Holiday Discovery Kits

The Holiday 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.

Each kit offers ideas and activities to bring the Jewish Holidays to life through play, imagination, and hands-on discovery.

Download the kits to draw ideas for your family programs and/or send them home to the grandparents in your community.

High Holidays Discovery Kit

The 15 downloadable 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

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Hanukkah Discovery Kit

The 15 downloadable 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

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Purim Discovery Kit

The 13 downloadable 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”)

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Passover Discovery Kit

The 17 downloadable 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!”)

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Shavuot Discovery Kit

The 13 downloadable 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”)

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Shabbat Discovery Kit

The 14 downloadable 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

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