The Joy of Teaching

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Catching Leprechauns – Kindergarten Fun for St. Patrick’s Day

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Trapping magical leprechauns appeals to the imagination of young children. My teenage children still remember the delight in finding their kindergarten classroom turned upside down by mischievous leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day.

Their kindergarten teacher created memorable traditions around St. Patrick’s Day, and piqued her students’ imagination with stories about Irish lore and traditions, tricky leprechauns, and St. Patrick. Kindergarteners enjoyed making leprechaun traps using readily available items such as shoeboxes, string, towel rolls, coins, and paint.

Then, on the early morning of March 17 (or the nearest school day), “leprechauns” created havoc in the classroom. When the students arrived, they found all kinds of clues to their playful visitors:

 
  • Upturned chairs and desks
  • Paths of green glitter and/or gold coins
  • Posters and art hanging upside down
  • Books stacked in a tall tower on the teacher’s desk
  • Green water (dye) in toilet bowls and sinks (truly a favorite!)

The mischievous leprechauns always seemed to escape the traps, but usually left a special treat behind, such as gold chocolate coins or green bagels. I had the pleasure of being a leprechaun one year and seeing the kindergarteners’ thrill in discovering leprechaun antics.

Other ideas for St. Patrick’s Day fun:

These free activities from Evan-Moor resources are ideal for the classroom and home:

St. Patrick’s Day Art Projects (Grades 1–4): Includes The Mischievous Leprechaun and At the End of the Rainbow Card. From Art for All Seasons

St. Patrick’s Day Art Projects

Click to Download

 

St. Patrick’s Day Maze and Coloring Activity (Grades PreK–K)

From Seasonal Activities

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St. Patrick’s Day Art and Games (Grades K–1): Includes an art project about snakes, a party game, and soda bread recipe.

From Holiday Fun e-book

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Shamrock Fingerprint Art

Create festive St. Patrick’s Day fingerprint cards with this simple art project.

Supplies

  • Green construction
  • 9×12 white paper
  • Finger-paints

Directions:

  1. Cut out a shamrock using green construction paper.
  2. Tape the shamrock to the center of the white paper.
  3. Using finger paint, make polka dots of different sizes over the white paper.
  4. Remove the taped shamrock from the white paper.

You may instruct children to write a note or their name for the this St. Patrick’s Day card.

St. Patrick’s Day book ideas:

  • Clever Tom and the Leprechaun: An Old Irish Story, by Linda Shute
  • Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale, by Tomie dePaola
  • St. Patrick’s Day, by Gail Gibbons
  • St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning, by Eve Bunting
  • The Leprechaun Trap: A Family Tradition for Saint Patrick’s Day, by David and Kelly Clinch

Be sure to check out how to make leprechaun traps from:
How to Create Leprechaun Traps with Children

 

Contributing Writer

Image of Theresa WoolerTheresa Wooler has more than 10 years’ experience in K–6 classrooms as a parent volunteer, has taught high school English, and is currently involved in education through Evan-Moor’s marketing communications team.

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