Waving the four species is one of those Sukkot moments kids never forget, mostly because they get to hold a big leafy branch and shake it in every direction. Making a paper version first is a lovely way in, and it means even the littlest ones can join without anyone worrying about the real thing. This lulav and etrog craft comes with a free printable template, so you just colour, cut, and build. And by the end the kids will actually know which plant is which, which is the sneaky bonus.
Here’s the craft, plus a quick plain-English guide to what the four species are and how you hold them.
First, What Are the Four Species?
If you’ve never done Sukkot, this bit trips everyone up, so let’s keep it simple. The “four species” are four plants that get held together and waved during the festival. Here they are.
The lulav is a palm branch, the tall green one that does most of the waving. The etrog is a bumpy yellow fruit that looks a bit like a knobbly lemon. Its proper name is a citron. Then there are two leafy bits: hadass, which is myrtle, and aravah, which is willow. Three myrtle branches, two willow branches, one palm, one etrog. That’s the set.
Kids honestly love learning this. There’s something about a “secret formula” of plants that really lands.
Make the Craft
Print our free template and you’re ready. The kids colour the lulav green, the etrog yellow, and the myrtle and willow their leafy shades, then cut everything out.
To put it together, the three myrtle branches go on the right side of the palm, the two willow go on the left, and they’re bundled together to make the lulav. The etrog sits separately, held alongside. If you want it a bit sturdier, tape the paper branches to a real stick or a cardboard tube so it holds its shape when they wave it about. Little ones can skip all that and just hold the pieces. Nobody’s marking it.
Once it’s built, show them how it’s done. You hold the lulav bundle in one hand and the etrog in the other, bring them together, and give it a gentle shake in each direction. Cue thirty seconds of very enthusiastic waving.
The Toddler Version
For the under-fives, keep it dead simple. Skip the assembling and just let them colour and hold the pieces, or hand them a single big etrog page to colour while the older ones build the full set. The point at this age is holding something and joining in, not getting the bundle exactly right.
Why It’s Worth Doing
Beyond being a nice craft, this one quietly teaches a lot. Kids pick up the names of four plants, they practise scissor skills cutting the leaves, and they get a real feel for a tradition that’s otherwise quite abstract when you just read about it. Doing beats reading, every time, especially at this age.
Download the Free Lulav and Etrog Template (PDF)
The lulav, etrog, myrtle and willow pieces, plus a simple assembly guide, are in one free PDF. No email, no sign-up. Print it and go.
Download the Free Printable
⬇ Download PDF (Free)Make a Whole Sukkot Afternoon of It
This craft is even better as part of the bigger picture. Pair it with our full sukkot crafts for kids hub, build a paper sukkah craft to wave your new lulav inside, and cool down afterwards with our sukkot coloring pages. For anything you’re keeping, print on slightly heavier paper. There’s a note on the best cardstock and paper for printables if you want it.
Learn More (from Jewish Sources)
If you’d like to get the tradition from people who live it, Chabad.org’s Sukkot for Kids section and My Jewish Learning both explain the four species beautifully. A quick read-aloud before you craft makes the whole thing click.
Quick Questions
What is a lulav and etrog craft?
It’s a simple paper version of the four species used on Sukkot. Kids colour, cut and build a lulav (palm), etrog (citron), myrtle and willow, then hold and wave them like the real thing.
What are the four species?
Lulav (palm), etrog (citron), hadass (myrtle) and aravah (willow). Three myrtle, two willow and one palm are bundled together, and the etrog is held alongside.
Is the template free?
Yes. The lulav, etrog, myrtle and willow pieces and the assembly guide are all in one free PDF, no sign-up. Just don’t resell it.
Is this craft okay for toddlers?
Yes. Let the little ones colour and hold the pieces rather than assembling the whole bundle. A single etrog page to colour works well for them too.
When is Sukkot in 2026?
Sundown on Friday, September 25 through nightfall on Friday, October 2.
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