Fru-Gal Friends

Subject: St Patrick's Day Lessons Fri 08 Dec 2006, 9:10 pm

St. Patrick’s Day

Lesson Ideas-Color - Green

Shape - Shamrock
St Patrick’s Day
Ireland
Rainbows
Leprechauns

Songs/Fingerplays

I'm a Little Leprechaun
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"
I'm a little leprechaun
Dressed in green,
The tiniest man
That you ever seen.
If you ever catch me, it is told,
I'll give you my pot of gold!

On St. Patrick's Day
Sung to: "The Mulberry Bush"
Let's wear green and dance a jig,
Dance a jig, dance a jig.
Let's wear green and dance a jig,
On St. Patrick's Day.

How Many Leprechauns?
Sung to: "Twinkle Twinkle Little star"
How many Leprechauns do you see?
Can you count them, one, two, three?
How many Skinny ones?
How many fat?
How many leprechauns with out a hat?

I'm a Little Shamrock
Sung to: "I'm a little teapot"
I'm a little shamrock see my leaves.
Count my three petals if you please.
If you give me water and lots of sun,
I'll bring you good luck and lots of fun.

Leprechaun Fingerplay
Leprechaun, leprechaun,
Hiding in the hay. (Hide pointer finger under opposite hand.)
Leprechaun, leprechaun,
Don't you run away. (Hop pointer finger around.)
Leprechaun, leprechaun,Let's go out and play. (Hop both pointer fingers together.)
Leprechaun, leprechaun,
It's St. Patrick's Day! (Dance pointer fingers up and down.)

This Little Leprechaun
This little leprechaun slid down the rainbow, (Point to thumb.)
This little leprechaun stayed home. (Point to index finger.)
This little leprechaun picked a shamrock, (Point to middle finger.)
This little leprechaun found some gold. (Point to ring finger.)
This little leprechaun cried, "See if you can catch me," (Point to little finger.)
As he ran home. (Wiggle little finger.)
Do your Ears Point Up?
Do your ears point up? (Pull on tops of ears.)
Do you have a lot of luck? (Cross fingers.)
For gold do you dig? (Pretend to dig.)
Can you dance an Irish jig? (Dance a jig.)
If you answered, "Yes," (Nod head.)
You're a leprechaun, I'd guess! (Wink eye.)

Five Green Shamrocks
Five green shamrocks growing outdoors
(Child's name) picked one, and that left four.
Four little shamrocks, green as they can be.
(Child's name) picked one and that left three.
Three little shamrocks playing peek-a-boo
(Child's name) picked one and that left two.
Two little shamrocks nodding in the sun,
(Child's name) picked one, and that left one.
One little shamrock for St. Patrick's Day fun.
(Child's name) picked it, and that left none.
Cut 5 flannel board shamrocks and let the children make shamrocks on a
stick and place the numbers on the shamrocks for math count.

Five Wee Leprechauns
Five wee leprechauns scurrying by my door,
One jumped away, then there were 4.
Four wee leprechauns climbing in my tree,
One hid in the green leaves, then there were 3.
Three wee leprechauns, just a busy few,
One went for a pot of gold, then there were 2.
Two wee leprechauns, having lots of fun,
One hopped over the rainbow, then there was 1.
One wee leprechaun, with all his work done.
He slipped off for a nap, then there was 0.

Shawn, Shawn, The Leprechaun
Shawn, Shawn, the leprechaun
Danced through the forest with a green suit on.
You can chase him all day long
Come to close and poof he's gone.

Catch Him If You Can
Sung To: "The Muffin Man"
Oh! have you seen a leprechaun ,
a leprechaun, a leprechaun?
Oh! have you seen a leprechaun
who came from Ireland?

I'm A Little Leprechaun
Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little leprechaun, can't you see?
I am as tiny as can be!
I only come around just once a year
That's when St. Patrick's Day is here!

Can't Catch Me
Sung to: "Skip to my Lou"
Can't, can't, can't Catch me!
Can't, can't, can't Catch me!
Can't, can't, can't Catch me!
For I'm wearing green, you see!

The Leprechaun
A leprechaun is small and green,
(Use hand to indicate a small person.)
He hides where he cannot be seen.
(Cover eyes with hands.)
But if you catch one on this day,
(Shake finger.)
He must give his gold away.
(Pretend to put gold in pocket.)

