December 18: Toddler Storytime: Hanukkah

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The ones listed below are the ones they picked.)

Opening song:                                (Tune: The Farmer in the Dell")

             We tap hola like this

             We tap ho la like this

                 Hi-ho cherry

             We tap hola like this

               Continue with other verses:

                  We drop hola like this...

                   We circle hola like this...

                 We spin hola like this...

                We toss hola like this..

                 We roll hola like this....

                     We stomp hola like this...

I explained that in December there are several holidays that some people celebrate. Last week we learned about Christmas. Today we will learn about Hanukkah.     

I told them that Hanukkah lasts for 8 days, and children typically receive gifts on all eight days. 

Book: "The Runaway Latkes" by Leslie Kimmelman   
Before reading, I explained that a latke is a potato pancake eaten as part Hanukkah.

I showed the children a paper menorah and candles. I talked about the shamash candle and how they use it to light a candle each night. I also showed the children some dreidels that I had from when I taught kindergarten. 

Shaker song: After finishing the song, each child added a candle to the menorah. I used the paper menorah and candles found here.

“Hanukkah! Hanukkah!”
(Tune: “Three Blind Mice”)

Hanukkah! Hanukkah! 
Hanukkah is here! 
Hanukkah is here! 
Light eight candles in a row. 
Light eight candles and see them glow. 
Light eight candles so we all know 
That Hanukkah is here.



Shaker song:

“Sing a Song of Hanukkah”
(Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)

Oh, sing a song of Hanukkah,
Of Hanukkah, of Hanukkah.
Sing a song of Hanukkah.
A Happy Holiday!

With presents and presents,
On all eight nights.
Oh sing a song of Hanukkah,
A Happy Holiday!




     

Story: "Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf" by Greg Wolfe 

Shaker song:  I put a pan in the middle of the rug with clip art of five individual latkes in it. I let children take turns grabbing one and making it run away. 

“Five Little Latkes”
(Tune: “5 Little Monkeys”)

Five little latkes were sizzling in the pan (Wiggle 5 fingers).
One jumped out and said, "Catch me if you can!".And it jumped and it ran all around the kitchen floor, (Make fingers run on the floor in front of you)
When I turned around it ran right out the door! (Make surprised face!)Now, there's 4 little latkes sizzling in the pan (wiggle 4 fingers)

Four little latkes were sizzling in the pan..
Continue...3, 2, 1...

Movement song: As we sang the song, we danced around the paper menorah shaking our shakers.

“Hanukkah is Here”
(Tune: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")

Hanukkah is here, 
Hanukkah is here. 
Eight tall candles in a row, 
Hanukkah is here.

Hanukkah is here, 
Hanukkah is here. 
Light the candles one by one, 
Hanukkah is here.

Goodbye Song:

 (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

We tap adios like this

 We tap adios like this

Hi-ho cherry

  We tap adios like this

Continue with other verses:

We drop adios like this...

   We circle adios like this...

  We spin adios like this...

   We toss adios like this...

  We roll adios like this...

           We stomp adios like this...

Craft Time: Dreidel Garlands  
          I modified an idea from https://www.creativejewishmom.com.

         Materials:

1. Dreidel template
2. Watercolor paints
3. Tape to tape the yarn to the dreidels
4. Yarn
5. Scissors   

          

My example

*All photos are with parental permission.

Other suggestions we didn't pick:

1. "How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?" by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
2. "Happy Hanukkah, Biscuit!" by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
3. "Latke, the Lucky Dog!" by Ellen Fischer
4."The Hanukkah Mice" by Ronne Randall
5. "The Hanukkah Mice" by Steven Kroll
6."The Hanukkah Hop!" by Erica Silverman