Chanukah Resources
Browse and download free Chanukah resources for kids, prepared by Gateways' experienced special education teachers: Chanukah blessings with visual supports, Chanukah social stories, visual supports for Chanukah skills, Chanukah song sheets with picture symbols, Make Your Own Chanukah File Folder Activity Kits. We'd love to hear your feedback!
Chanukah Blessings with Visual Supports
Blessings with visual supports were created to help make blessings simple, accessible, and understandable for students with a variety of disabilities. In these files, each Hebrew phrase is illustrated by a simple symbol (we use Mayer-Johnson picture symbols). Students with disabilities can follow along with each blessing and learn to understand its meaning using symbol blessings. Print these blessings to help children learn to celebrate Chanukah, or use them to create file folder activities.
Chanukah Social Stories
Children with disabilities can feel anxious about unfamiliar situations and events. Books and social stories can set them up for success by showing children what to expect and what is expected of them.
We Use Birthday Candles and Chanukah Candles in Different Ways
Children can sometimes confuse Chanukah candles and birthday candles. We put birthday candles in a cake, sing "Happy Birthday," and then blow the candles out. But Chanukah candles go in a menorah, then we sing blessings and do NOT blow the candles out! This story illustrates the differences between Chanukah candles and birthday candles.
Chanukah Fire Safety
Sometimes the flames on Chanukah candles make children feel nervous. This social story helps children feel calm and safe around Chanukah candles by illustrating four Chanukah Fire Safety Rules, and by explaining that when people are careful and follow fire safety rules, it is safe to light Chanukah candles.
Chanukah Skills
Visual supports for Chanukah skills sequence the steps to perform a given task to help children become more independent.
Chanukah Songs
Help all children participate in Chanukah festivities by providing song sheets with picture symbols, so every child can follow along.
Chanukah File Folder Activities
File folder activities can help children review ideas and familiarize them with Jewish objects. Since they are inexpensive and relatively easy to make, you can accumulate a large stack of file folder activities in no time! The visual nature of file folder activities takes advantage of the visual strengths of children with autism and many other developmental disabilities. Click for the Gateways Guide to Making File Folder Activities.
The File Folder Guide for Teachers gives teachers specific tips for using file folder activities in the classroom. It also gives special instructions for helping students to make their own file folder activities, and tips for storing and organizing your classroom file folder activity library.
Each file folder activity listed below is presented with a photograph of the activity and a downloadable kit that includes visual instructions and the materials to make your own!
Fill in the Blank: How We Use Chanukah Candles and Birthday Candles
A companion to our social story "We Use Chanukah Candles and Birthday Candles in Different Ways," this activity reinforces the differences between the candles we light on birthdays and the candles we light on Chanukkah. Bright colored symbols help guide students to correctly complete sentences about the ways we use candles on these two different occasions.
Color Match Days of Chanukah
A fun activity for children who love to count, this file folder activity prompts children to match each menorah with the corresponding day of Chanukkah! Brightly colored candles and text help guide students to make correct matches. This activity will help familiarize students with the menorah and the idea that we add one candle to the menorah each night of Chanukah. Does your family have trouble remembering which night of Chanukkah it is? You can this activity as a special Chanukkah schedule: add one piece each night to keep track of which night of Chanukkah it is, and how many candles need to go in the menorah.
Complete the Pattern of Chanukah Candles
For serious puzzle-lovers only! This advanced file folder activity presents students with patterns of colored Chanukkah candles that need to be completed. Each pattern of eight candles reinforces the idea that we celebrate Chanukkah for eight nights. If the patterns in this file folder activity are too tricky for your child, cut out the candles and make your own patterns!
Photo Match Candles in the Menorah
It's time to set the menorah! This activity features a photographs of a menorah and Chanukah candles, and uses color coding to help guide students in setting the menorah. Prior to recognizing line drawings of objects, some children are better able to understand photgraphic representations. In addition to trying this file folder activity, we recommend taking a photograph of the actual menorah in your home which would lend familiarity to this task for your child.
Photo Match Chanukah Objects
This file folder activity involves matching photographs of Chanukah objects. Prior to recognizing line drawings of objects, some children are better able to understand photographic representations. In addition to trying this file folder, we recommend taking photographs of the actual objects you use in your home which would lend familiarity to this task for your child. For a child with fine motor challenges, consider mounting the photographs on chunky blocks of foam, or built up cardboard.
Complete the Menorah Puzzle
Gold menorahs, silver menorahs, soccer ball menorahs, even alligator menorahs! In this file folder activity, students have to find the missing half of each menorah. Although there are so many interesting menorahs in the world, students with disabilities may have difficulty understanding that menorahs can be different colors or shapes and still all be menorahs. By using photographs of a wide variety of both traditional and fun menorahs, this activity will help students to generalize the idea of a menorah.
