Pipe Cleaners and Straws Menorah

Make a (not for lighting) menorah with simple materials!

My kids were talking about doing a Chanukah project and we were brainstorming ideas in the car on the way home from school. We tossed around all kinds of ideas and we came up with more than one viable ideas! Here is the first one, more to follow as Chanukah gets closer!

We started with the idea of poking pipe cleaner through a piece of paper and then making loops with the pipe cleaners to hold straws as candles. We got started, marking spots on paper to poke holes and once we inserted the pipe cleaners, we could see right away that they weren’t standing up very well. So we went to the recycle bin and pulled out a box of noodles and pasted a piece of cardboard behind the construction paper and it really helped the pipe cleaners stand up nicely.

Then, my younger daughter picked up the straws and slipped one right on to the pipe cleaner. It fit perfectly! So much better than what I planned! So it took a group effort, but we got some very cute menorahs in the end!

Looking for more Chanukah projects?
Menorah and Dreidel Snowflakes
“Light” a Paper Menorah
Nature Menorahs
“Spinning” Paper Dreidel
Decorate a Dreidel…with a Dreidel!

Pipe Cleaner and Straws Menorah

Time:
Active: 15-20 minutes

Age: 4-7

Materials:
Construction paper
Thin cardboard (cereal box works great)
3 pipe cleaners
3 straight straws
Scissors
Glue

Process:
Cut out a piece of cardboard and glue construction paper on top. Mark and poke 9 holes across the length of the paper. I used a utility knife but I always wish I had a compass to poke holes with.

Cut 2 pipe cleaners into 4 sections each, for a total of 8 sections. Cut the last pipe cleaner in half, to create a taller shamash. Do the same with the straws.

Poke the pipe cleaners through the holes you created. You can put the tall one at the end or in the center. Fold the end of the pipe cleaner underneath the cardboard to hold in in place.

Slip straws over the pipe cleaners. The pipe cleaner should stick out the top of the straw just a bit. Fold it over the edge of the straw to create a flame effect and help with balance.

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