Make a string of African flags to decorate a room and celebrate Kwanzaa. These simple-to-make strings make a great classroom decoration. You can drape the strings across rooms or over windows.
Part of the celebration of Kwanzaa involves learning about African history and culture. When you’re done making your string of flags, locate the countries you have represented on a map of Africa.
- Many colors of construction paper or white paper
- Crayons or markers
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Glue, tape, or staples
- A long piece of green, yellow, or red yarn or string
Instructions
To see a page with pictures of African flags, click here. Choose the countries whose flags you want to make. With younger children, choose flags that are relatively simple.
To make a simple flag (like Mali’s flag) from construction paper, start with construction paper that is the main color of the flag. In the case of Mali’s flag, start with a golden yellow piece of paper with the approximate ratio of 2:3 (height to width). Most flags have approximately that ratio.
To complete Mali’s flag, cut a red strip and a green strip about one-third the size of the flag.
Glue the red and green strips to the yellow base.
Attach the flag to a long string using tape, glue, or staples. Flags usually have one side that is supposed to be attached to the flag pole (or in this case, the string). On most drawings, it is the left side of the flag (the green side in the case of Mali).
Make more flags and attach them to the string.
Hang your string of African flags across the room for a wonderful Kwanzaa decoration.
