Use of Menorah (Hanukiah) | Miracle of oil | Brave Judah Macabee

Channukah: Brave Judah Macabee

Motivational Tools:

Children are curious by nature.  All lessons should have a motivation to learn what is introduced via various curiosities.  Pictures culled from the web that feature brave Macabee men.  Pictures of Judah Macabee’s shield should also be displayed.

Lesson Plan:

1. Place a picture of Judah Macabee in a small box.  Pre wrap the box with many layers of newsprint paper.  Find a chanukkah CD and a CD player.
   
   
2. Have the children sit in a circle.  Explain when the music stops, that student will unwrap one layer of paper.  Have this repeat itself until all the children have had turns and the paper is off the box.
   
   
3. At this point reading before opening the box, explain that inside the box is a picture of a very brave soldier.  Discuss with them what it means to be brave.  Perhaps the children know of a soldier who they can talk about. 
   
   
4. At this point take the cover off the box and show Judah Macabee.  Explain why he was a brave Jewwish soldier.  Using story books is helpful to convey the point.  Storybooks can bring a child into the story of Chanukkah.
   
   
5. Judah Macabee’s nickname was the hammer.  Why would that be an appropriate name for him?

Reinforcement Activities:

Creating their own Magen (Sheild):

1. Fold construction paper (black) in half and draw half the shield.
2. Keeping the paper folded have students cut out the shield.
3. Unfold the shield and flatten the crease.
4. Using chalk, make a hammer in the middle of the shield and decorate with Jewish stars

Alternative lesson:

Use Israeli newspaper to cut out shield
Draw large hammers for children to cut out and glue onto center of shield