Go On A Leprechaun Hunt
(an adaptation of the Bear Hunt)
Ask the children to listen closely and follow the directions. Instruct
them to clap the rhythm or slap their knees as you tell the story.
Going on a leprechaun hunt. I'm not afraid.
Let's go! Oh. look! I see a grassy field.
Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Can't go over it. Let's go through it.
Let's go! Swish, swish, swish, swish.
Oh, look! I see a giant tree.
Can't go over it. Can't go under it. Can't go through it. Let's climb it.
Let's go! Climb, climb, climb.
Oh, look! I see a river.
Can't go over it. Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Let's Swim it.
Let's go. Swim, swim, swim.
Oh, look! I see a dark cave.
Can't go around it. Can't go under it. Can't go over it. Let's tiptoe into it.
Let's go. Tippy, tippy, toe.
It's really dark in here. Better turn on my flashlight.
Oh, no. I see something!
It's mean! It's green! It's a leprechaun! Let's go!
Run! Run! Swim! Swim! Climb! Climb! Swish! Swish!Whew...safe at home again.

Shamrocks
5 Little Shamrocks lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he picked one up and put it on the door
that's for good luck now there are 4
4 little shamrocks lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he picked it up and and put it on a tree
that's for good luck now there are 3
3 little shamrocks lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he picked it up and put it on his shoe
that's for good luck now there are 2
2 little shamrocks lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he picked it up and held it toward the sun
that's for good luck now there is 1
1 little shamrock lying in the grass
along came a leprechaun skipping down the path
he left it there so there'd always be 1
that's for good luck and now my stories done!

The Shamrock Is Green
Sung to: "The Farmer in the Dell"

The shamrock is green
The shamrock is green
Hi, Ho, St. Patrick's Day
The shamrock is green.

I'm A Little Leprechaun
Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little Leprechaun, short and green.
Here is my shamrock but I can't be seen.
When you pull my feather, hear me scream (everyone scream)
I'm a little Leprechaun, short and green.

Eensy Weensy Leprechaun
Sung to: "Eensy Weensy Spider"

An eensy, weensy leprechaun
came out St. Patrick's Day
to look for the gold
That was hidden far away.
Over the rainbow
was where he was told
so, with the wink of his green eye,
He ran for the gold.

I Caught A Leprechaun
Mother, mother, What do you day
I caught a leprechaunOut at Play
Mother, mother,
What do you say,
That little leprechaun
Ran away
Mother Mother
What do you think
He meant when he turned
and gave me a wink

This Little Leprechaun
This little leprechaun slid down the rainbow
(Point to thumb)
This little leprechaun stayed home
(Point to index finger)
This little leprechaun picked a shamrock,
(Point to middle finger)
This little leprechaun found some gold and this little leprechaun cried, See if you can catch me!

Five Little Leprechauns
Five little leprechauns were dancing on the shore.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were________.
Four little leprechauns were dancing merrily.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were________.
Three little leprechauns danced a jig as they can do.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were_________.
Two little leprechauns were dancing on the run.
The king waved a magic wand, and then there were _______.
One little leprechaun was lonely as could be.
The king called the leprechauns and gave them cakes and tea.

St. Patrick's Day Song
Sung to: "If You're Happy and You Know It"
If you're wearing green today, dance a jig,
If you're wearing green today, dance a jig,
If you're wearing green today,
Dance a jig, then smile and say,
"Have a very Happy St. Patrick's Day"
Additional verses:
"If you're wearing green today, clap your hands"
"If you're wearing green today, spin around"
"If you're wearing green today, shout "Hurray!""
"If you're wearing green today, stamp your feet"

St. Patrick's Day
Sung to: "He's a Jolly Good Fellow"
We're wearing green for the Irish (3 X) On this St. Patrick's Day.
We'll dance a jig for the Irish (3 X) On this St. Patrick's Day.
Me fither & mither were Irish (3 X) and I am Irish too.
We kept a pig in the parlor (3 X) and he is Irish too.

Wee Little Patrick
Sung to: "Yankee Doodle"

Patrick is a leprechaun
He has a sack of gold
He hides it in a special place
Between to stumps, I'm told I
I think I saw Patrick Out in the woods at play
He smiled and laughed and winked his eye
And then he ran away

Don't try to follow Patrick
To find his treasure sack
He'll twist and jump and run away
And he never will come back.

The Leprechaun Song
Sung to: "If You're Happy"

I saw a leprechaun all dressed in green.
It was the only leprechaun I've ever seen.
He has a pixie turned up nose
And pixie turned up toes.
Oh, I saw a leprechaun all dressed in green.

He was only about as big as my thumb,
He was only about as big as my thumb.
His beard was long & white
I marveled at his height.
He was only about as big as my thumb.

He had buried secret, hidden treasure,
He had buried, secret, hidden treasure.
I couldn't believe my eyes
You can imagine my surprise,
He had buried, secret, hidden treasure.

