How To Make A Mkeka Mat

Making kwanzaa gifts families set aside time on the first day of kwanzaa to make handmade gifts to exchange during the karamu feast.

How to make a mkeka mat. Students get a lesson in weave making with this simple kwanzaa craft made from materials you likely already have in your classroom. When you re finished cutting unfold the piece of paper. A traditional straw or woven textile mat called a mkeka is one of the seven symbols of kwanzaa those who celebrate kwanzaa view the mkeka as the base for the other six symbols of kwanzaa representing the idea that nothing can be built without having a foundation upon which to rest. Cut along the lines.

With only construction paper and scissors students can create striking weaved mats in celebration of the african american holiday. Woven mat for kwanzaa. Celebrate this kwanzaa tradition with your child or acquaint them with a new and unexplored cultural. For a very neat looking place mat use a ruler to draw the guidelines.

While the paper is still folded draw a series of lines across the fold but do not draw them all the way to the edge leave about 1 inch at the edge. Typically gifts are handmade and educational teaching something about the heritage of people of african descent. To weave a mkeka cut parallel lines in a piece of black construction paper. Black red and green construction paper.

Cut the lines starting 1 inch from the bottom edge to 1 inch from the top edge. To make cutting easier fold the paper in half and cut starting from the middle going toward the edge. Get the kwanzaa coloring page. You can make these christmas crafts at hagley at world holiday.

0 rating rating ratings. Kwanzaa mkeka mat craft. Mancala game make this fun african mancala game to play during the kwanzaa celebration. The mkeka a woven mat is the kwanzaa symbol of history.

Add a meaning. Show your child how to cut from the folded edge to within one inch of the opposite side. Mkeka mat making instsructions for kwanzaa this mkeka mat craft is a fun and simple kwanzaa craft for kids. Mkeka plural mkekas the decorative mat on which ceremonial symbols are laid out during kwanzaa celebrations.

Fold black construction paper in half to make a frame for the mat.