Free Kwanzaa activities for kids for children, with seven printable activities that use real Kwanzaa words, from the kinara and the seven principles to unity, creativity and faith. Print a word search in three levels, bingo cards, a word scramble, a “how many words can you make” page, an acrostic poem, a writing prompt and a fold-up Kwanzaa card, each with an answer key where one is needed.
Kwanzaa activities for kids to print (PDF)
These four pages show what the Kwanzaa maker prints: a medium word search with a word list, two bingo cards on a page, an acrostic poem for the letters of UNITY, and the fold-up card that says “Happy Kwanzaa!” Click a picture for the PDF.
Prefer one download? Grab the ready-made Kwanzaa activity pack (PDF), which has every page in one file.
About Kwanzaa: the holiday at a glance
A little background makes the words on the page mean more. Here are the basic facts that go with these Kwanzaa activities for kids:
| Dates | December 26 to January 1, seven days |
|---|---|
| Created | In 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga |
| Name | From the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, “first fruits” |
| Colors | Red, black and green |
| Symbols | The kinara, seven candles, a mat, corn and a unity cup |
| Final feast | Karamu, the feast on December 31 |
The story of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of African American and Pan-African culture. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga and draws on harvest festivals from many parts of Africa. The name comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means “first fruits of the harvest.”
Each day focuses on one of seven principles, the Nguzo Saba: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). Families light one candle of the kinara each night, three red, one black and three green, and talk about the principle of the day.
Wikipedia’s Kwanzaa article describes the origins, symbols and the seven principles.
What is in the Kwanzaa activity pack?
Every activity uses the same list of 24 Kwanzaa words, so children meet each word several times in different ways. The list is the heart of these Kwanzaa activities for kids: the word search hides it, the scramble mixes it up, the bingo calls it out and the writing prompt asks children to use it.
Kwanzaa word search: three levels
The word search comes in easy, medium and hard grids, with 10, 14 and 18 words from the list.
The longest Kwanzaa word is principles with 10 letters, and the shortest words are red and nia with 3.
Kwanzaa vocabulary: words to talk about
Take a few minutes to talk about the words before children search for them. These eight are a good place to start:
| Word | Letters | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| kinara | 6 | The candle holder that holds seven candles |
| umoja | 5 | The Swahili word for unity, the first principle |
| ujima | 5 | Collective work and responsibility |
| ujamaa | 6 | Cooperative economics, sharing resources |
| nia | 3 | Purpose, setting goals |
| kuumba | 6 | Creativity, making things better |
| imani | 5 | Faith, believing in yourself and your people |
| mkeka | 5 | The woven mat on which the symbols are placed |
The other 16 words in the list are kwanzaa, candles, unity, harvest, community, family, culture, heritage, africa, red, black, green, feast, gifts, principles and corn.
How people celebrate Kwanzaa
- Lighting one candle of the kinara each night
- Talking about the principle of the day
- Wearing African-inspired clothing and decorating in red, black and green
- Sharing a Karamu feast on December 31
- Giving handmade gifts and learning about family history
Kwanzaa activities for kids to do with the worksheets
Pair the printed pages with a hands-on idea, and the vocabulary sticks:
- Principle of the day: pick one principle each day and talk about how to show it at school or at home.
- Unity writing: use the prompt to write about a time your family or class worked together.
- Kinara craft: make a kinara from a cardboard tube and paint seven candles in red, black and green.
- Mkeka weaving: weave strips of paper in two colors to make a mat.
- Unity acrostic: write UNITY down the page and add a word for each letter.
A note for families and teachers
Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, celebrated by many families alongside other holidays. Families who celebrate may want to add their own traditions to these activities.
Kwanzaa activities for kids for different ages
The activities suit a wide range, and you can choose the right level for each child:
| Age | Best pages | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 4 to 5 | Bingo cards and the Kwanzaa card, with a grown-up reading the words | Use pictures or real objects as bingo counters |
| Ages 6 to 7 | The easy word search (10 words), the scramble and the acrostic | Work in pairs and use the word list at the bottom of the page |
| Ages 8 to 10 | The medium and hard word searches (14 and 18 words) and the writing prompt | Ask for a paragraph, not a sentence, and add a drawing |
How to use these Kwanzaa activities for kids in five minutes
The kwanzaa activities for kids maker works from the 24-word Kwanzaa list, so whichever page you print uses the same words. Choose an activity, set the level and press Download PDF or Print, and press New puzzles for a fresh set.
Kwanzaa activities for kids: frequently asked questions
When is Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 every year.
What are the seven principles of Kwanzaa?
Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).
What do the Kwanzaa colors mean?
Black stands for the people, red for their struggle and green for the future and hope that comes from the struggle.
Kwanzaa printables: find the right page
Seven principles of kwanzaa worksheet
A seven principles of Kwanzaa worksheet idea: write the seven Swahili names, umoja, kujichagulia, ujima, ujamaa, nia, kuumba and imani, in a list and ask children to draw one picture for each. The word list includes umoja, ujima, ujamaa, nia, kuumba and imani.
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