There are so many great Hanukkah crafts for kids (and I have shared a bunch of Hanukkah crafts before) and it’s a great way to teach kids about Hanukkah and the symbols of the season, even if they aren’t Jewish.
Menorahs are probably the most well-known symbol of the season because they mark the days of the celebration and honor the light of the temple staying lit for nine days. This yarn wrapped menorah from Happy Toddler Playtime is easy to make with craft sticks and gives kids fine-motor skill practice.
Using clothespins as your candles is another fun way to incorporate fine-motor practice, and you can use a variety of things for the base. Happy Hooligans uses a piece of cardboard for the base with clothespin candles. And while the original instructions don’t seem to exist any more, there’s a picture of a paper plate menorah (originally from Pleasantest Thing) in this roundup of menorah crafts from Our Potluck Family that looks like fun.
If you’re making a classroom menorah, try this paper chain version from Bible Belt Balabusta. Hers was made for the school entrance but you could scale it down a bit to hang on the wall in a classroom if you’d rather.
Speaking of classroom crafts, these Hanukkah suncatchers from Jewish Moms and Crafters would be cute if you have a window in your classroom, or to use at home. Download the free templates and use sticky paper and bits of tissue paper to make a stained glass effect.
Dreidels are another common symbol of the season and a fun shape to craft with. NurtureStore has a fun printmaking activity that uses the dreidel shape and found objects to make a repeating pattern. You could do this same idea with any shape you like as the base.
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