1Gather your supplies
Cardstock or sturdy paper, crayons, scissors, tape or glue, and a short pencil for the spindle. Print the body strip and separate top cap.
Family craft · About 20–30 minutesCut. Fold. Decorate.
Cut. Fold. Decorate.
Give it a spin.
Make a four-sided paper dreidel with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hei, and shin. Decorate it in your own colors, then add paper gelt for a family game.
Download the template ↓Print-ready PDF ↓Letter or A4 · Print at 100% · A grown-up helps with scissors and the spindle holes.
Let’s make something together.
12Color & cut
Decorate the four faces. Keep the Hebrew letters visible. Cut only around the solid outside lines; keep the four faces joined together.
3Fold the four sides
Fold along the dashed vertical lines to make a square tube. Glue or tape the side tab to the inside of the first face.
4Make the point
Fold the four triangles inward along their dashed lines. Bring the tips together, then tape their edges to form the pointed bottom.
5Add the top & spindle
A grown-up makes the marked hole in the top cap and a small opening where the bottom tips meet. Pass a short pencil through both; tape the cap tabs inside the body and secure the pencil.
6Try a gentle spin
Spin on a smooth table. If it wobbles, center the pencil and check the folds. Handmade tops may tumble sooner—that’s part of the fun!
Make it yours
Color one side for each person in your family. Add little stars, a kindness, or a note for someone you love. Keep it with your Hanukkah things for next year.
Make paper gelt →What do the letters mean?
נ Nun: nothing. ג Gimel: take the whole pot. ה Hei: take half, rounded up. ש Shin: put one in.
These letters stand for “A great miracle happened there.” In Israel, pe replaces shin for “here.” This template uses shin.
Read the family game rules →Paper dreidel questions
Can I use ordinary printer paper?
Yes. Cardstock holds its shape better, but printer paper works for decorating and trying the craft. Fold carefully and use small pieces of tape.
What if our paper dreidel does not spin?
Check that the pencil is centered and the top and bottom sit squarely. Use it as a decorated family keepsake, or play our online dreidel game while everyone shows off their craft.
Can we use it in a classroom?
Yes. Print one template per child, have grown-ups help with cutting and assembly, and pair the activity with the letters and a kindness discussion.