TONS of Chanukah Fun Sheets, Activities and SO MUCH MORE!!!

 

I have TONS of Chanukah Activities for you to use with you little ones- ALL in one place, along with activities for the ENTIRE year!

Just CLICK HERE to download the ENTIRE Jewish Preschool Printables packet- it will not disappoint!

And check out 

35 MONTESSORI INSIRED HANDS ON ACTIVITIES FOR CHANUKAH!!!

Enjoy all these goodies!!!

Keeping Up with Ourselves- A Chanukah Lesson

My son recently received a sweatshirt as a gift from my mom. He thought it was the absolute coolest sweatshirt ever. It has a hood, lots of shades of green (his favorite color) and it zips all the way up with some mesh pieces over his face which is just super cool.

Being that we live in the tropics, he doesn't get to wear his new favorite sweatshirt that often but the second it is remotely chilly he has it on with a smile from ear to ear. He really loves his new sweatshirt!

Every Wednesday he takes an art class at the local elementary school down the road. A few weeks ago it was raining really hard and strangely chilly, so he was super excited to be able to wear his awesome sweatshirt to his art class.

As he got there, I noticed a bunch of boys standing around him and commenting on how cool his sweatshirt was. Apparently its a cool sweatshirt among boys his age (9) and he was just made aware of this as being homeschooled, he really has no clue what clothes are considered 'cool'. He just knows what HE likes. And he likes this sweatshirt because of the colors and the hood and the cool way it zips up. Not because it is considered cool.

We have a young lady who comes over once a week to play, she just turned 12 and loves coming over. She does these amazing projects with my kids, makes music videos with them, directs plays, make up dances, she is so creative and my kids are her perfect little actors and performers whom she can direct and bring out her talent. She loves it, they love it, I love it, its a win win.

A few nights ago we had a Chanukah party and she asked if she could bring a friend from school. I told her of course and that night there were a bunch of kids at the party. After we lit the Menorah, we put on music and brought all the kids to the grass to dance.

We made a huge circle holding hands and started dancing around. the next thing I know, her friend started running really fast, dragging the kid next to her, which was a ripple effect and suddenly the kids were running really fast in this circle and all the kids came toppling on top of each other. Some little ones were really not happy about it. We all got back up and made a circle again and I noticed this young lady who is always so respectful and so wonderful when she comes over started acting a little too wild and between her and her friend the circle just fell apart. I was really disappointed but then I realized this is very normal middle school behavior. Peer pressure.

Both these experiences made me see the Miracle of Chanukah on a very personal level.

We live in a huge world where everyone is trying to keep up with every one else.

The Greeks wanted the Jews to do just that. To be like them.

When we homeschool, we give our kids the gift of making decisions based on their own opinion, not the opinion of others. They do not have the issue of peer pressure on a daily basis.

My daughter has her own fashion sense. She wears things that she likes, colors that she likes. She plays with toys that she loves, not toys that are cool or in style.

My sisters gifted her with an American Girl Doll. She had no idea what this was, she figured its just a pretty doll. Needless to say, she was not too impressed as she doesn't love playing with dolls, she prefers miniatures. So she gave it to her younger sister.

The beauty of knowing yourself, and knowing what YOU like and enjoy, is such a special gift. The Jews had to be so strong during that time that the Greeks were trying to change them. Its just like that today except we just don't realize it.

So take this Chanukah and appreciate being who YOU are. The foods YOU like, the clothes YOU choose. The things that make YOU happy. Its NOT about what you SHOULD do. Don't compare yourself to other moms, don't compare your kids to other kids. Be you, because that is who Hashem created you to be. Embrace it.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and may the rest of Chanukah be filled with lots of light and many many miracles!

Chanukah Sameach!

Always,

Montessori and Chanukah Fun Printables and More!

My dear and very talented friend Nechamy has very graciously started contributing her gorgeous and very well made Montessori inspired printable activities to my blog for all of you to enjoy-

Feel free to download and print some or all of these fabulous Chanukah activities for your munchkins, all made and put together by Nechamy just for you... 

Chanukah Fun Sheets

Chanukah Parts of a Whole

Menorah Match

And of course, these adorable books from Mish and Mush- just click on the images to purchase and enhance your Chanukah experience...

And check out these super cute Chanukah themed card games and activities from Emily Sper...

Just click on the above images to make these adorable activities yours~

Enjoy the rest of your week and stay tuned for a wonderful Alef Bet curriculum review and some more fantastic Alef Bet activities from the wonderfully talented Nechamy!

Always,

Adorable Menorah Decorating Kits

Whenever I go with my kids to Costco this time of year, they are always fascinated by the Gingerbread House making kit. Knowing it is not Kosher, they know not to even ask for it but talk about how cool it would be to make one.

A friend recently sent me a link to Sweet Thrills Bakeshop  where I saw they had Gingerbread Menorah Decorating Kits... that were KOSHER!!! PARVE!!!

I immediately contacted them and asked if they would send me one to review for all of you and within a few days the kit arrived--- and oh my goodness!!!

We opened it up and here is what was inside:

Which you put together to make this:

I mean, can you get any cuter? And the prices are SO decent- I highly recommend you hop on over to their website Sweet Thrills Bakeshop and check out their products- 

For Chanukah they have 3 different options and its all Kosher Parve!!!

A great Chanukah gift and activity for the kids- Enjoy and Happy almost Chanukah!

