Menorah Banner
Chanukah is celebrated by Jewish people around the world. Honor the Festival of Lights by hand-crafting a beautiful banner.
1. Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday celebrated for 8 days each winter. During this time, children and families look forward to dreidels, latkes, and the daily lighting of the menorah. Find out more about Chanukah celebrations in your community and around the word. Why do menorahs have nine candles?
2. Here is one way to make a colorful, decorative banner for the holiday season. To create the candles, lay both of your hands on a paper. Spread out your fingers, with your thumbs together. Ask a classmate to trace your hands for you with Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils.
3. Draw a pretend candle flame on each fingertip, but not the thumbs. Cut out around the candles using Crayola Scissors. Color them with Crayola Washable Markers.
4. On another paper, draw a large candle for the center of your menorah. Add a colorful flame to the tip. Cut it out. Place it on top of the thumb prints using a Crayola Glue Stick.
5. On another piece of paper, draw and color the base of the menorah. Use your imagination and Crayola Multicultural Markers to make it resemble wood grain.
6. Use markers to color a background for your banner. Glue the menorah on the background. Add words such as Happy Chanukah or Festival of Lights. Use Hebrew letters if you can.
7. Punch holes at the top of the banner for hanging. Thread a ribbon through the holes and knot.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
String-Like Materials—Includes string, raffia, lacing, yarn, ribbon, and other similar material. Children 3 years and younger should not be given any string-like material that is longer than 12 inches. Close adult supervision is essential whenever children use string-like material. When crafts are to be worn around the necks of children 8 years and younger, attach the ends of the “string-like material” with clear adhesive tape, which allows easy release of the bond if the craft becomes entangled or caught on equipment. For children older than 8 years, the ends of the “string-like material” may be tied and knotted.
- Research Chanukah to learn about other symbols of this holiday. Draw, color, and label them on paper. Compile a booklet to tell about this Jewish holiday.
- From classmates, collect recipes of dishes served during the Chanukah season, such as latkes. Perhaps a family member could make samples to serve in your classroom.
- Find information about other groups who celebrate light during the darkness of winter. Why do you think this is such a common theme in diverse cultures?
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