Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight days and nights. Hanukkah also called the “Festival of Lights,” celebrates the victory of ancient Jewish people who took a stand to protect their way of life. Hanukkah is a unique holiday filled with special meaning, rituals, and festive foods to celebrate the triumphs of ancient Jewish heroes. Students will love learning about this special holiday with this fun activity pack.
This unit includes reading passages, a scavenger hunt organizer, acrostic fact chart, and vocabulary posters with real-life photos to post in the classroom. Using the scavenger hunt organizer and a clipboard students act as detectives to track down the answers to the questions.
This unit includes many interactive activities and learning opportunities for students including:
✔ What is Hanukkah?
✔ Hanukkah Traditions
✔ All About Israel
✔ Questions About Israel
✔ The Flag of Israel
✔ The Star of David
✔ A Menorah
✔ Vocabulary Posters
✔ Vocabulary Flip Flaps
✔ Just the Facts Acrostic Chart
✔ Hanukkah Scavenger Hunt
✔ Fact or Fiction Activity
✔ Plus a 5-page Flip Book
There are 3 main activities:
Vocabulary:
Introduce the 6 vocabulary words with the real-life photo posters included. You could post these posters around the classroom and have students travel around to define the words. These posters are excellent for a bulletin board display too.
Reading:
Next, have students read the passages the history and traditions of Hanukkah. There are questions and scenes for students to color and connect to the information. After reading the passages, have students answer the scavenger hunt organizer. These work well in centers, learning stations, and as partner work.
Activities:
There are many activities for students to complete to show what they know:
✔ Scavenger Hunt Organizer
✔ Star of David
✔ Menorah
✔ Fact or Fiction Activity
✔ Just the Facts about Hanukkah
✔ Plus a Hanukkah 5-page Flip Book.
I usually have them do one page of the flip book at each center or station. They can use the articles as a reference source to help them complete the pages of the booklet. Lastly, they cut, color, and assemble the booklet. Flip up books can be glued or stapled inside their interactive notebooks, file folder, or a 12×18 piece of construction paper folded like a book cover.
This can be used as an activity to get the kiddos moving around the room. It could also be used as a holiday centers activity. The holiday posters with real-life photos make a beautiful bulletin board display too.
Scavenger Hunt Steps:
1. Place the reading passages and holiday photo posters in six spots around the classroom.
2. Students read the passage about each holiday and travel around the room to answer the questions on the scavenger hunt organizers.
3. For an extra challenge, copy the holiday acrostic fact charts on the backside of each organizer and have students write one fact beside each letter for that holiday.
4. Come back together as a class to discuss their answers.
5. You could also set it up as a learning station or center activity where students read about each holiday, respond to questions on the organizers, and then complete the flip books.
This is a wonderful way to get students actively involved with the information literally by getting them up and out of their seats. It’s perfect for partners or group work.
Little prep work to save you time:
✔ Print posters and organizers
✔ Copy the scavenger hunt organizers and acrostic fact charts (back-to-back)
✔ Post posters around the classroom (or at stations/centers)
✔ Assign partners or groups
✔ Hand out scavenger hunt organizers and clipboards
✔ Set timer (about 5-10)
✔ Have students rotate to the next spot
Happy Hanukkah!