Hanukkah Holiday Readers Theater Script for Grades 3 to 5 | Jewish Festival

This engaging Readers Theater script for Grades 3–5 brings Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, to life, immersing students in its historical and cultural significance. Through a 2025 classroom and vivid flashbacks to ancient Judea, students explore the Maccabees’ rebellion, the miracle of the oil, and traditions like menorah lighting and dreidel games. From frying latkes to spinning for gelt, students discover how Hanukkah unites Jews globally, fostering social studies connections to courage, faith, and community. Perfect for social studies teachers seeking multicultural resources, this activity aligns with CCSS standards, promoting fluency, empathy, and collaborative learning.

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(a single PDF with links to Google Docs/Slides, if print format is preferred you can download from your Google Drive to word/pdf/ppt/etc)

What’s Included

• 10-scene script (Google Doc, ~1300 words, 7 pages)
• Teacher guide with script summary, answer keys, and standards alignment (Google Doc, 6 pages)
• Student worksheet (Google Slides) featuring vocabulary, comprehension, and reflective social studies questions

Skills Addressed

• Reading fluency and expressive storytelling
• Understanding cultural and historical significance of Hanukkah
• Analyzing characters’ roles in shaping Jewish traditions
• Building vocabulary tied to Jewish culture and global practices
• Encouraging cross-cultural awareness and empathy

The Worksheet Includes

• Short-Answer: Identify key details and themes from Hanukkah’s stories and traditions
• Reflection & Application: Connect Hanukkah’s values to personal experiences and global cultural practices
• Vocabulary: Clearly defined terms (e.g., menorah, dreidel) supported by script quotes
• Themes: Deep exploration of courage, faith, and community unity
• Open-Ended Challenges: Encourage meaningful reflection on cultural traditions and their universal lessons

Script Summary

This script celebrates Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, exploring its historical and cultural significance through a modern classroom and vivid flashbacks to ancient Judea. Students learn about the Maccabees’ rebellion against oppression, the miracle of the oil lasting eight days, and traditions like lighting the menorah and playing dreidel. The story begins in a 2025 classroom where a teacher and student discuss Hanukkah’s purpose. It flashes back to 165 BCE, when Judah Maccabee reclaimed the Temple, marking Hanukkah’s origins. Modern characters like Hannah share menorah-lighting and latke-making, while historical figures like Miriam reveal the oil miracle. The script ends with a Hanukkah party, emphasizing courage, faith, and community, showing how Hanukkah inspires resilience worldwide.

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