I recently did three Chanukah projects that were so fun. None of them were my original ideas, and I’m so happy now I get to pass them straight to you. And every item is linked so you can just “add to cart” and enjoy it!
1. Candle Painting
This easy peasy project is from @mushkafromchabad! All you need are colored tealight candles, thin paintbrushes (the thinner the better), and white candles to paint on. (While I really wanted to do in a thin Shamash candle for Chanukah, it doesn’t work in the same way as beeswax) You light the colored candles, dip the paintbrush into the melting colored tealight oil, and paint on the white candle. It is simple, easy, and students love it.
Because every project I do includes an educational layer, I would ask students to either paint one word that captures a Chanukah theme or paint a symbol and explain its meaning. You can also have students work in groups of four and present their candles to one another. No matter how you structure it, this project ties into a central idea of Chanukah which is being a lamplighter andspreading light in a dark world.
2. Bedazzled Dreidels
This project is from @mushkafromchabad, too. When I saw Mushka’s video of her bedazzled dreidels I thought, “Looks adorable… probably too complicated.”
Then I messaged her – best decision ever – because it’s actually so easy.
All you need are Dreidels to decorate – either with letters or blank ones – and the bedazzling kit. Here is an all-in-one stones kits or pearl kits (or both for double the fun!) These kits include EVERYTHING you need!
If you are doing this for many people, I’d recommend getting extra glue, and extra tweezers or pencils (thanks for that tip, Mushka!.)
All you do is squeeze a bit of glue on the spot of the dreidel you want, add the jewels or pearls, and have fun. That is it. It is trendy, easy, and fits perfectly with the Chanukah theme of shining, sparkling, and adding light.
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3. Wax Drip Canvas Art
This one came from my sister in law, Mussie Kamenetsky, who is a super creative art teacher. You can leave this project open ended, or you can do it with a specific picture in mind.
You will need a blank canvas, a pencil, colored Chanukah candles, and any menorah (to hold the colored candles.)
The students start by lightly outlining the shape they want to create such as a menorah, dreidel, flame, large chocolate coin, the word Chanukah, a big number eight, a shield, or any other idea connected to Chanukah. Once the outline is done, they light the Chanukah candles and gently drip colored wax inside the shape. If wax drips outside of the area they planned, you can usually pop it off once it dries, although the extra drips often end up looking artistic anyway.
This project is incredibly satisfying to create and really fun to display.
A note about all three:
All three of these projects are fun, meaningful, easy to run, and centered around the theme of being light, being bright, and being proud. They are appropriate for middle elementary through high school, and younger grades can also do them with support.
If you try any of these, I would love to see what your students create! Send me a picture on Instagram @evergrowingeducator or WhatsApp me if you’re on the evergrowing educator group!
Good luck,
Mushkie
Evergrowing Educator
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