Who Took The Shamrock?
Sung to: "Who Took The Cookies From The Cookie Jar"

Teacher: Who took the shamrock from the leprechaun? Child’ name took the shamrock from the leprechaun!
Child: Who me?
Class: Yes, you!
Child: Couldn’t be!
Class: Then who?
Child: Child’s name took the shamrock from the leprechaun
_________________
Vicki

Subject: Re: St Patrick's Day Lessons Fri 08 Dec 2006, 9:12 pm

Art and Crafts

3 HEART SHAMROCKS:
Use 3 green hearts. Show children how to place them (all 3 with the points of the hearts together) to make a shamrock. Have them glue them onto paper.

RAINBOWS AND POT OF GOLD:Make the rainbow design on paper first. (6 rows in an arch shape) Have children glue on any of the following colored items:
-tissue paper
-dyed tiny pasta
-yarn
BE sure to tell them the color pattern of the rainbow - Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple. Then have them glue on black pots (cut from construction paper), at the end of the rainbow and put gold glitter on top of it.

GREEN SHAMROCKS:
Outline a shamrock on white paper. Have children tear small pieces of green tissue paper and crumble it up and glue it onto their paper until the shamrock shape is filled.

SPONGE PAINTING:
Use Shamrocks, Irish hats, and pipe shaped sponges to paint with.

Filter Paper Shamrocks

Precut shamrock shape out of coffee filters. Mix water and yellow food coloring and place mixture in a baby food jar. Do the same for blue. Let the children use eyedroppers to drip colors on the filter shape. The colors will run together and make beautiful shamrocks.

Over the Rainbow
Materials needed: crayons or paint and a large sheet of paper.
1. Draw a huge rainbow for the group to color or paint.
2. Have the children fill in the arches with different colors

Easy Shamrock
Need: Paper, scissors
Directions: Cut three heart and a stem from paper. Glue them in the shape of a shamrock. Then trace it onto green paper. You will have a perfect shamrock every time

Leprechaun Latter!
Need: Yarn, Straws, Green Construction paper, and Scissors.
Directions: Cut about 10 Shamrocks out for each child. Make the Shamrocks Small. About 3 inches wide. Cut Straw into 2 inch pieces. String the Straws and the shamrocks. One Straw, One Shamrock, One Straw, One Shamrock, One Straw, One Shamrock, etc.... (A good Idea is to put tape on one end of the string so it does not come apart, while Stringing. Tape the second end to the table so the objects don't come off the other side.) When it is done tie a knot in the Yarn on both side. Hang it From the Ceiling. You can make them as long or as short as you wish. They really look great. Also a great Stringing project for Preschoolers.

Paper Plate Shamrock
Need: 3 paper plates, Green Crayons, Green Construction paper, glue, and scissors.
Directions: Color all three paper plates green. Cut a stem from green construction paper. Glue the three paper plates together and in a triangle type shape. Then glue the stem at the bottom.

Fingerpaint Clover Field
Need: 1 piece fingerpaint paper, green tempera paint mixed with liquid starch (mixed very thick), 3x3 in pieces of tissue paper in shades of green, scissors, newspaper
Directions: Cut shamrocks out of tissue paper (many different sizes). Place fingerpaint paper on top of newspaper. Pour about 3 tablespoons of paint in the middle and spread all over the paper with one hand. Make all over design on the paper. before the paint dries add tissue shamrocks to the paper.

Lucky Leprechaun Hats

Need: paper bowls, green paint, paintbrush, hole punch, ribbon, and gold glitter
Directions: Have the children paint the backside of a paper bowl green. When they dry, punch a hole in the rim of the bowl. One on each side. Lace ribbon through the hole so you can tie the hat on. Great for a St. Patty's party.
(OPTIONAL) While paint in wet on the hats, sprinkle gold glitter on them

Living Leprechauns
Need: Styrofoam cups, markers, paper, cotton balls, dirt, grass seeds
Directions: Give each child a styrofoam cup. Have them draw or paste precut facial features on the cup. Use cotton balls for beard. The next day (after the glue dries) fill the cup with dirt. Plant grass or alfalfa seeds. Each Leprechaun should have a green head of hair soon!!

Shamrock Painting
Need: Peppers, paint, and paper
Directions: Green peppers cut in half (they look like shamrocks.) White Paint on Green paper, or green paint on white paper.

Glitter Shamrocks
Need: Cookie Cutters, paint, paper, glitter
Directions: Using cookie cutters in the shape of shamrocks have the children dip the
cutters into shallow pans of paint and press to paper. After they have desired amount of shamrocks, they may add glitter.

