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Discovery Kits

The Discovery Kits below are interactive guides, designed especially for grandparents and grandchildren (ages 3–8) to use together — either in person or at a distance.

The kits offer ideas and activities to bring the Jewish holidays and storytelling to life through play, imagination, and hands-on discovery.

Family Stories Discovery Kit

The 14 pages include:

  • How storytelling connects grandparents and grandchildren
  • Tips for telling a good story
  • Fun ways to share your family stories (“Tell a Story in 5 Objects” and “Family Portraits Through Objects”)
  • How to create your own stories (“One-Word-at-a-Time Story” and “Mix-and-Match Story”)
  • Activating stories through play
  • Tips for grandparents living at a distance

Hanukkah Discovery Kit

The 15 pages include:

  • Background and rituals for grandparents
  • Hanukkah story using paper puppetry (“Hanukkah Box Puppet Theater”)
  • Meaningful STEAM projects (“Menorah Maker Challenge”)
  • Food and cooking ideas (“Root Vegetable Latke Fry”)
  • Fun movement activities (“Dance the Dreidel”)
  • Jewish values exploration (“Be a Maccabee — Create Your Superhero Characters”)

Download 5 Tips for Using the Hanukkah Discovery Kit

High Holidays Discovery Kit

The 15 pages include:

  • Background and rituals for grandparents
  • Stories to read aloud (“Jonah and the Giant Fish”)
  • Meaningful craft projects (“Paper Towel Tube Shofar”)
  • Food and cooking ideas (“Round Food Feast”)
  • Templated games (“Jonah and the Giant Fish Shadow Puppetry”)

Download 4 Tips for Using the High Holidays Discovery Kit

Passover Discovery Kit

The 19 pages include:

  • Background and rituals for grandparents
  • Passover story
  • Participatory Passover activities (‘’The Story in Five Seder Scenes” and “Four-Cups Puppets”)
  • Fun seder games (“How Are We Different from All Other Families?” and “Afikoman Scavenger Hunt”)
  • Jewish values exploration (“Follow the Leader,” “Modeling after Moses,” and “Let Us!”)

Download 4 Tips for Using the Passover Discovery Kit

Purim Discovery Kit

The 15 pages include:

  • Background and rituals for grandparents
  • Purim story
  • Purim Shpiel with script and puppet template (“A Shpiel in Shushan”)
  • Fun games (“Upside-Down Costume Swap” and “Messages of Love Mishloach Manot”)
  • Jewish values exploration (“Behind the Mask — Bravery to Be You” and “Hamantaschen Haiku”)

Download 5 Tips for Using the Purim Discovery Kit

Shabbat Discovery Kit

The 14 pages include:

  • Background and ritual for grandparents
  • The Story of the First Shabbat
  • Shabbat activities and challenges (“Days of Creation Challenge” with found objects; “Lunar Time” with sandwich cookies)
  • Movement games (“Lecha Dodi Parade”; “Yoga Shabbat-Style”)
  • Making a “Grandblessing”
  • Challah, grape juice, and besamim (spices) recipes

Shavuot Discovery Kit

The 13 pages include:

  • Background and rituals for grandparents
  • Bringing the story to life
  • Participatory Shavuot activities (‘Shavuot Story Sleepover,” “Dairy Delight,” “Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt”)
  • Jewish values exploration (“Happy with What I Have” and “Family Storytelling”)