What kids practice
- Counting the eight nights with the menorah's candles
- Recognizing shapes like triangles in the Star of David and the dreidel
- Learning words and traditions like shamash, sufganiyot, latkes, and gelt
Ways to use these pages
- Color one menorah page each night of Hanukkah, adding one more flame each evening until all eight candles are lit.
- Pair the dreidel page with a real dreidel game using chocolate gelt or buttons as playing pieces.
- In a classroom winter holidays unit, use these pages alongside a book about Hanukkah to introduce the Festival of Lights.
- Make latkes or jelly doughnuts together, then color the matching page while they cool.
Questions
Why does the menorah have nine candles?
Eight candles stand for the eight nights of Hanukkah. The ninth, called the shamash, is the helper candle used to light the others and usually sits higher or in the middle.
Are the dreidel faces blank?
Yes. The dreidel page has blank sides so kids can draw the Hebrew letters, their own symbols, or simple designs. Kids can also design a whole set of four faces on scrap paper first, then copy their favorite onto the page.
What age are these Hanukkah coloring pages for?
Most pages suit ages 3 to 8. The Star of David and dreidel have simple shapes for younger kids, and the gelt bag and latkes have more detail for older kids. Younger kids can color one candle or one doughnut at a time over several days.