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Grab your green and show your Saint Patty Day Spirit! Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. It is a holiday that is celebrated annually on March 17^th. It commemorates the patron saint of Ireland and Irish culture. Beyond its cultural and religious significance, this festive occasion provides educators with a fantastic opportunity to infuse Irish culture and other disciplines into their springtime classroom. In this blog post, I’ll share with you some of the best Saint Patrick’s Day activities. And, I share creative ways to integrate history, writing, science, cooking, and literature into your curriculum all while embracing the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day spirit. Plus, I have included some delightful crafts that will make learning both enjoyable and memorable for students of all ages.

The first of the Saint Patrick’s Day activities I’ll share is history related. This research actitivity is both fun and educational.

History:

Exploring Irish Legends and Traditions

Activity: Explore the rich history and folklore of Ireland by examining the legends surrounding Saint Patrick himself and other famous Irish figures. Have your students do research on the origins of Saint Patrick’s Day, the significance of shamrocks, and the history of Irish immigration. Your students can do these projects as individuals, or you can have them work in groups. Once they are finished, you can then have them present their findings to the rest of the class.

Materials Needed: Books, internet access for research, presentation materials (poster boards, markers, etc.)

Tradition	Origin
St. Patrick’s Day	Originated as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, but evolved into a celebration of Irish culture and heritage around the world.
Celtic Cross	Dating back to the early Middle Ages in Ireland, it combines the Christian cross with a circle, possibly representing the sun, an important symbol in Celtic culture.
Claddagh Ring	Originating in the fishing village of Claddagh in Galway, it symbolizes love, loyalty, and friendship. Legend has it that it was first crafted by a kidnapped Irishman.
Halloween (Samhain)	Derived from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, believed to be a time when the veil between worlds was thin.
Irish Step Dancing	Evolved from traditional Irish dance forms, possibly influenced by French and English dancing styles, dating back to the 18th century.
Guinness	Founded by Arthur Guinness in Dublin in 1759, Guinness stout has become synonymous with Irish culture and is celebrated worldwide.
The Wren’s Day (St. Stephen’s Day)	Dating back to pagan times, this tradition involves hunting and killing a wren to symbolize the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Shamrock	Associated with St. Patrick, who used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. It has since become a symbol of Ireland and is worn on St. Patrick’s Day.
Irish Language (Gaeilge)	Originating from Old Irish and evolving over centuries, it is one of the oldest written languages in Europe, playing a significant role in Irish cultural identity.
Irish Music	Dating back thousands of years, Irish music encompasses various styles including traditional, folk, and contemporary, often featuring instruments like the fiddle, tin whistle, and bodhrán.

Things to Research related to Ireland & Saint Patrick’s Day

The next set of Saint Patrick’s Day activities are related to ELA. And, of course, these are my favorites since I am an English major.

Writing:

Irish Poetry and Creative Writing

As you probably know by now, writing is my jam! So, it only makes sense for me to include writing as an important part of any assignment.

Activity: Encourage students to express their creativity through Irish-themed poetry and creative writing. They can write limericks, haikus, or short stories inspired by Irish culture, landscapes, or historical figures like Saint Patrick.

Materials Needed: Writing materials (paper, pens, pencils), examples of Irish poetry for inspiration.

Science:

Exploring the Science of Rainbows

Activity: Teach your students the science behind the formation of rainbows while incorporating the symbolism of the rainbow in Irish culture. Discuss the physics of light and how rainbows form, and then engage students in a hands-on experiment where they create their own rainbows using prisms or water droplets.

Materials Needed: Prisms, flashlights, water spray bottles, white paper.

I love to eat. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I added cooking to the list of Saint Patrick’s Day activities to do with your kiddos.

Cooking:

Saint Patrick's Day Shamrock baked cookie — Saint Patrick’s Day Shamrock baked cookie

Irish Cuisine and Traditional Treats

Activity: Introduce students to the flavors of Ireland by cooking traditional Irish dishes such as Irish soda bread, colcannon, or shepherd’s pie. For a sweet treat, bake some shamrock-shaped cookies or make a batch of chocolate Guinness cupcakes.

Materials Needed: Ingredients for chosen recipes, kitchen appliances (ovens, stovetops), cooking utensils, recipe cards.

Literature:

Exploring Irish Folktales and Myths

Activity: Immerse students in the rich literary tradition of Ireland by reading and discussing Irish folktales and myths. From leprechauns to banshees, there’s no shortage of captivating stories to explore. Afterward, students can create their own illustrated storybooks retelling their favorite Irish myths.

