Hanukkah is known as the Jewish Feast of Lights. The word, Hanukkah, means dedication in the Hebrew language. The holiday lasts eight days, usually falling in the month of December. The story of Hanukkah happened in 165 B.C. After The Jews defeated the Syrians after three years of struggle. Festivities were held and the Temple of Jerusalem was dedicated to God. Syrian idols were removed from the Temple, and the Jews found only enough oil to light their lamps for one night. Miraculously, there was enough oil for eight days. Gifts are exchanged during Hanukkah. Every evening, an additional candle is lit on the Hanuka Menorah (also called a Hanukia). The first night, the working candle, or Shamash, as well as the first Hanukkah candle, are lit. By the 8th night, all of the nine candles will be burning together.
Reading List:
The Best Hanukkah Ever, by Barbara Diamond Goldin and Avi Katz.
Light the Candles: A Hanukkah Lift-the-Flap Book (Picture Puffins), by Joan Holub and Lynne Avril Cravath.
Festival of Lights: the Story of Hanukkah, by Maida Silverman and Carolyn Ewing.
Circle Time: Read chosen books from the reading list above, then display books for children to explore in the reading center.
Letters of the Day: C: for candles, H: for Hanukkah, and L: for light
Song:
I'm a Little Dreidel
I'm a little dreidel, made of clay
Let me spin if you wanna play.
If I fall down and you don't win,
Pick me up and spin again.
Social Studies:
Light a real menorah, and share potato latkes. Discuss how one candle is lit per night for eight nights using the Shamash candle. First light the Shamash candle. Next light the first Hanukkah candle, then the next, until all 9 are lit, then sit down together to eat latkes.
Cooking activity:
Potato Latkes
4 cups grated potatoes
2 eggs
2 tbs. flour
Salt/pepper to taste
Cooking oil
Beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Add potatoes, flour, salt/pepper. Mix well. Spoon mixture into oiled pan, making several small pancakes. Brown each side on medium heat. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Serve with sour cream or applesauce, if desired.
Science
Sources of Light
You will need:
flash light, lamp, overhead light, candle (use menorah), pictures of the sun, moon, stars
construction paper, crayons
Talk about the sources of light in our world. Show the items above and discuss how each item provides us with light. Now have each child write the word,"Light" on the top of the paper. Ask each child to draw some sources of light on the paper. Display the projects on a bulletin board.
Math
Play "Spin the Dreidel". Use one dreidel for each group of 4 children. Have each child bring 20 pennies to class prior to Hanukkah day. Each child will take turns spinning the dreidel and following directions based upon the symbol that lands face up. The symbol and what it stands for will come with the dreidel. Dreidels can be bought from Oriental Trading or from many dollar stores. The child who acquires the most pennies when you decide it's time to stop playing is the winner. Put a basket in each group which will be the pot.
Symbol:
1. nun: do nothing
2. gimel: take all the pennies from the pot, leaving only one. Everyone else puts one penny in the pot.
3. hay: you win half of what's in the pot.
4. shin: Put one penny in the pot.
For a thorough explanation of the Hanukkah tradition, read more here.
