Hanukkah Activities and Reading for the Montessori Classroom

When I taught in an elementary Montessori classroom, one of my Jewish students enjoyed giving a lesson to the class for every Jewish holiday. The best part of the lessons was her personal and personable approach to storytelling. Her classmates were completely engaged, asked tons of questions, and other, shyer, Jewish students would eventually join her in giving the lesson. I would recommend starting with your Montessori students and their knowledge for these kinds of lessons. You can supplement their lessons with your research and experiences, books and activities.

This year Hanukkah begins on Friday, December 11 at sundown. Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukkah) is the festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights and is a 2,000-year-old tradition. It celebrates the Jewish people’s ancient triumph over their enemies. More than 2,000 years ago, the king of Syria, Antiochus, marched with soldiers into Judea which was the home of many Jewish people. He tried to force the Jewish people to worship the Greek gods. When they refused, the Temple in Jerusalem was attacked by the Syrian soldiers, who killed many Jewish people and stole sacred objects, including a menorah – a holy candelabrum used in the Temple. Until then, the flame of this menorah had never before been extinguished. The soldiers defiled the special oil used to light this menorah.