Why do we celebrate Hanukkah? Why did the Holy Temple in Jerusalem have a menorah? Why was it so important for the menorah to stay lit?
 
In this two-part Hanukkah activity, students learn the story behind the holiday in chronological order through an illustrated story page with rhyming captions and a matching menorah writing prompt page. The activity takes students from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to the miracle of the oil and the way Jewish families celebrate Hanukkah today.
 
Students begin with an illustrated story page divided into eight panels. Each panel connects to one candle on the matching menorah writing page, helping students follow the Hanukkah story step by step. The cartoon-style illustrations guide students through the main events of the story, including the Temple menorah, King Antiochus’s unfair rules, the bravery of the Maccabees, the rededication of the Temple, and the miracle of the oil.
 
Afterward, students complete the menorah writing prompt page. Each candle includes a story-based prompt connected to the matching story panel, giving students a simple way to retell an important part of the Hanukkah story in their own words. The final prompt invites them to reflect on the meaning of Hanukkah and think about how the miracle can inspire them today.
 
All of the information students need to complete this activity is provided, along with a teacher’s guide, so all you need to do is print and add colored pencils. Once complete, the menorah page can be hung as a bulletin board display.