Hanukkah activities for kids usually mean printing out a generic coloring page that holds their attention for exactly two minutes. I put this list together because finding projects that actually engage them during the eight nights of celebrations can feel like a part-time job.
If you need Hanukkah projects for kids that keep them happily occupied while you fry latkes, these ideas work. You will find simple STEM setups and crafts that use basic supplies you probably already own.
1. Paper Circuit Menorah
When older children want something more challenging than glue and glitter, introducing basic electronics changes the pace. This setup turns a flat drawing into a working light display.
Supplies needed
- Heavy cardstock paper
- Copper tape
- One 3V coin battery
- Nine small LED light pins
- Clear office tape
How to build it
- Draw a basic menorah outline on the heavy cardstock.
- Apply the copper tape along the drawn lines to create a continuous electrical path.
- Attach the LED pins at the top of each “candle” branch.
- Secure the coin battery at the base of the copper tape to close the circuit and light it up.
2. Popsicle Stick Star of David Suncatcher
Hanging winter decorations feels much more special when little hands do the actual building. This colorful project catches the afternoon light beautifully.
Supplies needed
- Six wooden craft sticks
- Blue liquid paint
- Blue tissue paper
- Liquid school glue
- String for hanging
How to make it
- Paint all six craft sticks with the blue paint and let them dry completely.
- Glue three sticks into a triangle, then repeat with the remaining three sticks.
- Overlap and glue the two triangles in opposite directions to form a six-pointed star.
- Glue a square of blue tissue paper to the back so it covers the center opening.
3. Lego Spin Dreidels
If you already have bins full of building blocks, putting them to work for the holiday saves you a trip to the craft store. This gives kids a functional toy they can test immediately.
Supplies needed
- Assorted standard building bricks
- Technic cross axles (for the spinning point)
- Small round base plates
How to engineer it
- Start with a round base plate to act as the bottom spinning surface.
- Build upward using smaller bricks to mimic the traditional top-heavy shape.
- Insert the long cross axle straight down the middle to serve as the handle.
- Give it a hard twist on a hard floor to test the balance and modify if needed.
4. Clothespin Menorah
Counting the nights makes more sense for toddlers when they can physically add a new “flame” to the display themselves. This sturdy setup survives being handled daily.
Supplies needed
- Nine wooden clothespins
- Yellow and orange felt
- One long wooden block
- Blue acrylic paint
- Wood glue
How to assemble it
- Paint the wooden block and all nine clothespins blue.
- Cut small flame shapes out of the yellow and orange felt.
- Glue one felt flame to the top of each clothespin.
- Have the kids clip a new clothespin onto the wooden block each evening.
5. Hanukkah Density Oil Jar
Mixing messy liquids together is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for preschool ages, especially when it ends up looking like magic. This visual experiment relates perfectly to the story of the oil.
Supplies needed
- Clear plastic jar with a tight lid
- Water
- Blue food coloring
- Vegetable or baby oil
- Gold glitter
How to make it
- Fill the jar roughly halfway with tap water.
- Add a few drops of blue food coloring and mix well.
- Pour the vegetable oil in until the jar is almost full.
- Drop in the gold glitter, seal the lid tightly, and watch the layers separate.
6. Cardboard Tube Menorah
Saving up those empty bathroom rolls finally pays off when you need an afternoon project that costs absolutely zero dollars. It is lightweight, safe, and allows for plenty of messy painting.
Supplies needed
- Nine empty toilet paper tubes
- Blue and gold poster paint
- Yellow tissue paper
- Hot glue gun
- Paintbrushes
How to build it
- Paint each tube in alternating shades of blue and gold.
- Wait for the paint to dry, then glue them side-by-side in a straight row.
- Elevate the center tube slightly by gluing a small piece of cardboard underneath it.
- Scrunch the yellow tissue paper into balls and stuff them into the tops for flames.
7. DIY Gelt Toss Catapult
Turning standard holiday treats into flying projectiles will easily make this the most requested game of the week. This is one of those highly engaging hanukkah stem activities for kids that requires zero screen time.
Supplies needed
- Ten wide popsicle sticks
- Four strong rubber bands
- One plastic bottle cap
- Plastic or chocolate gold coins
- Double-sided tape
How to engineer it
- Stack eight sticks together and secure both ends tightly with rubber bands.
- Slide another stick perpendicularly through the bottom of the stack.
- Place the final stick on top and rubber-band it to the bottom perpendicular stick.
- Tape the bottle cap to the top stick, load a coin, press down, and release.
8. Tissue Paper Dreidel Stained Glass
Bare windows during the winter feel a bit cold, so adding homemade colorful silhouettes brings immediate warmth to the room. It is highly visual and easy for smaller hands to manage.
Supplies needed
- Black construction paper
- Blue and white tissue paper squares
- Clear contact paper
- Scissors
How to make it
- Cut a thick, hollow dreidel outline out of the black construction paper.
- Place the black frame onto the sticky side of a sheet of clear contact paper.
- Stick the colored tissue squares inside the frame until the space is completely filled.
- Seal the back with another sheet of contact paper and trim the excess edges.
9. Hardware Store Nut Menorah
Building something heavy and industrial gives older mechanics a chance to use real tools rather than safety scissors. The final result actually looks quite modern on a shelf.
