Lesson Plan Title : Timeline for Hanukkah

Age Range: Grade 6 through grade 8 (Middle School)

Overview and Purpose: In this activity, students create a timeline that shows how the Hanukkah celebration has grown and changed over the years. They start with the actual event and continue through today.

Objective: The student will be able to create a timeline for the story and celebration of Hanukkah.

Resources:

Information about the story and celebration of Hanukkah

Activities:

Have students work together or individually to create a timeline of the story and celebrations of Hanukkah. Students should start their timeline when the second temple was being built and continue it through to today. They should include the story of the oil, the dates of when it became a national holiday in Israel and in America, and when the different aspects of the celebration were introduced.

Wrap Up:

If students are unfamiliar with the different aspects of Hanukkah, you might want to take one or two class periods and discuss them. Students might need access to the Internet to find all the dates that they're looking for.