Shamrocks
Need: Tissue paper, paper, glue
Directions: Cut a shamrock from construction paper. Glue pieces of green variegated
tissue paper or scraps of green paper on shamrock.

Rice Shamrocks
Need: Oak-tag or heavy white paper, rice, green food coloring, brushes, glue, glue containers, paper towels or pie tins, shamrock patterns.

Directions: Prepare rice a day ahead of project. Place rice in a small amount of water to which green food coloring has been added. Let it soak until desired shade of green had been reached. Drain off the water and let rice dry on paper towels or in pie tins overnight. Trace and cut out shamrock shapes. Have the children brush diluted glue on their shamrocks and sprinkle green rice over the glue. (A drop or two of alcohol in a few drops food coloring will color very darkly any kind of pasta: macaroni, etc. Perhaps this will work with rice too. It dries much quicker without the water. )

Marble paint green
Need: Three marbles, paint
Directions: Using three marbles roll green, yellow, and white paint, let dry. Paste on
shamrocks, and lace around the edges.

Shamrock Sun Catcher
Need: Shamrocks, wax paper, paper
Directions: Begin by collecting shamrocks or three leafed clovers. Then press between two sheets of waxed paper. Cut a large shamrock shape from a sheet of
construction paper. Then cut the center out, reserving the shamrock cutout for another project. Glue the resulting shamrock shaped frame to the clover containing waxed paper.

Texture Shamrocks
Need: Green paint, grits, paper
Directions: Have the children use green finger-paint that has been mixed with grits (to give it a texture) to cover a shamrock shape.

Irish Flag
Need: paper, glue
Directions: Using a full sheet of white construction paper let the children glue 3 pieces of paper that you have cut to fit the white paper to make the flag. Starting from the left side of the white paper glue on 1/3 of green construction paper, 1/3 of white paper & 1/3 of orange paper.

Shamrock crayon rubbing
Need: cardboard, pencil, glue, paper, crayons
Directions: Using a piece of cardboard or matt board draw on some shamrocks with a pencil. Now take some glue in the bottle & outline the shapes with glue. Let the glue dry. Now take some paper & lay it on top of the shamrocks & rub it with the side of
a green crayon. My kids like to call this magic when the design appears

Shamrock Men
Need: Construction Paper, Glue, Markers or Crayons

Directions: Let the children draw a face on the shamrock and add accordion fold arms and legs.

Shimmering Shamrocks
Need: paper, glue, salt or sugar, green cellophane
Directions: Cut out shamrock shapes from green paper. Have the children put glue around the edge of the shamrock. Sprinkle salt or sugar on the glue. Or if you can find the green cellophane paper in the grocery store cut holes in the shamrock and put cellophane behind it.

Finger Paint
Need: Finger paint paper, yellow and blue paint
Directions: Cut large shamrock shapes from finger-painting paper. Put a blob of yellow and a blob of blue paint on the shamrock. Have the children finger-paint and
soon...GREEN! This is a good sensory way to learn about colors

Dancing Leprechaun
Need: pudding box, markers, green and white paper, scissors, tape, glue, craft, easel or other long paper
Directions:
1. Cover the pudding box w/green paper.
2. Cut a circle out of white paper and draw the leprechauns' face on it w/the markers. Glue it on the pudding box.
3. Cut some pieces of red yard to make the leprechaun's hair. Tie in the middle w/a small piece of yarn and glue to the top of the box.
4. Glue some snips of red yarn to the leprechaun's face to make a beard.
5. Cut 4 strips of shelf paper 1" wide by 3' long for legs. Cut 4 strips 1' wide x 2' long for arms. Fold the strips over each other back and forth to form the arms and legs.
6. Cut shoes and hands out of paper and glue to the legs and arms.
7. Tape a loop of yarn to the top of the leprechaun's head for hanging

Finger Painting Shamrocks
Need: 1/2 finger paint sheet, yellow & blue finger-paint, 5 cardboard shamrocks to trace around, black markers, scissors
Directions: Have children finger paint yellow and blue all over finger paint sheet. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle on gold glitter. Let dry. Have children trace a shamrock shape on the backside of the finger-paint sheet and then cut out their shamrocks

Shamrocks
Need: 1 sheet white construction paper with Shamrock pattern per child, green tissue paper cut into squares, glue
Directions: Have the children glue the green tissue paper onto their Shamrock.

Lucky Charms
Need: Lucky Charms cereal box, and cereal
Directions: Cut out the rainbow on the lucky charms breakfast cereal and have the kids glue the cereal shapes right on to the rainbow.

