Hanukkah crafts: Make a felt set

Deceber 11th, 2009 at sundown begins the first night of the religious celebration of Hanukkah. Each year on Kislev 25 Jews begin celebrating the holiday that commemorates the triumph of the Macabees over an oppressive government and the Miracle of the Oil that took place during the rededication of the Holy Temple. Some Christians also celebrate the Festival of Lights based on Yeshua's (Jesus) observance of the festival in John chapter 10. Use the instructions below to teach kids about Hanukkah. See the slide show at the bottom of the page for photos.

Materials:
Scissors
Colored felt sheets
Glue or glue gun
Printable Hanukiya template from Apples 4 the Teacher
Printout of Hebrew letters that spell "Hanukkah" (See steps below) along with numbers

Steps:

1. Print out the Hebrew word for Hanukkah. Unlike in English, where the word can be spelled Chanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukkah or Hanukah, the Hebrew has only one spelling: ?????. Copy and paste the word into your word-processing program and then make it whichever font size you want for your felt set.

2. Print the Hanukiya template from Apples 4 the Teacher and cut it out.

3. Print out numbers 1-8. Optionally, you can print the numeral words and Hebrew numbers as well. Cut them out.

4. Use the Hanukiya template to stencil the shape onto a sheet of felt. Cut out.

5. Cut small rectangles to make candles and teardrop-shaped pieces from red, yellow or orange felt for flames.

6. Cut rectangles from felt and glue the numbers and words to the rectangles.

7. Look at Akhlah for information about Hanukkah.

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