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Engaging Diwali activities for primary children

Blog
Georgia Fisher
24 Oct 2024

What Is Diwali?

Diwali is a five-day celebration often referred to as the Festival of Lights. It is celebrated by over a billion people across several religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Diwali is about good overcoming evil, light overcoming darkness, and it is a time for new beginnings. The dates of Diwali vary every year as the Hindu calendar is based on the moon. This year Diwali falls on Friday 1st November 2024. We have put some activities together to help teach your children about the importance of the Festival of Light.

Air drying clay Diya lamp

A Diya lamp is an oil lamp typically made with mud or clay and a cotton wick dipped in ghee (clarified butter). These lamps play a crucial role in the Diwali festivities as they symbolize the victory of light over darkness. Crafting DIY Diya lamps is a creative and engaging activity for children that can allow you to teach about the cultural significance of Diwali. This activity will aid with the children's fine motor skills and spark their creativity.

What you'll need

• Crayola Model Magic Clay (307082)
• Clay Modelling Tools (744646)
• Gold glitter (749222)
• Tea Lights (304585)

Instructions

1. Roll a chunk of the clay into a ball and push the centre inwards with your thumb.
2. Stretch this out until it is bowl-shaped and large enough to fit a tea light in the centre.
3. Shape one side of the bowl into a point by pinching the edge.
4. Roll out three long and thin pieces of clay and plait.
5. Add the plaited piece around the top edge of the bowl.
6. Add decorative imprint decorations such as dots, lines etc.
7. Add your LED tea light into the middle.
8. You now have your own homemade Diya lamp.

Homemade clay Diya lamp with glitter

Play tray Rangoli

Rangoli is a popular Diwali tradition that involves making patterns using various materials, including rice, sand, and flowers. These intricate designs are often vibrant and detailed, typically created on the floor and at the entrance of homes, and are believed to welcome guests and bring good luck. Encouraging your children to create their own handmade rangoli patterns can be a delightful way to teach them about Diwali and encourage them to express their creative side. They will enjoy working with different materials and textures to decorate their own Rangoli, individually or as a group.

What you'll need

• Mini play tray (804310)
• Posca Pens (307215)
• Crayola Model Magic Clay (307082)
• Super Bowls and Tweezers - 6 Pack (800193)
• Mixies Small work play sand 1KG Polar (308682)
• Snowflake Shaped Sequins Silver (118400)
• Metal Scoops- 4 pack (801216)

Instructions

1. Draw your Rangoli pattern onto your tray play using Posca pens. (either draw out one large design or 4 smaller designs)
2. Set up your different materials into sorting bowls
3. Allow your children free reign to fill the Rangoli pattern with various materials.
4. Make it your own, and feel free to substitute other bits and bobs for your materials! Why not incorporate a scavenger hunt for leaves, twigs, and other materials outside?

Rangoli design made with glitter, sand and sequins

Why not incorporate your homemade Diya lamps with your Rangoli patterns? Add your Diya lamps to your Rangoli patterns for an extra special touch.

Rangoli design with glitter and diya lamp

For more ideas on how to celebrate Diwali with your class we have some excellent resources and kits, all ready to go for classes up to 30.

Make a Diwali Diva (135140)

Children of all ages can learn about the Hindu celebration of Diwali with these brightly coloured pre-cut cards. Creating their own divas (diya) is an ideal way to explore the importance and significance of these lamps within India and religions such as Hinduism.

Paper DIY kit for Diya lamps

Lantern Card Making Activity (135115)

With light and candles having great significance in many religious and cultural festivals, these lantern cards are perfect for celebrating a variety of occasions. Children only need to add colour, patterns and materials to their card to create a beautiful, bespoke gift that serves both as a greetings card and a decoration. Not only will they get to be creative and have fun with their peers, but also be able to spread that to their loved ones too.

Paper DIY kit for card making laterns

We'd love to see your crafts and activities in action! Post on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok using the hashtag #YPOcreateandmake.
Want to see more craft and activity ideas? Follow us on Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to ensure you don't miss out!

Georgia Fisher

Author

Georgia Fisher

Supplier Marketing Officer

YPO

[email protected]

Georgia is a Supplier Marketing Officer who helps deliver a wide range of multi-channel campaigns across both digital and traditional channels. Before stepping into this role, she worked as a marketing apprentice in YPO’s Early Years team, where she focused on researching and creating relevant and engaging content for blogs and social media, as well as supporting Early Years events and key campaigns.