanzaa begins on December 26th, the day after Christmas, and continues until New Years Day, January 1st.
• The seven principles of Kwanzaa are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
• Kwanzaa is a 7 day festival celebrating the African American people, their history, and their culture of African American children.