One of the traditions of Kwanzaa is to place fruit in a basket on the table to  symbolize a bountiful harvest.

These centerpieces or “bowls” may also be adorned with candies, flowers, corn, and other symbols of abundance.

Using plastic fruit and silk flowers, we constructed our very own centerpieces!

Teaching young children about the benefits of fruits and flowers, and what they represent (abundance), instills gratitude for the things they may take for granted (food), and fosters a sense of piosity for the environment.

The act of placing the items into the bowl encourages the application of physical properties (how much to allow the flower to stand straight, how much space to allot for all of them items), and handling different materials engages their senses and imaginations.