Finding Hanukkah crafts for kindergarten that don’t end in a glue-covered meltdown is harder than it seems. I put this list together because most holiday projects expect five-year-olds to have advanced fine motor skills, which just isn’t realistic for a busy classroom.
If you are trying to keep little hands busy, these hands-on kindergarten Hanukkah crafts fix that problem. As you scroll, look for easy-to-prep activities focusing on simple construction, basic supplies, and independent building.
1. Paper Plate Menorah
If you need a low-prep activity, starting with a basic paper plate saves so much time. This project gives kids a sturdy base to work on, making it easier for them to handle the smaller pieces without getting frustrated.
What you need
- Heavy-duty paper plates (cut in half)
- Colorful wooden craft sticks
- Yellow tissue paper squares
- School glue
How to build it
- Hand each child half of a paper plate to use as the foundational arch.
- Have them glue nine craft sticks vertically along the straight edge.
- Show them how to crumple the yellow tissue paper into small balls.
- Let them glue one tissue paper flame to the top of each stick.
2. Craft Stick Dreidel
For classrooms where kids want to build something geometric, standard craft sticks are your best friend. This setup feels like a real construction project for five-year-olds and holds up well once the glue dries.
Supplies required
- Standard wooden craft sticks
- A small wooden block for the handle
- Blue and yellow washable paint
- Strong craft glue
Assembly steps
- Paint all the wooden sticks first and wait for them to dry completely.
- Arrange four sticks into a diamond or classic dreidel shape on the table.
- Glue the overlapping corners together so the frame stays rigid.
- Attach the small wooden block to the top center point to act as a spinning handle.
3. Clothespin Menorah
When working on pinch-grip strength, clothespins offer a great built-in physical exercise. I like this option because clipping the pins onto the cardboard feels incredibly satisfying for early learners.
Materials list
- Nine wooden clothespins
- Thick cardboard cut into long strips
- Glitter or metallic markers
- Blue construction paper
Crafting instructions
- Wrap the long cardboard strip in blue construction paper to make the base.
- Let the kids decorate their nine clothespins using markers or glitter.
- Instruct them to pinch and clip each clothespin onto the top edge of the cardboard.
- Make sure they space the clips out evenly to resemble candles.
4. Star of David Popsicle Sticks
Sometimes you just want an activity that requires zero cutting or complicated prep. Pre-painting the sticks makes this a quick sorting and matching game that ends in a great window decoration.
What to gather
- Popsicle sticks painted blue
- Liquid school glue
- String or yarn for hanging
How to put it together
- Give each child six blue sticks and have them build two separate triangles.
- Glue the corners of each triangle and set them aside for a few minutes.
- Flip one triangle upside down and lay it over the other to form a six-pointed star.
- Glue the intersecting points and tie a loop of string to the top corner.
5. Foil-Wrapped Gelt Coins
If your students love shiny things, they will stay busy with this metallic wrapping activity for quite a while. The crinkling sound and texture of the foil add a really fun sensory element to the crafting table.
Grab these items
- Heavy cardboard circles
- Gold aluminum foil squares
- Rubber stamps with holiday symbols
- Black ink pads
Making the coins
- Pass out the cardboard circles and precut squares of gold foil.
- Show the kids how to wrap the foil tightly around the cardboard, folding the edges flat on the back.
- Press a rubber stamp into the ink pad.
- Have them stamp a design firmly onto the smooth side of their shiny coin.
6. Dreidel Paper Garland
For a group project that eventually decorates the whole room, stringing a garland works nicely. It teaches kids about spacing and patterns while they handle the yarn.
Supply checklist
- Dreidel shapes cut from bright paper
- A hole puncher
- Long spools of blue yarn
- Tape for the ends of the yarn
Stringing it up
- Let the children decorate their individual paper dreidels with crayons.
- Punch one hole at the top of each cutout.
- Wrap a small piece of tape around the end of the yarn so it acts like a needle.
- Guide them to thread the yarn through the holes, pushing the shapes down the line.
7. Pasta Menorah
Whenever you have extra pantry supplies, a dried pasta project is always a reliable fallback. Rigatoni tubes naturally mimic the shape of small candle holders, which makes the final piece look surprisingly structural.
What you’ll need
- Uncooked rigatoni pasta
- Heavy cardstock for the base
- Craft glue
- Yellow paint (optional)
Construction steps
- Lay out a thick, flat piece of cardstock to serve as the bottom platform.
- Help the kids squeeze nine large dots of glue in a straight horizontal line.
- Have them stand one rigatoni tube upright on each glue dot.
- Leave it flat to dry completely so the pasta doesn’t tip over.
8. Paper Cup Menorah Lineup
When you want an activity that doubles as a counting game, lining up paper cups does the trick. You can easily reset this craft and practice arranging the heights correctly.
Required materials
- Small paper drinking cups
- One tall paper cup (for the Shamash)
- Markers or stickers
- Yellow construction paper flames
Arranging the setup
- Give each student eight small cups and one tall cup to decorate.
- Have them flip the cups upside down on their desk.
- Tape a yellow paper flame to the bottom (now the top) of each cup.
- Ask them to arrange the cups in a line, placing the tallest cup right in the middle.
9. Foam Geometric Star
If scissors and paper feel too flimsy, switching to craft foam gives little hands a firmer material to grip. The thickness of the foam makes it much easier to weave the strips over and under each other.
Gathering supplies
- Pre-cut strips of blue and white craft foam
- Glue dots or double-sided tape
- Suction cup hooks for the window
Weaving process
- Lay three strips out to form an open triangle shape.
- Secure the intersecting corners with glue dots so it stays put.
- Build a second triangle in a contrasting color.
