Kids' Hanukkah Clay Craft Menorah

I’ve been making menorahs lately. No, not real ones. Instead, a few kid-sized Hanukkah art activities. There were 3D recycled cardboard finger paint menorahs, melting ice sculptures ones and even a version made from paint printed sponges.

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If you’re looking for something a bit different (and less mess than painting), mock ‘finger painting’ with clay takes the cake. For this kids’ holiday activity I added the finger paint clay to craft sticks to make mini menorahs. No, you can’t really light them. But, your child can add faux flames with yellow modeling clay. Like finger paint, your child can mix, mingle and blend colors together. The difference is that there’s no goopy mess and he can layer on a bumpy or lumpy texture (or smooth it out).

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        Thick craft sticks

·        Scissors

·        Modeling clay in a few different colors (look for a soft, spreadable clay)

·        Clear-drying school glue

·        Card stock paper or poster board

Here’s What to Do:

1. Cut four craft sticks in half.

2. Cut another craft stick about one-third of the way up. This one will become the shamash, or helper candle (it lights the other ones).

3. Pull the clay apart into dime-sized pieces.

4. Spread the clay over the craft sticks (only one side). Your child can spread several colors together. They’ll mix almost like paint. He can even try mixing primary colors (red, yellow and blue) into secondaries (orange, purple and green).

5. Repeat the clay finger painting step for two more whole craft sticks (these will become the bottom or base of the menorah).

6. Glue the base sticks horizontally next to one another onto a piece of card stock or poster board.

7. Glue the eight candle sticks and shamash vertically, starting at the top of the horizontal sticks.

8. Spread a piece of yellow clay above each stick candle to make mock flames. Your child can do this all at once (to complete the menorah craft) or add one each night of Hanukkah.

Are you looking for more kids’ crafts? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Creative Kids Crafts on Pinterest.