Critical Thinking Meets Chanukah Fun

STEM-based learning has come to Chabad houses, and it’s here to stay.

STEM is a new-age curriculum designed to engage children in science, technology, engineering and math. This Chanukah, it was integrated in children’s programming at Chabad centers around the world.

At the Chabad in Potomac, MD, a “Chanukah Gelt Factory” encouraged local children in hands-on exploration and critical thinking. According to director Sara Bluming, children applied engineering techniques to wire mini electric car menorahs and crafted handmade chocolate Chanukah gelt. “It was absolutely fantastic,” Bluming related.

The components of the Chanukah Gelt Factory is the brainchild of CKids International, run out of Chabad’s Headquarters Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch. To date, its been implemented in 180 Chabad centers with twelve thousand children attending.

An attendee at a “Chanukah Gelt Factory” shows off his newly-wired electric menorah. The workshop was inspired by the STEM-based learning program and featured in 180 Chabad centers.