Thinking Questions for Hanukkah

Use these questions to reflect on the history and meaning of Hanukkah.

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Print out these thinking questions and write down the answers as you travel through the Hanukkah holiday scrapbook.

1. When the candles are lit on the menorah, they are a symbol. What do they symbolize? Tell the story in your own words.

2. What is the tzedakah box used for? Why do you think it might have special meaning during Hanukkah?

3. What do the four Hebrew letters on the sides of a dreidel stand for? What does that phrase have to do with Hanukkah?

4. Why does Hanukkah start on a different day each year?

5. If you were to explain Hanukkah to a friend who had never heard of it before, what story would you tell?

Find thinking questions for Christmas and Kwanzaa.

Hanukkah in the Classroom
Celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah with these lesson plans, articles, and teaching ideas. Also, consult our picture book list to familiarize students with its ancient traditions.

White House Holiday
Have you ever wondered what the White House looks like at Christmas, or what treats the President and First Lady might enjoy during the holiday season? Kid Reporter Madison Hartke-Webber gives you the holiday scoop on the glitz, glamour, and sugar of it all.

Policies & Practices: Creating a School Policy About Holidays
Wilford clarifies the different categories of holidays and emphasizes the need to create a school policy about holidays. Reassessing holiday policies and initiating discussion among parents, faculty, and school director often leads to a more enlightened and rich curriculum.