Potato Person
Need: Potato, grass seed, paper
Directions: What could be better than a potato craft for St. Paddy's day? Cut a good size raw potato in half, scoop out the potato flesh, fill with soil and sprinkle with grass seed. Place the potato in a small margarine container to stand upright and decorate the front of the potato with eyes, nose and mouth...when the grass sprouts it will look like the silliest leprechaun ever!

Puffy Shamrocks

Need: Colored paper, Scissors, Glitter, string, paint-items to decorate with, Glue, Stapler, Newspaper
Directions: Cut two shamrocks from white or light colored paper. If the child(ren) is old enough, have them practice their cutting skills by cutting it out. Next decorate one side of each piece. They can sponge paint, string paint, markers, glue and glitter, whatever. Next, staple the two shapes together, leaving a hole at the top. Stuff with crumpled up newspaper and finish stuffing. Viola! A Puffy shamrock!

Shamrock Necklace
Need: paper, green paint, salt, hole punch, ribbon
Directions: Trace shamrock shapes onto heavy white paper. Carefully cut out, then paint green and sprinkle with salt. After shamrocks have dried, they will have a shimmery appearance. You may punch holes in the tops of these then use yarn or ribbon to tie them to a clothes hangar for a simple mobile, or you may hole punch them, string them on separate 24" ribbons, tie, and give to friends as St. Patrick's Day necklaces. If you give them as necklaces, you may use the shamrock to explain the Trinity as St. Patrick did when you give each one away.

Green On Green
Need: Green Construction Paper, Green crayons or oil pastels, White tempera paint, Paintbrushes
Directions: Draw a design or picture on the green construction paper using green
crayon. (This can get a bit tricky because its sometimes hard to see what it is you are drawing.) Just do some fun designs. Press hard with the crayon so its nice and thick. When the picture is drawn, brush some white tempera paint (not too thick)
over the paper. Like magic, lines will appear from out of nowhere!

Shamrock Wands
Need: Green Construction Paper, scissors, glue, stapler, gold glitter, green straw, thin ribbon in both green and gold
Directions: Cut three heart shapes from the green paper. Glue the tips of the three shapes together to form a shamrock. Staple the center of the shamrock to the end of the straw to make a handle. Decorate the shamrock with gold glitter. Cut three of more 3 foot ribbons. Hold the ribbons together and staple them to the back of the shamrock at the center so that the ends hang down from the shamrock wand. Cut several tiny shamrocks and staple them along the ribbons. Maybe your magic wand will help you catch a leprechaun!!

Pot-O-Gold Craft
Need: Paper Plate, Toilet Tissue or Paper Towel Roll, Glue, Paint

Directions: Cut down the toilet tissue or paper towel roll so it is about 2 inches high.
Paint it black. Cut the paper plate in half. Cut out an arc shape from the outside edge
of the paper plate. Make sure the end of the arc can fit into the hole in the painted
toilet tissue roll. Paint the arc so it looks like a rainbow. Once the paint is all dry. Slide one end of the rainbow into the black toilet tissue roll. Glue in place. You now have a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow! For an added touch, put a line of glue around the top edge of the toilet tissue roll and sprinkle on gold glitter or sequins.

Green Shaving Cream Art
Need: Shaving cream, green paint, paper, paintbrush

Directions: Add a few drops of green paint to shaving cream. Have the children use this to paint with. Not mixing the paint in will give it a special look.

Shamrock Hats
Need: newsprint, shamrock stickers, green paint

Directions: Make hats from newsprint and have the child decorate with green paint or shamrock stickers.

Torn Paper Shamrocks
Need: paper, glue

Directions: Draw a shamrock shape on a piece of paper. Have the children tear pieces of green construction paper, and glue them inside the lines for the shamrock shape.

Leaping Leprechaun

Need: styrofoam cup, pattern for black pot, Leprechaun, craft stick.

Direction: Have children color a small picture of a leprechaun and cut it out. Glue the leprechaun onto craft stick. Cut out and glue 2 black pots on cup. Stick the craft stick through bottom of cup. Leprechaun can now "pop" out of his pot of gold. (Paper coins can also be glued to the top of the cup to look like gold.)
_________________
Vicki

Subject: Re: St Patrick's Day Lessons Fri 08 Dec 2006, 9:13 pm

A Shamrock Sun Catcher

Need: Paper, wax paper, scissors, crayon shavings, warm iron (Adult only!), Ironing board, hole punch, yarn

Direction: Have pre-cut shamrocks from construction paper ready. Cut one inch into the outer edge of the shamrocks, so that there is no middle. Lay shamrock on wax paper, have children sprinkle shaved crayons into the empty middle. Lay another sheet of wax paper on top of the entire shamrock. Cover the whole thing with a light dish towel. Assist child in pressing an iron on top of the wax paper to create their sun catcher. Allow children to cut around the edge to re-form shamrock shape. Hole punch the top, add string, hang in window.

