3 Easy Hanukkah Crafts for Kids

There are so many fun, simple and affordable Hanukkah crafts for kids, it was hard to choose just 3! We picked the ones that seemed easiest for  younger kids. Enjoy!

Paper Plate Menorah

Supplies:

• Miniature paper plate
• 9 miniature craft sticks
• 1 jumbo craft stick
• Handful of cotton balls
• Yellow and orange tissue paper
• Scissors
• Silver acrylic paint
• Gold glitter glue
• Hot glue gun or white craft glue

Instructions:

1. Cut the paper plate in half. Paint outside of plate, both pieces, with silver paint. Let dry and repeat for a second coat. Let dry completely.
2. Paint miniature craft sticks white and jumbo craft stick silver. Repeat for a second coat and let dry. Brush all craft sticks with a coat of gold glitter glue over the paint once it is dry.
3. Turn one of the plate halves over, silver side down. Glue one of the white craft sticks at the straight side, in the center. Craft stick should be sticking out, only a small portion should be glued to the plate. Glue the remaining craft sticks slightly lower than the center one, four on each side. Let glue dry.
4. Use hot glue gun to glue the jumbo craft stick in the center of the rounded end of one of the plates, this will be the menorah’s stand. Hot glue the bottom of the round ends of the two plates together. Stuff with cotton balls then glue plate closed on all sides.
5. Cut yellow tissue paper into nine 1.5” squares. Cut orange tissue paper into nine 1” squares. Take one yellow square and place an orange square in its center. Place the handle end of a paint brush into the center and twist the two colored papers around the handle to form the flame. Glue flames to the ends of the white craft sticks.
6. Use gold glitter glue to draw on the candle holders of the menorah, use the photo as a guide. Let the glitter glue dry for several hours. Once glitter glue goes flat it is dry.

Tips:

• Insert the jumbo craft stick on your menorah into a piece of floral foam or an upside down Styrofoam cup to display.
• Miniature paper plates are available at most grocers.
• The center candle in a menorah should be higher than all the others, all others should be of equal height.

Craft Stick Star of David
This is a perfect craft for young children, you may have to help glue sticks together but they can do the rest.

Supplies:

• Craft sticks
• Blue Craft Paint
• Paint brushes
• Craft glue (I like Tacky Glue best)
• Stick on gems, sequins or glitter for decorations
• Cord or ribbon for hanging

 

Instructions:

1. Spread out newspaper or waxed paper for kids to paint on.
2. Paint crafts sticks blue, allow to dry completely.
3. Glue three craft sticks into a triangle. Repeat with last three craft sticks so you have two triangles.
4. Glue triangles together with one facing upwards and the other upside down to make a six-sided star.
5. Decorate triangle with gems, sequins or glitter.
6. Glue hanger on the back.

Tzedakah* Box
Make a Tzedakah Box to remember the needy during the holiday season.

You Need:

• Empty, Clean Nut Container
• Silver Paint and Foam Brush
• Sequins
• Tacky Glue and Toothpick
• Small Craft of Shiney Blue Wrapping Paper
• Craft Knife and Adult
• Scissors

Instructions:
Remove lid. Remove label from container and paint it with silver paint. Let dry. Use dabs of tacky glue to attach blue sequins in rows along the top and bottom. Cut two stars of David out of blue wrapping paper and glue them on each side of the box.

Ask an adult to use a craft knife and cut a slit in the top for your spare change.

Tzedakah, is the purest Jewish concept portraying righteousness, charity and justice. Tzedakah boxes which are found in homes, stores and the synagogue have a slotted top to enable the collection of coins.

The origin of the Tzedakah Box, can be traced back thousands of years ago to the Old Testament, which relates how the Temple in Jerusalem collected donations so as to repair the structure of the Temple. These donations were placed in a chest whose top had a hole cut in the top of the chest in order to place donations.

A key significance regarding charity in Jewish law and tradition is the spirit of giving anonymously, thereby maintaining the dignity of the person receiving the gift. The Tzedakah Box provided the possibility of offering charity without knowing who would receive the money. Source: http://www.canaan-online.com/Tzedakah_box_s/87.htm