Preschool Lesson on St. Patrick's Day: Create Shamrocks and Learn About Ireland
Objective
During this St. Patrick’s Day lesson students will learn some basic St. Patrick’s Day facts, such as about the significance of the four leaf clover, what the color green means to Irish people, what rainbows and leprechauns have to do with St. Patrick’s Day, and a little about Ireland and their flag.
Materials Needed
- Markers
- Crayons
- White Paper for Drawing and Coloring
- Pencils
- Stencils (four-leaf clover, rainbow, and other St. Patrick’s Day shapes)
- Books: Jack and the Leprechaun by Ivan Robertson, Hooray for St. Patrick’s Day by Joan Holub, Look What Came from Ireland by Miles Harvey, and Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs: The Story of St. Patrick’s Day Symbols by Edna Barth
- Map of Ireland
- Picture of a Rainbow
- Picture of Ireland’s Flag
Plan
This St. Patrick’s Day lesson plan will begin by reading two of the books (any two) to the children as they sit in a circle. After reading make sure all of the children have plenty of white paper, crayons, markers, and pencils. Pass some of the stencils around and have the children draw and color a four-leaf clover. Once they are done take a minute or two to tell the children that the four leaves on the clover represent faith, hope, love, and luck.
Have the children draw and color a shamrock (three leaf clover) and as they are coloring take a minute to discuss that the shamrock is Ireland’s national emblem.
Next, take one to two minutes to discuss the color green and its significance to Irish people. Let the children have some time to draw and color some green things that they often see in nature, such as grasshoppers, trees, and plants. Let the children know that the Irish find the color green to be connected to nature and hope.
Take the children on a short tour of Ireland. Show them a few places of interest on a map of Ireland. Discuss the colors on the Ireland flag and show them a picture of the flag.
Discuss the rainbow, its colors, the pot of gold, and how it stands for luck and hope. Place the picture of a rainbow in an area where all children can see it. Have them draw a rainbow and a pot of gold.
Read another book from the book list.
Assessment
Have the children sit in a circle. Briefly discuss the books that were read. Be sure to have all children discuss something. Ask them what the shamrock means and what the color green means to the people of Ireland. Have each child identify something green that they have seen in nature without repeating something that another child has said. Have each child state something they hope for on St. Patrick’s Day. As a group, have the children identify all the colors of the rainbow.
Allow the children to decorate the classroom with their drawings. Help them hang them with tape.
Notes
All of the books mentioned can be found at the local library.
A picture of the Ireland flag and a picture of a rainbow can be printed off of the Internet.
A map of Ireland can be found at most public libraries.
Image Credits
Shamrock: Bls2009 – Wikimedia Commons
This post is part of the series: Everything St. Patrick’s for Preschool
Find everything you need to celebrate St. Patrick’s day in the preschool classroom. From facts, to lessons, to crafts, we have made planning for St. Patrick’s Day easy!