Magic Leprechaun Glasses
Need: green tagboard, green cellophane

Directions: Cut green tagboard into shamrock shaped sunglasses with green cellophane covering the eye openings.

Leprechaun Binoculars
Need: paper rolls, green paint, staple or glue, yarn

Directions: Take two paper rolls and stapled them together. Punch a hole on each side of the tubes. Then paint the tubes green. Add different shades of tissue for color. Then use your leprechaun with your new binoculars.

Green Spray Paint Art
Need: green paint, spray bottle, paper

Directions: Obtain a clean spray bottle. Add water and a little bit of liquid or powdered tempera. Then, place a large piece of paper on an easel, and have the children spray the colored water onto the paper.

Blarney Stones
Need: smooth rocks, paintbrush, green & gold glitter, glue

Directions: Have the kids gather smooth rocks from outside. Wash and dry the rocks,
then use a paintbrush to cover rocks with white glue. Dip each of them in green or gold glitter and let dry. You now have Blarney Stones for good luck!

Science

Shamrock Grass
Need: Green Sponge, Grass Seeds, Scissors, shallow pan, water, and sunlight.
Cut a Green Sponge into a shamrock shape. Wet the sponge. Sprinkle Grass seeds over the wet sponge and place in the sunlight. Make sure you keep it moist.

Leprechaun People

Take a foam cup- small one or medium. Fill with dirt and add grass seed. Watch hair grow kinda like a chia pet. Add a face to the cup. To keep the people looking neat- I always had the children give their people haircuts once a week! Kids loved watching them grow.

Shamrock Soda Bottle
Fill with water & add some green food coloring, Easter grass, green & silver glitter, green sequins, buttons, plastic shamrocks that are cut out for party confetti you can usually find this @ Michael's in the party section. You can also cut up some of that green FUN FOAM. Add anything that is green & won't dissolve in the water. Put on the lid tightly. Wrap the lid with duck tape several times or hot glue.

Shades of Green

Supply the children with green and white paint. Allow the children to mix a small amount of the paints together. What happens? For younger children, you child add the paint to a zip lock bag to minimize the mess.

Food

Lime Jello
Add green food coloring to anything
Green Eggs and Ham

Magic Green Cookies

Mix Together:

1 package INSTANT Pistachio Pudding Mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
3/4 cup Bisquick mix

Roll into 1 inch balls. flatten gently on cookie sheet. Bake at 350
for 8-10 minutes. Makes 15 cookies.

Magically Delicious Drink

Use Sprite, 7Up or ginger ale, green ice cubes. Pour each child one cup of Sprite, 7Up or ginger ale. Add green ice cubes. As the ice cubes begin to melt, the drink will magically change colors.

Leprechaun Dust
Need: 1 box jello instant pistachio pudding, one baby food jar with lid for each child, spoons, milk
Directions: Place one tablespoon of leprechaun dust (pudding powder) in each jar
add 1/4 cup milk place cap on jar and have your little leprechauns shake away adding the milk makes the instant pudding turn green.

Lucky Clover Snack
Need: Cucumber slices, cream cheese, celery sticks, green food coloring.

Tint the cream cheese with food coloring. Place a dollop of cream cheese in the center of a plate Wedge four cucumber slices into the cream cheese to resemble a four-leaf clover. Insert a celery stick at the bottom for a stem

Cookies
Use refrigerated sugar cookie dough -- put in a ziplock bag with a few drops of green food coloring -- let the children squish it around until all the food coloring is blended -- refrigerate for 20 minutes or so (because their little hands warm up the dough too much) Roll it out and use a large shamrock cookie cutter to cut out cookies -- bake! While the cookies are baking -- soften vanilla ice cream and smooth out in a pan to about 1/2 thickness - refreeze -- cut same size shamrocks from the ice cream -- when the cookies are completely cooled - make ice cream sandwiches with the cookies and ice cream.

