How to Make a Paper Dreidel for Chanukah

Playing the dreidel game is a fun tradition during the Jewish festival of Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah). A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, where each side has a different Hebrew letter. Usually, it’s made of wood, plastic, or clay. But you can make your own paper dreidel using the pattern below. It’s a fun way bring some creativity to the holiday festivities!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Paper or cardstock
• Glue
• Sharpened pencil
• Tape
• Markers or crayons to decorate (optional)

HOW TO MAKE YOUR PAPER DREIDEL

Step 1: Download and print this dreidel pattern on an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet of paper or cardstock.

Step 2: Use your markers or crayons to color or decorate your dreidel.

Step 3: Carefully cut around the outside edge of the pattern.

Step 4: Fold the pattern along the dotted lines.

Step 5: Apply glue to each tab and paste the dreidel into shape. It should form a cube at the top and an upside-down pyramid at the bottom.

Step 6: Poke the sharpened pencil through the top and out the bottom. You can use tape or glue to hold the pencil in place.

HOW TO PLAY THE DREIDEL GAME

A Hebrew letter is printed on each side of the dreidel. The four letters stand for the Hebrew words Nes Gadol Hayah Sham. This means, “A great wonder happened there.”

To play, each player needs some candies or pennies. Each player puts one into the “pot.” Everyone takes turns spinning the dreidel. If the dreidel falls on:

• נ‎ (Nun) — Don’t take anything
• ג (Gimmel) — Take everything in the “pot”
• ה‎ (Hay) — Take half the “pot”
• ש‎‎‎ (Shin) — Put one back into the “pot”

The player with the most candies or pennies at the end wins.

Information in this article was provided by the National Jewish Committee on Scouting. Download their Chanukah Program Helps for more resources and fun activities.