Supplies needed
- Nine large metallic hex nuts
- One flat wooden ruler or trim piece
- Strong epoxy or wood glue
- Silver spray paint (optional)
How to build it
- Measure and mark nine evenly spaced dots along the wooden base.
- Apply a small dab of strong glue to the bottom of each hex nut.
- Press the nuts firmly onto the marked spots on the wood.
- Allow it to cure completely overnight before placing standard-sized candles inside the holes.
10. Magnetic Tile Menorah
Clearing off a corner of the floor for structural design keeps them occupied while you finish prepping the evening meal. This temporary build glows beautifully once the sun goes down.
Supplies needed
- 20 to 30 translucent magnetic building tiles
- Nine battery-operated tea lights
How to build it
- Build a sturdy rectangular base using the square magnetic tiles.
- Stack the center section slightly higher to serve as the shamash.
- Build four lower pillars on the left and four on the right.
- Balance the artificial tea lights carefully on top of each magnetic pillar.
11. Dreidel Launcher Machine
Spinning tops by hand gets tiring after an hour, but engineering a mechanical device totally revitalizes the classic game. This involves trial and error, which eats up plenty of time.
Supplies needed
- Sturdy cardboard pieces
- Thick rubber bands
- Push pins
- Small wooden dreidels
- Hot glue gun
How to engineer it
- Cut a long, flat strip of cardboard to serve as the runway base.
- Anchor a rubber band horizontally across the back end using push pins and glue.
- Pull the rubber band back using the handle of a wooden dreidel.
- Release the tension quickly to shoot the toy across the hard floor.
12. Origami Star of David Garland
Paper folding requires patience and precision, which naturally calms down an overly energetic household on a snow day. Stringing them together creates a beautiful mantelpiece banner.
Supplies needed
- Square origami paper in blue and silver
- Baker’s twine
- Small hole punch
How to make it
- Fold the square paper into interlocking triangular modules following a basic origami star pattern.
- Assemble the six points tightly together so they hold their shape without tape.
- Punch a small hole near the top point of each finished paper star.
- Thread the baker’s twine through the holes to create a long holiday garland.
13. CD and Clothespin Top
Rummaging through old tech bins gives discarded discs a second life as high-speed physics experiments. Because the discs are wide and flat, they spin incredibly fast with very little effort.
Supplies needed
- One old compact disc
- One wooden clothespin
- One round wooden bead
- Hot glue gun
How to build it
- Glue the round wooden bead directly over the bottom of the center hole in the CD.
- Push the wooden clothespin downward through the top of the hole so it grips the bead.
- Secure the clothespin with extra hot glue so it does not wobble.
- Grip the wooden pin firmly and twist hard to launch the top.
14. Felt Pocket Dreidel Ornaments
Sewing introduces a fantastic fine motor skill, and creating little pouches means they can hide actual chocolate coins inside. This quiet activity works well for a relaxed Sunday afternoon.
Supplies needed
- Blue and white felt sheets
- Plastic yarn needles
- Thick embroidery floss
- Fabric scissors
How to make it
- Cut two identical dreidel shapes out of the colored felt.
- Thread the plastic needle with a long strand of embroidery floss.
- Stitch the two shapes together around the bottom and sides, leaving the top edge open.
- Drop a small treat or coin into the newly created felt pocket.
15. Paper Chain Menorah Tracker
Visual countdowns give impatient toddlers a tangible way to see exactly how many days of the celebration are left. It is a classic preschool staple for a good reason.
Supplies needed
- Blue and silver construction paper
- Stapler or glue sticks
- Scissors
How to make it
- Cut the construction paper into one-inch thick, uniform strips.
- Loop the first strip into a circle and secure it with a staple.
- Thread the next strip through the center of the first circle and secure it.
- Continue until you have a long chain, removing one link each night of the holiday.
16. Beaded Wire Star Ornaments
Stringing tiny objects onto a frame takes serious concentration and results in a decoration sturdy enough to last for years. The final pieces look wonderful catching the lights on a window frame.
Supplies needed
- Metallic floral wire or thick pipe cleaners
- Blue, white, and silver pony beads
- Wire cutters
How to assemble it
- Bend the thick wire firmly into a six-pointed star shape, leaving one end open.
- Thread the plastic pony beads onto the wire, alternating colors to create a pattern.
- Push the beads tightly together so no empty wire shows through.
- Twist the final ends together tightly and tuck the sharp point inside the closest bead.
FAQs
What age group is best for these projects?
Most of these kids hanukkah activities work well for ages four and up with supervision. Younger toddlers will need heavy assistance with things like hot glue, while older children can handle the engineering challenges independently.
Do I need to buy special supplies?
Not necessarily. The goal is to use household basics like cardboard, paper, and craft sticks, keeping things budget-friendly. A quick trip to the dollar store will cover any missing items like copper tape or pony beads.
How long does each craft take?
Below is a quick reference for planning your afternoon crafting sessions.
| Project Type | Average Time Needed | Mess Level |
| Paper and Tape | 15 to 20 minutes | Low |
| Painting and Glue | 30 to 45 minutes | High |
| STEM and Building | 45+ minutes | Medium |
Finding time to set up elaborate holiday projects is tough when you are already managing a busy household. These simple builds allow everyone to celebrate without requiring hours of complicated prep work from you.
If you found these ideas helpful for your winter planning, be sure to save this post to your favorite Pinterest board. Having these easy holiday craft ideas pinned means you will never run out of ways to keep the family entertained.