Always,

The Dreidel that wouldn't Spin- a Chanukah Book Review

In this very sweet story, a peddler gives a very beautiful dreidel to the greedy owner of a toy shop.

The shopkeeper sells this dreidel twice to two separate spoiled children for a very high price only to have them both come back to return it because this dreidel simply 'won't spin!'

The shopkeeper realizes there is something strange going on especially when a poor man and his child enter his store.

In this beautiful holiday story by award-winning author Martha Simpson, and brought to life by the imaginative illustrations of award-winning illustrator D. Yael Bernhard, the happiness in this story will warm the heart of young and old alike with its simple message: wonders still occur for those who are ready for them. 

Included is a useful appendix that explains Chanukah, and an explanation on how to play the dreidel game.

You can buy it here:

Wishing you a Peaceful and Wonderful Shabbos,

Always,

Fabulous Chanukah Product Reviews!

Ok all you amazing mama's out there- I have got some fantastic Chanukah Products to introduce to you...

First up-

If the Candles Could Speak- the Story of Chanukah by Dassie Prus:

This is a huge book with the most magnificent illustrations filled with information on as well as the story of Chanukah. 

It also comes with a huge Story Board with 40 gorgeous and colorful removable stickers to use while teaching about Chanukah:

If you are going to make one investment this year in your Jewish homeschooling curriculum, Preschool curriculum and/or Hebrew School, then this should be it. 

Hop on over to Dassie's website to see a bunch of sample pages from the book, get a free coloring sheet, get the exact measurements of the book and story board and lots more info- the quality is superb and this entire set is worth every penny in my humble opinion, go check it out: http://www.chanukahbigbook.com/

My kids LOVE it and I can't wait to show the kids in Hebrew school on Sunday. 

Stay tuned for some more superb Chanukah products and for more info on

If the Candles Could Speak- the Story of Chanukah by Dassie Prus

Click Here!

Have a wonderful week!

Always,

Chanukah, Chanukah, What Do You See?

Enjoy this Chanukah Coloring Book I made for my little ones and yours!

Chanukah, Chanukah, What Do You See? {Click Here}

35 Fun Activities for Chanukah!

I compiled a bunch of stuff we have done for Chanukah over the past few years (including this year) and put it all together in this e-book.

Consider this my Chanukah gift to you and your cutie pies:)

Click here to download and print it now!

I hope this comes in handy over the next few weeks in preparation for Chanukah!

Have a great week~

Always,

I make these booklets for my kids and for you. Should you come upon a typo, you are welcome to let me know! I am a mom, not an editor:)

 

Adorable Handmade Chanukah Review

Today we my kids received a package addressed to them in the mail from the wonderful folks at Kiwi Crate... 

Kiwi Crate is a company that sends out different crates filled with all different crafts with everything you need to do them. They have individual crates or you can buy a monthly membership and receive a crate every month with different crafts inside. Check out their website to see what they are all about...

You can only imagine the excitement going on, I mean who doesn't LOVE getting packages, right?

They wanted to just rip it open, but mom made sure to be careful and open it up step by step... oy, the  suspense of discovering what was inside!

And Voila!

 This is an absolutely adorable crate filled with two beautiful crafts for Chanukah...

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It comes with EVERYTHING you need to make this gorgeous Menorah...

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And this super cool dreidel...

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What a great gift for Chanukah! 

So head on over to their website, http://www.kiwicrate.com/ and check out all their awesome products- you have just enough time to get your Chanukah crate in time for Chanukah! 

Thanks again to the wonderful folks at Kiwi Crate!

And coming this week... I have an AMAZING Hebrew Reading Curriculum to share with all of you~ stay tuned!

Have a wonderful week,

Always,

"I See Me" Chanukah Book Review

Okay... Chanukah is in a few weeks- and although we do not have the custom to give our kids actual gifts (we give them Chanukah gelt) I know there are plenty of families out there who do...

Now I was lucky enough to create a personalized Chanukah book for my kids to review from the folks at I See Me Inc. Personalized Childrens Books. This is such an adorable thing to have for your kids- story books with THEM as the main character:) 

Take a few minutes and hop over to their website and check out their fabulous products... just click here- but come right back so I can tell you a bit about the Chanukah book they made for us:)

 Here is some info about this super cute book:

One of our popular personalized gifts for kids. In this beautifully illustrated, personalized story, the child lights the Menorah, plays with a Dreidel, enjoys chocolate Gelt and Latkes, and on day eight receives the gift of a cuddly bear. Sure to be a family classic, the story is written by award-winning author Jennifer Dewing and illustrated by Wilson Ong.

One child is the "star" of the story and his or her name is featured throughout the story.
The child's name and the names of his or her siblings or family members are included on an illustration of gift tags on presents around the menorah.

It is really easy to personalize- so head on over to this page to order and create your very own Chanukah book starring your sweetie pie!

Here are 2 promo codes for my dear readers to use at check out:

For 10% off an entire order- enter HANUKKAH  expires 11/21/12

For FREE SHIPPING enter hanukkah1  expires 11/14/12 at midnight

Enjoy and have a great week!

Always,

Chanukah Giveaway Winner!!!

And the winner of the Chanukah Giveaway is....

~~~~BRINA GONZALEZ~~~~

Congrats to you and your kiddos!

Please email me your mailing address to Jewishmontessori18 AT gmail DOT com

And wishing all of my fabulous readers a HAPPY CHANUKAH, may your Chanukah be filled with lots of love, light and many revealed miracles!

Always,