LAMINATED VELCRO MENORAH

Kids love this menorah activity board with Velcro candles and flames because they can put them on and take them off as many times as they like! I made this board in 2005 when my older son started preschool, and we’ve used it many times through the years when my kids and I were asked to talk about Hanukkah at their schools. It’s perfect for that and also very fun to play with at home!

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

-A large and sturdy piece of cardboard or foam board
-Any colored paper (construction paper, scrapbook paper, poster board)
-Larger paper (or poster board) for the menorah
-Optional: number stickers for the candles
-Optional: star or heart craft punch for the flames
-Optional: glitter paper to add some sparkle to your menorah
-Velcro

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

(1) Draw any menorah shape you like on the larger paper (make sure you make the shamash spot taller than the rest of the candle spots) and cut it out. You can decorate the menorah in whatever way you like — add a design, glitter, stickers, anything you want. (2) Cut out nine long, thin rectangles to make the candles. (3) You can add numbers to the candles if you wish — either write them, stamp them, or use number stickers, which is what I did. (4) Cut out nine flames on yellow paper. Alternatively, you can use a craft punch to make the flames. (5) Laminate all the pieces and parts. I took everything to Office Depot, but you could use clear Contact Paper if you don’t have a laminator. (6) Add Velcro to the back of each part (all the candles, all the flames, and the menorah); then place Velcro on the cardboard or foam board in the spots where each piece will be placed (see photo of my foam board with the Velcro). (7) Now enjoy a fun interactive menorah — practice putting the candles in from right to left (just like we read Hebrew) and then “lighting” them from left to right!