Saint Patrick's Day Teaching Tips

Saint Patrick's Day Teaching Tips By Freda J. Glatt  "Top o' the mornin' to ye! Do you have your green ready to wear? Whether or not you are Irish, this holiday is fun for all and presents the opportunity for a multi-cultural lesson. Here are some ideas for you to try.





1. Speak to your children using an Irish brogue. This will captivate their interest!


2. Who was St. Patrick? Why is there a holiday named for him? Are Irish children in school on this day? Let children do research to find out.


3. Discuss some of the symbols for St. Patrick's Day and explain what they mean. Classify them as real or unreal. For instance, shamrocks are real but pots of gold at the end of the rainbow are not.


4. Read aloud part of a fictional St. Patrick's Day story. Have your children write their own endings. Read them out loud or hang them on a bulletin board for all to read. NOTE: This may also be done with small groups of children working together!


5. Afterwards, read the ending of the story you started. Have the children compare the author's ending with their outcomes. Which was more realistic? Which was more funny? Which did they like best?


6. This would be an excellent time for a cooking experiment. Remember the story "Green Eggs and Ham?" Try making some green eggs, green vanilla pudding pops, or anything else that would be suitable for your age group. Green food coloring could be added to white frosting before icing some cupcakes. Let the children taste the frosting while it is white and ask them to predict how it will taste after it becomes green. Were they right? Compare!


7. While your children are out, sprinkle some green glitter on desks, tables, or the floor. Perhaps you can write a note in an unusual handwriting. Of course, you will feign innocence as to how those things got there! What do the children think happened?


8. Older children may find out more about Ireland. What are the similarities and differences to your own country? How are you and the Irish children similar and different? Make Venn Diagrams for your comparisons.


9. Here is a finger play, "Ten Funny Leprechauns," taken from Swing into Spring, Macmillan Seasonal Activity Packs, 1988, Macmillan Educational Company. Try making finger puppets to accompany this dramatic play!


"Ten funny leprechauns

Danced in a line.

One found a shamrock

And then there were nine.



Nine sleepy leprechauns

Stayed out too late.

One fell fast asleep

And then there were eight.



Eight little leprechauns

All named Kevin.

One said, "I'm Joe!"

And then there were seven.



Seven helpful leprechauns

Picked up some sticks.

One grew tired of this

And then there were six.



Six hot leprechauns

All took a dive.

One did a belly flop

And then there were five.

Five jolly leprechauns

Ran through the door.

One ran back again

And then there were four.



Four thirsty leprechauns

Sat down to tea.

One didn't like it

And then there were three.



Three tiny leprechauns

Hid inside a shoe.

One fell out again

and then there were two.



Two laughing leprechauns

Went for a run.

One ran very fast

And then there was one.



One lonely leprechaun

Wanted to have fun.

He joined all the rest

And then there were none."



This poem lends itself well to lessons on adjectives, verbs, and rhyming words. Use different colored crayons, markers, or highlighters to determine answers.



I hope these ideas are useful and ignite your own creativity!"
Source:


http://www.classbrain.com/artteach/publish/saint_patricks_day_teaching_tips.shtml


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