Magic Powder
On St. Patrick's Day, pour three boxes of instant Pistachio pudding mix into a plastic airtight container. Label the container "Magic Powder." Leave the container in an obvious place with directions from the leprechaun for making pudding.
Note:
Dear children:
*Open the lid and take a whiff of my magic powder, What does it smell like to you?
*Add 6 Cups of cold milk. I left some in the fridge!
*Put the lid on tight.
*Take turns shaking the bowl while the whole class says:
Leprechauns, Leprechauns
Shamrocks seen
Magic powder
Green, green, green!
*Refrigerate the mixture for about an hour.
*Taste! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Shamrock Shake
Blend one banana, 2 c. of lime sherbet and 2 c. of milk.

Shamrock Dessert
Place 3 small scoops of vanilla ice cream in a shamrock shape on a small paper plate. Use a piece of licorice for the stem. Sprinkle the ice cream w/green sugar crystals. Put plate in freezer until ready to serve.

Golden Coins
24 Ritz crackers
1 c. smooth peanut butter
2 c. butterscotch chips
Spread half of the crackers w/p. butter. top each w/a second cracker. In the top of a double boiler or a small crock-pot, melt butterscotch chips. Dip sandwich cookies into butterscotch. Place on waxed paper to set.

Magic Milk

Add a drop of green food coloring into an empty glass. Add milk. The milk magically turns green!

Shamrock Mashed Potatoes

Cook some potatoes first, then have the children put green food coloring in them. Then mash the potatoes as you normally would and have fun! Arrange (either the children can do it them selves or the teacher can) the mash potatoes on the plate in the shape of a shamrock.

Another Shamrock Shake added 2-16-03 Original Author Unknown
Into blender put: 1/2 cup green mint flavored jelly, 2 cups softened vanilla ice cream, 1 Tbls peppermint extract, 1 1/2 cups milk. Blend until smooth. Makes 1 drink

Games/Activities

LEPRECHAUN TRAPS: This is something you, and the class work on together! Make a Leprechaun trap out of anything you can think of - shoe box, jar, can, etc. Have the children come up with ideas on how to make the "trap" work. Also, brainstorm as to WHAT to put inside the trap, to attract the leprechaun! This can be ALOT of fun!

Manipultives
*Each year, on St. Patricks Day, I talk to the children about Leprechauns and then we make the trap. At naptime, I tell the children to put their shoes next to them, while they nap.
I explain that the leprechauns might leave special little treats in their shoes. We set the trap and everyone goes to sleep with anticipation! While they sleep, I take little green foot prints that I have cut out, and tape them all around the room, to show where the "leprechaun" went. I put stickers or some other treat in their shoes, and I knock down the trap. I also like to do little "tricks" around the room... move lunchboxes, hide things, turn over chairs, etc...
(ALL the times I have ever done this, ONLY one parent came back to tell me that her child went home that night and told her older brother (age 7) about the leprechauns leaving treats in your shoes, and the two children left their shoes out that night and their Mom ran out to the store to get something to put in the shoes!! Fortunately, the Mom was a GREAT sport and took this well! She wasn't mad at ME!)
"On St. Patricks Day
a shamrock we often see,
Let's count the leaflets,
1-2-3!

File folder game
Cut 10 black pot shapes and glue into a folder. Number pots from 1-10 using a gold paint pen. Gather 55 small pebbles and spray paint them gold. Have children place appropriate number of pieces of gold on each black pot.

Leprechaun Bingo
Make blank bingo cards divided into 6 sections. Draw one St. Patrick's Day symbol in each section. (shamrocks, gold coins, Leprechaun, top hat, rainbow and pot of gold) *HINT, you can probably find nice clip art of these on the net, just print them out and glue! Write all the symbols you have drawn on a separate tally sheet. To play, pass out pennies for markers. As you call out a symbol (and show a picture of it to younger children) the players will place a penny on the symbol if they have it. Let children keep their pennies. You may wish to use green jelly beans instead!

Round the Leprechaun

(child's name)__ go round the shamrock
(child's name)__ go round the gold
(child's name)__ go round the leprechaun
Every afternoon! BOOM!
Place shamrocks, gold coins and a leprechaun on the floor for children
to dance around.

Leprechaun Gold
Cut out many gold paper circles, and write and draw simple directions on each. Then hide the gold (during nap time). Make a leprechaun's pot by folding the top of a paper lunch bag down several times, then stapling a paper strip to each side so that it resembles a small pot. Turn children loose for a treasure hunt after nap time. Set a limit to the number of coins they can find. Then they can help others (those wanting help) to find gold coins. Everyone drops their coins in "the pot". At circle time, pull out and read the coins and have the children act out the directions on them. "Turn around three times and sit down". "Clap your hands twice and shake your neighbor's hand." "Wave your hands and jump up and down three times."

