5 Fun Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Classroom
Top of the morning to you, fellow teachers! With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, it's time to infuse some Irish charm into your classroom festivities. Whether you're a seasoned leprechaun wrangler or new to the shamrock scene, here are five fun ways to celebrate St. Paddy's Day with your elementary students:
Leprechaun Traps
Unleash your students' creativity by challenging them to design and build their very own leprechaun traps! Provide a variety of materials such as cardboard, construction paper, tape, and glitter (because what's a celebration without a little sparkle?). Encourage students to brainstorm clever trap designs and incorporate elements like rainbows, pots of gold, and lucky charms. Reinforce that changing and revising a project through trial and error is part of the engineering design process. Not only does this activity foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills, but it also adds an element of excitement as students eagerly await the mischievous leprechaun's visit.
2. Picture Books and Irish Folktales
One of the best ways to get kids learning is by reading them a story! Here are some of our top picks for St. Patrick’s Day:
Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
How to Catch a Leprechaun
Magic Treehouse: Leprechaun in Late Winter
St. Patrick’s Day by Gail Gibbons
O’Sullivan Stew
Clever Tom and the Leprechaun
Fiona’s Luck
3. Going Green
Embrace the spirit of St. Patrick's Day by incorporating green into your lessons and activities. From green art projects to green snacks, there are endless opportunities to infuse a splash of emerald into your classroom. Have students create green-themed artwork using paint, markers, or recycled materials, or whip up some tasty green treats like shamrock-shaped cookies or fruit skewers. You can even challenge students to come dressed in their best green attire for a festive classroom parade!
4. Irish Music and Dance
Get your students' toes tapping with some lively Irish music and dance! Introduce them to traditional Irish tunes and teach them a few simple dance steps, like the jig or reel. Don't worry if you're not a Riverdance pro – there are plenty of instructional videos and resources available online to help you lead a spirited dance session. Alternatively, play some Irish music in the background while your students are working on an art project or other activity.
5. Mix a St. Patrick’s Day Theme into the Learning Task
Sometimes just adding a little fun into your regular school assignments can make them more palatable for your kids:
Write a letter to a leprechaun.
Use plastic gold coins as manipulatives in a math center.
Hold a class discussion about if something can be “lucky” or not.
Create a painting using only shades of green.
Find seatwork that include a theme, such as our St. Patrick’s Day Symmetry Worksheets.
Search for science activities that involve rainbows. Here are a few examples:
Have Fun!
So there you have it, five festive ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the classroom! Whether you're hunting for leprechauns, exploring Irish folklore, or dancing a jig, these activities are sure to bring a bit of luck and laughter to your students' day. Wishing you a happy St. Paddy's Day filled with fun and whimsy!