Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Kwanzaa. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday that is celebrated around the world. It takes place between December the 26th and January the 1st every year. The holiday celebrates African culture and history. Kwanzaa started in 1966 in the U.S.A. It was the first holiday just for African Americans. Ron Karenga, an African-American civil rights campaigner, created the seven-day holiday. He said it was to give Americans of African descent an opportunity to celebrate their unique heritage. He wanted a holiday that did not “simply imitate the practice of the dominant [white] society”. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means “first fruits”. Many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa alongside other holidays that take place at the same time. Ron Karenga said: “All people can share in the celebration of our common humanity.”
Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which means "The Seven Principles of Blackness". Each of the seven days represents a different principle. The principles are unity, self-determination, working together, cooperating in business, building the nation, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa light candles in a special candle holder called a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colours and put up pieces of African art. Some people attend a Kwanzaa ceremony that has African drumming and music. One of the most important parts of Kwanzaa is a special feast called a karamu. Family and friends get together and celebrate who they are. If you go to a karamu, you should say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili for “What’s news?”
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
a week-
a.
the Swahili language
2
the first holiday
b.
other holidays
3.
Americans of African
c.
long holiday
4.
The name Kwanzaa comes from
d.
in the celebration
5.
Americans celebrate Kwanzaa alongside
e.
just for African Americans
6.
All people can share
f.
descent
Paragraph 2
1.
a different
a.
called a kinara
2
cooperating
b.
principle
3.
a special candle holder
c.
celebrate who they are
4.
People decorate their homes
d.
in business
5.
pieces of
e.
in African colours
6.
friends get together and
f.
African art
LISTENING GAP FILL
Kwanzaa is a _________________ that is celebrated around the world. It takes place between December the 26th and January the 1st every year. The holiday celebrates African culture and history. Kwanzaa started in 1966 in the U.S.A. It was the _________________ African Americans. Ron Karenga, an African-American civil rights campaigner, created the seven-day holiday. He said it was to give Americans of African descent an opportunity to _________________ heritage. He wanted a holiday that did not “simply imitate the practice of the dominant [white] society”. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language _________________ fruits”. Many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa alongside other holidays that take place at the same time. Ron Karenga said: “All ____________________ the celebration of our common humanity.”
Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which means "The Seven Principles of Blackness". _________________ days represents a different principle. The principles are unity, self-determination, working together, _________________ business, building the nation, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa _________________ special candle holder called a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colours and _________________ African art. Some people attend a Kwanzaa ceremony that has African drumming and music. One of the most important parts of Kwanzaa is a _________________ a karamu. Family and friends get together and celebrate who they are. If you go to a karamu, you should say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili for “What’s news?”
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday that is celebrated __________ the world. It takes place between December the 26th and January the 1st every year. The holiday celebrates African __________ and history. Kwanzaa started in 1966 in the U.S.A. It was the first holiday __________ for African Americans. Ron Karenga, an African-American civil rights campaigner, created the seven-day holiday. He said it was to give Americans of African __________ an opportunity to celebrate their unique heritage. He wanted a holiday that did not “__________ imitate the practice of the dominant [white] society”. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and __________ “first fruits”. Many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa __________ other holidays that take place at the same time. Ron Karenga said: “All people can __________ in the celebration of our common humanity.”
descent culture share around means just alongside simply
Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which __________ "The Seven Principles of Blackness". Each of the seven days represents a different principle. The __________ are unity, self-determination, working together, cooperating in business, building the __________, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa light candles in a special candle holder __________ a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colours and put up __________ of African art. Some people attend a Kwanzaa __________ that has African drumming and music. One of the most important parts of Kwanzaa is a special __________ called a karamu. Family and friends get together and celebrate who they are. If you go to a karamu, you __________ say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili for “What’s news?”
nation means should pieces feast principles called ceremony
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday that is celebration / celebrated around the world. It takes place between / in December the 26th and January the 1st every year. The holiday celebrates African culture and history. Kwanzaa started in 1966 in the U.S.A. It was the first holiday justly / just for African Americans. Ron Karenga, an African-American civil rights campaigner, created the seven-day holiday. He said it was to give / gave Americans of African descent an opportunity to celebrate their / there unique heritage. He wanted a holiday that did not “simply imitate the practice of the dominant [white] society / social”. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means “first fruits”. Many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa alongside / side other holidays that take place at the same time. Ron Karenga said: “All people can share / sharing in the celebration of our common humanity.”
Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which mean / means "The Seven Principles of Blackness". Each / Both of the seven days represents a different principle. The principles are unity, self-determination, working together, cooperating on / in business, building the nation, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa lite / light candles in a special candle holder called a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colour / colours and put up pieces of African art. Some people attend a Kwanzaa ceremony that has African drumming and musically / music. One of the most important parts of Kwanzaa is a special feast called a karamu. Family and friends getting / get together and celebrate who they are. If you go to a karamu, you should say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili by / for “What’s news?”
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday that is (1) ____ around the world. It takes place between December the 26th and January the 1st every year. The holiday celebrates African culture and history. Kwanzaa started in 1966 in the U.S.A. It was the first holiday (2) ____ for African Americans. Ron Karenga, an African-American civil rights campaigner, created the seven-day holiday. He said it was to give Americans (3) ____ African descent an opportunity to celebrate their (4) ____ heritage. He wanted a holiday that did not “(5) ____ imitate the practice of the dominant [white] society”. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means “first fruits”. Many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa alongside other holidays that take place at the same time. Ron Karenga said: “All people can share in the celebration of our common (6) ____.”
Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which (7) ____ "The Seven Principles of Blackness". Each of the seven days represents a different principle. The principles are unity, self-determination, (8) ____ together, cooperating in business, building the nation, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa light candles in a special candle holder (9) ____ a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colours and put up pieces of African art. Some people (10) ____ a Kwanzaa ceremony that has African drumming and music. One of the most important parts of Kwanzaa is a special feast called a karamu. Family and friends (11) ____ together and celebrate who they are. If you go to a karamu, you should say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili (12) ____ “What’s news?”
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
celebrate
(b)
celebrated
(c)
celebration
(d)
celebrates
2.
(a)
just
(b)
jest
(c)
gist
(d)
joust
3.
(a)
to
(b)
at
(c)
of
(d)
in
4.
(a)
uniquely
(b)
uniqueness
(c)
queuing
(d)
unique
5.
(a)
simple
(b)
simpleton
(c)
simplify
(d)
simply
6.
(a)
humans
(b)
humane
(c)
humanity
(d)
human
7.
(a)
means
(b)
meaning
(c)
mean
(d)
meanie
8.
(a)
working
(b)
work
(c)
worker
(d)
worked
9.
(a)
calling
(b)
called
(c)
calls
(d)
caller
10.
(a)
attendance
(b)
attention
(c)
attend
(d)
attendee
11.
(a)
be
(b)
get
(c)
do
(d)
take
12.
(a)
of
(b)
to
(c)
at
(d)
for
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
bdeareeclt around the world
2.
civil itgshr campaigner
3.
give Americans of African ndctsee
4.
celebrate their ieuqun heritage
5.
celebrate Kwanzaa enldosagi other holidays
6.
our common utihmany
Paragraph 2
7.
Echa of the seven days
8.
building the aonitn
9.
People who celebrate Kwanzaa light nlascde
10.
People rtaocdee their homes in African colours
11.
edttna a Kwanzaa ceremony
12.
a special efsat
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Kwanzaa celebrates Nguzu Saba, which means "The Seven Principles of Blackness". Each of the seven
( )
“first fruits”. Many Americans celebrate Kwanzaa alongside other holidays that take place at the same
( )
society”. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means
( 1 )
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday that is celebrated around the world. It takes place between December the 26th
( )
and January the 1st every year. The holiday celebrates African culture and history. Kwanzaa started in 1966 in the
( )
who they are. If you go to a karamu, you should say “Habari gani,” which is Swahili for “What’s news?”
( )
most important parts of Kwanzaa is a special feast called a karamu. Family and friends get together and celebrate
( )
of African art. Some people attend a Kwanzaa ceremony that has African drumming and music. One of the
( )
candles in a special candle holder called a kinara. People decorate their homes in African colours and put up pieces
( )
celebrate their unique heritage. He wanted a holiday that did not “simply imitate the practice of the dominant [white]
( )
days represents a different principle. The principles are unity, self-determination, working
( )
campaigner, created the seven-day holiday. He said it was to give Americans of African descent an opportunity to
( )
time. Ron Karenga said: “All people can share in the celebration of our common humanity.”
( )
U.S.A. It was the first holiday just for African Americans. Ron Karenga, an African-American civil rights
( )
together, cooperating in business, building the nation, creativity, and faith. People who celebrate Kwanzaa light
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
holiday African and The celebrates culture history
2.
Americans first just African the holiday for
3.
unique an to their heritage opportunity celebrate
4.
the at place take that holidays time same
5.
the humanity common our of celebration
6.
different seven principle days Each represents of a the
7.
light in special holder candles a candle
8.
in colours decorate homes African People their
9.
up put art African of pieces
10.
feast special a karamu a called
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Kwanzaa. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Kwanzaa. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Kwanzaa. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
