Hanukkah Craft for Kindergarten
Are you looking for a fun way to increase representation in your classroom’s holiday celebrations? This Hanukkah Craft for Kindergarten is a great way to help students learn more about the holiday while also practicing important skills.
The Benefits of Crafting in Kindergarten
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love kindergarten crafts! They are such a fabulous addition to the daily learning routine because they help students develop so many skills. Here are some of my favorite benefits of using craft projects in the kindergarten classroom:
- Strengthen Fine Motor Skills: As students cut out and assemble the pieces of a craft, they are improving their hand strength and coordination. When students have strong fine motor skills, it’s easier for them to complete tasks in the classroom.
- Review Academic Skills: Crafts can be a fun way to incorporate more academic skill practice into the daily routine. From alphabet practice to number sense development, crafts can help students practice a variety of literacy and math skills.
- Practice Following Directions: Young kindergarten students often need additional practice with following multi-step directions. This skill will be important as they grow up! One of my favorite ways to encourage students to follow directions is by using fun craft projects.
- Build Community: Students feel more at home in the classroom when they can see their completed work on display. This is especially true if the craft represents them in some way. That is why this menorah craft can be such a helpful addition to your classroom around the holidays; students who celebrate Hanukkah in their homes will feel much more included in the classroom community.
Creating a Menorah Counting Craft
This menorah counting craft is a great way to increase representation in your classroom while giving students the chance to practice counting and number identification as they strengthen their fine motor skills. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this engaging craft project with your students.
Before You Get Started
To make this craft more meaningful for your class, you can take some time to explain the significance of the menorah as part of a Hanukkah celebration. There are many great picture books that you can use for this explanation. If you have any Jewish students in your class, you could invite them to describe how they use a menorah in their home during the eight nights of Hanukkah. This can help them feel that their faith and culture are accepted and respected in your classroom.
When your students have a better understanding of Hanukkah, they will be ready to create their own menorah counting craft!
Step One: Gather Supplies
Students will need the following supplies to complete this craft project:
- Scissors
- Glue
- Writing utensil
- Crayons or markers
- A 9” by 13” piece of construction paper
- Menorah, candles, and flames copied onto colored paper (or white paper if students will be coloring before cutting)
Step Two: Cut and Label Flames
First, students will need to cut out and label the flames of the eight menorah candles. This gives them the chance to practice number formation and fine motor skills. Students will have a ninth candle flame that should not be numbered. This is the flame for the Shamash (the long helper candle). If your students are ready for more of a challenge, you could have them flip over the flames and write the numbers without the tracing guide.
This is also a good time to have students decorate the “Happy Hanukkah” words on the menorah stand. They can color the letters using crayons or markers.
Step Three: Assemble Menorah Stand
Now it is time for them to assemble the pieces of the menorah stand by placing the decorated stand onto the base. Then, they will glue the menorah stand to the bottom of the construction paper so there will be enough room for the candles.
Step Four: Add Candles and Flames
Students can then cut out each candle and add it to the menorah base. Be sure to have students put the Shamash in either the first or last space on the menorah.
Once the candles have been attached to the base, students can then attach the flames to each candle in numerical order. This is a great opportunity for them to practice counting and number identification!
Step Five: Display
The final step is to create a display with the completed menorah crafts! Students are always so excited to see their work on display, especially if Hanukkah is a holiday that they celebrate at home. This is such a great way to increase representation in the classroom!
Kindergarten Hanukkah Craft Template
If you would like to use this craft in your classroom this holiday season, I’ve put together a resource with all of the templates and directions you will need! You’ll find step-by-step directions with pictures along with labeled templates that you can use to print off the components of this menorah craft. Just click below to find this craft template in my shop!
Hanukkah Craft Hanukkah Menorah Kindergarten Counting Craft
More Hanukkah Activities for Kindergarten
If you would like to include even more Hanukkah-themed learning activities in your classroom over the holiday season, be sure to check out my holiday-themed literacy and math centers!
There are multiple Hanukkah-themed activities that you can use to introduce students to additional vocabulary related to this holiday. From reading CVC words on latkes to identifying numbers on dreidels, students will be able to learn more about Hanukkah while working on literacy and math skills.
These Hanukkah centers are included in a set of holiday-themed centers that includes Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Diwali. Just click below to take a closer look at everything included in this set of centers for kindergarten.
Holidays Around the World Kindergarten Centers
Save This Hanukkah Craft for Kindergarten
Be sure to save this post so you can come back to it later! Just add the pin below to your favorite board of holiday ideas for kindergarten. You’ll be able to quickly find these activity ideas when you’re looking for ways to celebrate Hanukkah in your classroom!
