Lesson Plan Title : Celebrating Kwanzaa in the Community

Age Range: Grade 6 through grade 8 (Middle School)

Overview and Purpose: In this lesson, students learn who their local civic and government leaders are and how to contact them. They work together in groups to interview their local leaders about Kwanzaa celebrations in the community.

Objective: The student will be able to talk with community leaders about how Kwanzaa is celebrated in their community.

Resources:

Contact information for various community leaders

Activities:

This activity can be completed as an assignment at the conclusion of a unit on Kwanzaa. Ask students if they know what types of celebrations occur in their local communities regarding Kwanzaa. If they aren't sure or they don't know, explain that you'll give them the resources to be able to find out. Divide the students into groups and assign them different local civic and government leaders to contact. Have them interview these leaders via email, letters, or phone to gather the information about how Kwanzaa is celebrated. The students can then report back to the class what they found out.

Wrap Up:

If students find that there are no community celebrations for Kwanzaa, have them work together to plan one. Students can also write persuasive letters to their community leaders explaining why there should be community celebrations for Kwanzaa.