Leprechaun Hunt
Need:
1 leprechaun statue or stuffed toy.
1. Have children sit in a circle
2. Choose a child to hide the leprechaun while the others close their eyes. (set limits as to where the leprechaun can hide)
3. While the child is hiding the leprechaun chant:
(child's name) hide the Leprechaun
(child's name) hide the LeprechaunLe-pre-chaun
4. Child returns to circle a picks someone to find it, while they are looking chant:
(child's name) find the Leprechaun
(child's name) find the Leprechaun
Le-pre-chaun
5. When the child finds the Leprechaun have them return to the center of the circle and everyone sings while the child does a jig:
(child's name) found the Leprechaun
(child's name) found the Leprechaun
Le-pre-chaun
6. This child gets to hide the Leprechaun and the game starts all over until everyone has had a turn.

Who's Sitting on Gold

First you need a gold coin. I just get one that you find a most candy shops (Made of chocolate.) If you can't find one just wrap a quarter in gold colored foil. Next the children sit down on the floor. The (Leprechaun) then sits with their back facing the children. The teacher signals one child to steal the gold. The child sits on the gold as the rest of the children
chant:
Leprechaun, leprechaun where’s your gold.
Someone stole it from your home.
The leprechaun has three guess to reveal the child. The child who stole the gold than became the leprechaun.

Shamrock Bounce
You will need to paint an old tennis ball green. Set five pie tins on the floor, number 1-5. Give each child five bounces to land in the pie tins. Add up the total numbers to see who wins.

Run Little Leprechaun
Have the children sit in a circle. Play music as the children pass around a shamrock made out of construction paper. When the music stops the child holding the shamrock also stops. The children yell "Run Little Leprechaun!" The child gets up runs around the circle once than sits back down. Let all children have a turn.

St. Patrick's Day Is Here
Select a child to be "it" Who then steps outside of the door or faces with his/her back toward the circle. Sing the following song as the children are seated in a circle. After the song ends the child who was selected to be "it" then has three chances to pick the child who will be sitting on the shamrock.
Sung to: "The Farmer In The Dell"
St. Patrick's Day is here,
St. Patrick's Day is here,
Let's give a clap and dance a jig
St. Patrick's Day is here.

Find the 4-leaf clover
Prepare pictures or cutouts of green clovers, have one for each child. All Clover's should have 3 leaves except one which should be a 4-leaf clover. Children take turns passing around the clovers to music. When music stops, child who has 4-leaf clover gets a special treat (sticker, hug from you, etc.) Tell children that the person with the 4-leaf clover is lucky -- that is why they get the special treat. Continue on until all kids have gotten the 4-leaf clover, special treat.

Somebody's been sneaking in my daycare
Original Author Unknown
Nothing excites and motivates children like traces of surprise visits from an unexpected friend. During the days preceding St. Patrick's Day, leave clues around your daycare that lead youngsters to believe that a leprechaun has been in their midst! One day, before youngsters arrive, secretly turn your kids chairs upside down. Attach a trail of construction paper footprints along the walls and ceiling, or dip a small sneaker in washable green paint and leave footprints by intermittently pressing the shoe against the walls. At another time, leave traces of gold dust (glitter) and construction paper shamrocks in places where youngsters will discover them throughout the course of the day. Other ideas include replacing your soap with green soap, leaving green chalk messages on your chalkboard, and moving supplies from their places to unusual spots in the room. Just as your junior sleuths begin to suspect that you are the culprit, have a colleague place a green jelly bean at each child's place while you are out of the room with your class. ( Since the children are
learning not to accept food from strangers, be sure to make a point, as the adult, to 'check' the jelly beans before approving them.)

Follow the Leprechaun
Make a set of Leprechaun ears by attaching pointy green construction paper ears to a headband. Have one child wear the ears and be the leprechaun leader in a game of follow the leader. Take turns with each child.

Hunt for Green

Ask your child to look for things that are green. Write down what they find.

Movies

Leprechauns Christmas (1981)
Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959)
A Very Unlucky Leprechaun (1998)
The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)

Books

St Patrick’s Day
Amy Margaret

It’s St Patrick’s Day
Rebecca Gomez

St Patrick’s Day
Brenda Haugen

St Patrick’s Day
Carmen Bredeson

Jack and the Leprechaun
Ivan Robertson

Crafts for St Patrick’s Day
Kathy Ross

Lucky O’Leprechaun
Jana Dillon

St Patrick’s Day
Gail Gibbons

St Patrick’s Day
Mari C. Schuh

Hooray for St Patrick’s Day
Joan Holub

Green Eggs and Ham
Dr Seuss
_________________
Vicki