What do leprechauns have to do with St Patrick’s Day? Nothing really other than they both trace back to Ireland, so we lump all things Irish onto March 17th. And why all the green on St Patrick’s Day? It was believed in old Irish folklore, that by wearing green you’d be invisible to leprechauns that liked to pinch people.
Special days and holidays are a gift to parents that want to make learning more playful. With all the elements in this often overlooked holiday, there are so many subjects and extension activities we can take advantage of. Use the whole month of March, or the week of St Patrick’s Day, to glean the most out of this interesting day. What subjects can St Patrick’s Day help us with? You’re in LUCK because you can literally incorporate ALL of them!
Geography, History and Social Studies
Identify Ireland on a map. What other countries are near it? What continent and region is it in? What landforms and geographical features are in Ireland? What is it most famous for? What traditions do people in Ireland have? Who is St Patrick and why do we remember him? What are some of the legends and folklore from this area? Can you identify the Ireland flag?
Science
Bring out your creativity and use any Irish element and make a science unit out of it. What’s the difference between a shamrock and clover? What other green plants do you want to learn about? What greens are edible? How many green foods have you tried?
What is a rainbow? How is it made? Explore extensions in light and color!
One of our favorite aspects of incorporating science into St Patrick’s Day is healthy eating using the rainbow. Literally EAT THE RAINBOW! What fruits and vegetables can you eat in all the colors of the rainbow this week? Learn about the difference between a fruit and vegetable. Some of these are tricky as some botanical fruits we use as culinary vegetables. How do we know if a plant is a botanical fruit or vegetable? Take it a step further and learn the sensory science of TASTE. Where are the different taste regions on your tongue?
Arts and Crafts
What can you create just with the color green? What can you create that incorporates leprechauns or rainbows or shamrocks?
Math
St Patrick’s Day math is easy to incorporate with your little ones! Count shamrocks, then add and subtract them. Make patterns and graphs with them. Use gold coins or leprechaun images. Possibilities are endless! Below is a preschool activity we created to incorporate some simple counting math and language arts with your littlest ones using our Five Lucky Leprechauns.
Five Lucky Leprechauns – original rhyme
Five Lucky Leprechauns images for use as a story board or stick puppets to engage in simple counting 1-5 and oral repetition and rhythm elements of language artsLiteracy
Check out one of these Irish related books! Books are always one of our favorite ways to learn. Which one interests you the most? Is it available in your local library? Or you can pick up a copy of your own!
This is Ireland
(ages 5-8) Get up close into the culture, landscape and history of the beautiful green country of Ireland! With his characteristic and classic illustrations, the country comes to life in this beautiful timeless book. Originally published in 1963 with newer publications siting updated information. See for yourself the amazing saints, colleges, cathedrals, castles as well as modern buildings, trivial facts and breathtaking country vistas.
Patrick – Patron Saint of Ireland
(ages 5-8) A perfect and easy-to-read telling of the patron saint so beloved in Ireland and throughout Europe and the USA. Learn about the life and inspiration that took him from his family to becoming a slave, his escape and later return to his land of capture to convert and serve the people of Ireland. Includes some legends and a personal note in the back as well. Enjoy and include in your March 17th festivities and studies or while learning about saints, Ireland or just for fun!
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning
(ages 4-9) When a young boy is told he’s too young to march in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, he sets out on a parade of his own. He collects some things along the way but mostly relishes in the satisfaction of having walked the parade by himself. Nostalgic illustrations with an Irish country setting in black and white with greens and yellows. A perfect book to read on the morning of any St. Patrick’s Day or any day.
The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day
(ages 2-6) Join some enthusiastic children as they prepare to capture some leprechauns. With whimsical illustrations and text mimicking “T’was the Night Before Christmas” you’ll be wanting to create some leprechaun traps of your own. And when they actually find leprechauns in their room, will they get the treasure they’d planned for? How do you prepare for St. Patrick’s Day?Lastly, an added bonus to St Patrick’s Day is that meal prep is done for you! We like to literally buy an extra amount of fruits and vegetables in a RAINBOW of colors and enjoy them all week long. Here are our meal prep ideas for making the most of your St Patrick’s Day festivities in a practical way.
For breakfast enjoy a fruit rainbow with plain or vanilla Greek yogurt dip or cottage cheese. Make up a batch of Irish Soda Bread and serve sliced warm with golden butter. If you’re not totally crunchy, a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal or marshmallow treats made with Lucky Charms cereal will delight the kids as a special treat.
Serve up lunch with a vegetable rainbow and cottage cheese or ranch dressing as a dip. Make a green salad and use a rainbow of colored fruits and veggies for colorful additions and toppings. Make your own fish and chips or get some from your favorite local food place. What do fish and chips have to do with St Patrick or Ireland? Read Gail Gibbon’s St. Patrick’s Day book to find out!
End the day with the most popular St Patrick’s Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage. Include more rainbow fruits and vegetables as sides for a complete feast. What does corned beef and cabbage have to do with the Irish?
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