Virtual Juneteenth Block Party
Design your own Kente!
Kente is the anglicized name for ‘kenten’ which means basket in Akan. It is a West African woven fabric worn on special occasions. Legend has it that Ananse the Spider inspired the creation of this gorgeous fabric.
Each color holds a special meaning:
Yellow: Wealth, Royalty
Blue: Peace, Harmony
Green: Growth, Harvest
Red: Blood, Strength
Black: Spirit, Power
Materials:
-
Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils, etc
-
Paper
Poetry Slam
Poetry slams have been the voice of the people since 1986. With no required rhyme or structure, slams allow unparalleled personal expression. Host a slam. Follow these simple instructions:
1 - Watch the video.
Grades are time stamped as follows: K 0:00-0:40; First Grade: 0:41-0:58; Second Grade: 1:00- 1:46; Third Grade: 1:47-5:40 Fourth Grade: 5:41-end.
2 -Encourage the children to reflect upon their personal feelings and experiences as they brainstorm.
3 - Give the students time to craft a poem. You can provide the "I Am Prompts" or allow them to choose. ( Prompts K/1: I am, I wonder, I hear, I see, I want, I am. Prompts 2/5: I am, I wonder, I hear, I see, I want, I pretend, I feel, I touch, I worry, I understand, I say, I dream, I hope, I am)
4 - Grab a roll of paper towels to act as the mic and enjoy the show!
Dance Party
Whether it’s Freeze dance or line dancing, take a moment for a dance break and celebrate Juneteenth! Here is an original song from The UmoJamz, a Swahili pronunciation video, plus a few oldies but goodies.
Reflect
Many children, just like The UmoJamz, are familiar with racism, bullying, and feeling out of place. This activity is designed to help facilitate a conversation about these tough issues and equip the children with the J.A.M. strategies from the book to help manage the emotions that these issues can evoke.
Watch this video about the power of our words and debrief with your students in a Reflection Circle. Prior to embarking on the circle, set some simple norms (i.e., 1. There's one mic. If you're not speaking, you're listening. 2. Treat the speaker like they are your grandmother. Be respectful at all times. 3. This is a sacred space. We speak and leave it here).
Here are some suggested guiding questions:
Questions for Video:
What is the effect of negative words on the plants? Why do you think that happened? What do you think mean words do? Why do you think DJ was mean? Ask the children to think about the power of the positive words on the plant.
