Five Hanukkah Activities For Preschoolers
Updated: Oct 22, 2024
Learning about or celebrating Hanukkah at home or in the classroom? Looking to pair learning and fun this Hanukkah season? You're in the right place! Here is a collection of tried and true play-based learning Hanukkah activities for preschoolers that will keep kids engaged and learning all season long!
Hanukkah Activities For Preschoolers #1: Playdough Book-Based Play

One of our favorite Hanukkah books is The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol by Arthur A. Levine. The illustrations by Kevin Hawkes are, as the title indicates, truly magical, and every page sparkles with joy and wonder. This book can be paired with so many Hanukkah activities for preschoolers and young children, and pictured here is a playdough stamping setup that focuses on recognizing
numbers (1-8), Jewish and Hanukkah symbols, and spelling the word "light." I love this simple setup because you can easily adapt it to fit the needs of your children and students!
Hanukkah Activities For Preschoolers #2: Duplo Menorah Number Match

Use Duplo Blocks or Legos to create a DIY menorah, and label each of the candle spots with numbers 1-8 for a perfect foundational math Hanukkah activity for preschoolers! Number matching is a great way to encourage counting, number recongition, cardinality, and foundational math vocabulary, all within a fun and seasonal theme! Plus, dry erase markers wipe off fairly easily and enable you to use and reuse this setup in any way that works best for you and your kids!
Looking for adaptable printable resources that are perfect for preschoolers all Winter long? Check out the Play To Learn 3-4YO Preschool Curriculum Printables: WINTER BUNDLE for 274 printable pages of reading, math, and social emotional hands-on learning!
Hanukkah Activities For Preschoolers #3: Hanukkah Sensory Play

There are so many options for Hanukkah sensory play, and this setup is simple and versatile! Using uncooked chick peas dyed yellow, painted cardboard to create a menorah, Hanukkah cookie cutters, and some sensory bin tools, preschool children can scoop, pour, count, fill, and play all Hanukkah season long! This setup encourages investigation of capacity, Hanukkah-related vocabulary, 1:1 correspondence, fine motor skills, imaginative play, color recongition, counting, and more!
Hanukkah Activities For Preschoolers #4: Dreidel Book-Based Sensory Play

Marshmallows make a great sensory base, and Sesame Street books and characters are always a hit with preschool learners! Colorful, inclusive, and fun, pairing this simple sensory setup with Elmo's Little Dreidel and a dreidel game set offers endless options for play based learning! Whether they engage in the math concepts afforded through playing Dreidel (all, half, none, one), the literacy skills offered through the book, or the sensory and imaginative play opportunities presented in the bin, this multi-faceted Hanukkah activity for preschoolers gives new meaning to open-ended play!
Looking to blend academics with seasonal fun this Winter holiday season? Check out the Winter Holidays Reading, Writing, Math, & Fun Activities & Worksheets- 2nd Grade for seasonal and holiday fun that makes math, reading, and writing into a fun-filled time without any extra planning time!
Hanukkah Activities For Preschoolers #5: Kinetic Sand Hanukkah Cookies

Hanukkah-themed cookie cutters, baking tools, and kinetic sand make for endless imaginative play opportunities while strengthening the fine motor skills and small hand muscles of preschoolers! This sensory play setup is super low-prep, great for an independent station or center, and perfect for a Hanukkah play based learning activity, as it encourages vocabulary and language development related to the holiday! Perfect for home or in the classroom!
Enjoyed these ideas and want some more free and meaningful resources?! I would love for you to check out the FREE Inclusive Toolkit for Early Childhood Classrooms and see how it inspires you to orient your classroom toward liberation and greater inclusivity!
Comments