JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

Introduction:

This activity, submitted by Marcy R. and Paula R. at the Orlando JCC, is fun for children to make during Hanukkah.

Materials:

1 piece of wood (rectangular, square or whatever is available)
Bottle caps or hex nuts (from the hardware store)
Note: Hex nuts are recommended for use with older preschool students only. Close supervision of the handling of hex nuts is advised.
Elmer's glue
Paint
Wooden block or wooden spool
Jewels or wood cut outs

Directions:

Have students paint the wood. (For older children, you can have them sand the wood first.)
Have the students each count out 8 bottle caps or hex nuts. (When using the bottle caps, remove the plastic from the inside of the cap.)
Have each students select one wood spool or wood cube for the Shamash.
Arrange the hex nuts/bottle caps as desired on the menorah and glue them to the wooden base. (When using bottle caps, put the top of the cap face down on the base.)
Position the wood cube/spool on the wood to make the Shamash higher.
Add jewel pieces, wood cut outs, etc. to decorate.

A Little Something Extra:

Discussion Topic

"To be a Lamplighter"

Physical darkness has its terrors for children and adults and it reflects the season of the darkest night and the longest night of the year. Our courageous response might best be to light a little candle. Explore the fears of darkness and power of even a little source of light. It is important to remember that light can only be appreciated in its relationship to something else.

Discuss the power of light, the Torah as "light" and all the special gifts that the Jewish people have given to the world as a "light unto the nations".
What do we know about (and what is our experience of) different kinds of light? How are they similar, how are they different? How do they work?
What does light allow us to do?
What are the kinds of things that cannot be done without light?
How do we feel in the light as opposed to the darkness?