Materials Needed: Irish folklore books, art supplies (paper, markers, crayons), creativity!

Here are 5 books to consider:

“Irish Fairy and Folk Tales” by W.B. Yeats – This collection features traditional Irish tales, including stories of fairies, leprechauns, and other mythical creatures.

“The Celtic Twilight” by W.B. Yeats – Another work by Yeats, this book explores the supernatural beliefs and folklore of the Irish countryside.

“Mythical Ireland: New Light on the Ancient Past” by Anthony Murphy – This book delves into the ancient mythology and folklore of Ireland, and it explores the connections between myth and archaeological discoveries.

“Irish Folk and Fairy Tales Omnibus” by Michael Scott – This omnibus edition brings together a selection of Irish folk and fairy tales, including stories of legendary heroes, magical creatures, and ancient myths.

“A Treasury of Irish Myth, Legend, and Folklore” edited by Lady Gregory – This comprehensive anthology includes a wide range of Irish myths, legends, and folktales, offering insight into the rich storytelling tradition of Ireland.

Some more fun Saint Patrick’s Day activities you can do with your students involve crafts. Below, I have listed several different crafts that you might want to do with your students.

Crafts:

Craft Idea	Materials	Instructions
Shamrock Wreath	Green cardstock or foam	1. Cut out several shamrock shapes from the cardstock or foam. 2. Arrange them in a circular pattern to form a wreath. 3. Glue the shamrocks onto a circular base. 4. Add a ribbon for hanging.
Pot of Gold	Small clay pots, black paint, gold coins	1. Paint the clay pots black. 2. Fill each pot with gold coins. 3. Optionally, add a rainbow sticker or draw a rainbow on the pot.
Leprechaun Hat	Black construction paper, yellow construction paper	1. Cut out a circle from the black paper for the hat base. 2. Cut out a strip of yellow paper for the hatband. 3. Glue the yellow strip around the base of the hat. 4. Optionally, add a buckle made of gold foil.
Rainbow Mobile	Colored construction paper, string or yarn	1. Cut out several strips of paper in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple). 2. Attach the strips to a circular cardboard base, arranging them in a rainbow arch. 3. Attach string or yarn to hang the mobile.
Shamrock Garland	Green felt, scissors, string	1. Cut out multiple shamrock shapes from the green felt. 2. Punch holes in the top of each shamrock. 3. Thread string through the holes to create a garland.
St. Patrick’s Day Cards	Cardstock, markers, stickers	1. Fold cardstock in half to create cards. 2. Decorate the front with St. Patrick’s Day-themed designs using markers and stickers. 3. Write messages inside the cards for friends and family.
Leprechaun Beard	Yellow construction paper, elastic band	1. Cut a beard shape out of the yellow paper. 2. Punch holes on each side of the beard. 3. Attach an elastic band through the holes to secure the beard around the wearer’s head.
Paper Plate Leprechaun	Paper plates, construction paper, markers	1. Draw a face on a paper plate using markers. 2. Cut out a hat shape from construction paper and glue it to the top of the plate. 3. Add a beard and other facial features using construction paper.
Shamrock Handprint Art	Green paint, white paper	1. Paint the palm of the hand green. 2. Press your hand onto the paper to create a handprint. 3. Use fingers to paint three smaller green prints branching out from the handprint to form a shamrock shape.
Lucky Charm Bracelets	Green beads, gold beads, elastic string	1. String alternating green and gold beads onto elastic string. 2. Tie the ends of the string to secure the beads. 3. Optionally, add charms such as four-leaf clovers or horseshoes.
Shamrock Sun Catcher	Green construction paper, scissors, hole punch, decorations (glitter, sequins, stickers), string or yarn.	1.Cut out shamrock shapes from green construction paper. 2.Using a hole punch, make a small hole at the top of each shamrock. 3.Decorate the shamrocks with glitter, sequins, or stickers. 4Thread a piece of string or yarn through the hole and tie it to create a loop for hanging. 5. Hang the shamrock sun catchers in windows to catch the sunlight and spread some Saint Patrick’s Day cheer!

Saint Patrick’s Day offers a wonderful opportunity for educators to engage students across multiple subjects while celebrating Irish culture and traditions. By incorporating the various disciplines into the curriculum, teachers can create a memorable learning experience that sparks curiosity and appreciation for Ireland’s rich heritage.