- Weave the second triangle over and under the first one, securing the new corners to create the star.
10. Tissue Paper Sun-Catcher
Sticky contact paper is brilliant for this age group because you don’t have to deal with wet glue drying times. Kids just drop the squares onto the sticky surface and watch the colors pop.
Craft materials
- Clear contact paper
- Black construction paper cut into a dreidel outline
- Pre-cut blue and yellow tissue paper squares
- Scissors
Sticking it together
- Peel the backing off a square of clear contact paper and lay it sticky-side up.
- Place the black paper dreidel outline down onto the sticky surface.
- Let the kids fill the inside of the outline by pressing tissue squares onto the exposed sticky areas.
- Seal the back with another sheet of contact paper and trim the excess edges.
11. Handprint Cutout Menorah
Parents always appreciate crafts that capture how small their kids’ hands are at this age. This cut-and-paste setup turns their literal fingerprints into the branches of the holiday tradition.
Everything you need
- Blue and white cardstock
- Pencils for tracing
- Kid-safe scissors
- Yellow paper scraps
Cutting and pasting
- Trace the child’s left and right hands onto a sheet of blue cardstock.
- Help them carefully cut out both hand shapes.
- Glue the handprints side-by-side on a white background, ensuring the thumbs overlap in the middle to create the Shamash.
- Add small yellow paper flames to the tip of each paper finger.
12. Air-Dry Clay Dreidel
Working with clay is brilliant for building hand strength and keeping an active group quiet. Pressing stamps into the soft surface feels like magic to a kindergartener.
Clay tools needed
- Non-toxic white air-dry clay
- Small Hebrew letter stamps
- A smooth rolling surface
Sculpting instructions
- Give each child a golf-ball-sized lump of clay to warm up and roll in their hands.
- Guide them to pinch the bottom into a point and flatten the top slightly.
- Show them how to pinch the top center to pull up a small spinning handle.
- Firmly press a letter stamp into each of the flat sides while the clay is still damp.
13. Paper Chain Menorah
For an activity that practices sequencing and looping, paper chains are a classroom classic. Adjusting the height of the middle chain teaches a visual lesson about the structure of the holiday candles.
Supply list
- Blue and white construction paper strips
- Stapler or tape
- A long horizontal strip of sturdy paper
Linking it up
- Create nine separate paper chains by looping the colored strips together.
- Make eight chains exactly the same length (about four links each).
- Make the ninth chain slightly longer by adding two extra links.
- Attach all the chains to the long horizontal base, making sure the longest chain sits directly in the center.
14. Marshmallow Menorah Structure
Sometimes the best crafts are the ones you can eat afterward. Building with food introduces early engineering concepts, forcing kids to balance the weight of the marshmallows.
Edible building supplies
- Jumbo white marshmallows
- Standard wooden toothpicks
- Yellow candy corn
Engineering the base
- Stick toothpicks into the marshmallows to connect them horizontally into a base.
- Build nine vertical marshmallow towers rising up from that base.
- Add an extra marshmallow to the middle tower so it stands taller than the others.
- Poke a piece of yellow candy corn into the top of each pillar to act as the flame.
15. Egg Carton Menorah
Upcycling household trash into something functional is always a smart move. Egg cartons already have the perfect built-in dividers to hold things upright, minimizing frustration.
Recycled materials needed
- Cardboard egg cartons
- Blue acrylic paint
- Empty toilet paper tubes
- Paintbrushes
Crafting steps
- Cut the egg carton lengthwise so you have a row of nine individual cups.
- Let the students paint the entire carton strip blue.
- While it dries, have them paint nine small toilet paper tubes in various colors.
- Once everything is dry, wedge the tubes into the egg carton slots to stand up like tall candles.
16. Bubble Wrap Stamped Dreidels
If you want a sensory art-style project that still counts as a structured craft, bubble wrap painting fits the bill. The dotted texture it leaves behind is visually interesting and requires very little brush coordination.
Gather your items
- Cardboard cut into large dreidel shapes
- Small squares of bubble wrap
- Bright blue tempera paint
- Paper plates (for paint palettes)
Stamping technique
- Pour a shallow puddle of blue paint onto a paper plate.
- Have the children dip the bumpy side of their bubble wrap into the paint.
- Instruct them to press the wrap firmly onto the cardboard dreidel shape.
- Peel it back slowly to reveal a cool, textured dotted pattern across the surface.
FAQs
Are these crafts manageable for a large class?
Yes, projects like the popsicle stick star and clothespin menorah require very little prep. If you have 20 kids in a room, stick to the activities that avoid liquid glue, like the contact paper sun-catcher, to keep the mess down.
How do I handle drying times during a short lesson?
When time is tight, swap out liquid school glue for double-sided tape or sticky glue dots. Here is a quick reference for choosing the right adhesive based on the material:
| Material Used | Best Adhesive | Drying Time |
| Paper / Cardstock | Glue sticks | Immediate |
| Wooden Craft Sticks | Liquid school glue | 30-45 minutes |
| Craft Foam / Plastic | Glue dots / Tape | Immediate |
| Heavy Cardboard | Hot glue (adult only) | 1-2 minutes |
What is the best way to modify these for kids struggling with fine motor skills?
Make the pieces larger. Instead of standard popsicle sticks, buy jumbo craft sticks. If they are struggling to pinch clothespins, switch to the paper cup lineup game which requires gross motor placement rather than a tight grip.
I hope these simple projects make your holiday planning a little less stressful this year. The best part of these activities is watching kids proudly show off something they actually built themselves.
If you found these ideas helpful for your classroom or kitchen table, be sure to save this post to your favorite holiday Pinterest board so you have these easy setups ready for next year!