Make Your Own Dreidel Out of Recycled Milk Cartons

Dreidels are toys that are often seen on Hanukkah. They are similar to tops, but they are created for the purpose of playing a traditional Jewish game. Here's how to make your own dreidel out of a milk carton, and how to play the game.

What You Need

• Small, empty paper milk or juice carton
• Masking tape
• Kitchen knife or sharp-tipped scissors
• Light blue acrylic paint
• Small paintbrush
• Sharpened pencil
• Styrofoam ball
• White craft glue
• Loose gold glitter
• Newspaper (to cover work area)
• Pie pan
  

Instructions

1. Rinse out the milk or juice carton and dry thoroughly. Close the spout, and secure it with a small piece of masking tape.

2. Use the kitchen knife or scissors to poke one hole in the top of the container and one in the bottom, each as close to the center as possible. (If a child is doing this project, the adult should do this part.)

3. Paint all four sides of the milk carton with the blue paint. Let dry. While you're waiting, clean the paintbrush thoroughly.

4. Squeeze some glue out onto the newspaper. Using the paintbrush, spread a layer of it evenly onto the bottom of the milk carton. Then hold it over the pie plate and sprinkle with glitter. Tap to remove the excess. Repeat with the top of the carton, including the indentations on the side, and let dry.

5. Use the paintbrush to write the Yiddish letter Nun in glue on one side of the carton. Hold the carton over the pie plate, sprinkle with glitter, and tap to remove the excess. Repeat on the other sides, using the letters Hay, Gimel and Shin. Let dry.

6. Insert the eraser end of the pencil into the styrofoam ball. Use the paintbrush to cover it with a uniform layer of paint, sprinkle with glitter and shake off the excess. Let dry. Clean the paintbrush thoroughly so that no glue dries in it.

7. Insert the pencil into the bottom of the milk carton.

How to Play

The Dreidel game is played in groups of four. Each player should be given the same amount of pennies or candy, known as gelt. Some gelt should also be put in the “pot.” Then the players take turns spinning the dreidel. If it lands on Nun, nothing happens. If it lands on Hay, the player receives half of the amount in the pot. If it lands on Gimel, he gets everything in the pot. If it lands on Shin, the player must put one penny or piece of candy in the pot.