Our Saint Patrick's Day Celebration

Daily Question: Do you know what a shamrock is? A shamrock is a three leaf (Old White) clover--the symbol of Ireland.


Toys: Mr. Potato Head, Linkin Blocks, Wooden Puzzles, car race track and village rug.
(We welcomed Olivia's friend, Savannah, to our preschool today)




Snack: Cucumber slices, pretzels, and rice crispy squares with green sugar sprinkles.


Music: Celtic Music and Janeen Brady's song, "Wearing O' The Green."

Each child got to choose a shamrock sticker at the start of class today.

Circle Time: Today we talked about Ireland and it's influence in America, like the holiday Saint Patrick's Day*. The Irish eat a lot of potatoes, had a famine and many people left Ireland and immigrated to America. There was a kind man of the church, Saint Patrick, who taught Irish children that the clover was a symbol of the Godhead: God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

We talked about tricky Leprechauns (who are related to the Fae, or fairies). We enjoyed several stories about these wee folk and their gold.

Outside Fun: with the Sand and Water Table.

What Would YOU do if you caught a Leprechaun?
Nathan: "Bite him!"
Susie: "Not look away! Not listen to a trick he says."
Preston: "Catch him!"
Hugh: "I would watch him to see if he was or wasn't going to run away."
Savannah: (Thinking).
Olivia: "Put him in his home, where the squirrels can't get him!"

* Even if you are not Irish, March is a great month to get to know one or two of your ancestors--like a Great grandfather or Grandmother, where they came from, what they looked and talked like, and a favorite recipe or tradition they did.

Leprechaun Treasure Hunt: We had fun when we caught a Leprechaun, Timmy O'Clover, tapping with his little hammer. We followed him around the yard, keeping a close eye on him, to find his pots of gold for us to keep and take home.


Take Home Activities: We got to take home a Leprechaun to color, a couple of mazes to solve, and another coloring picture on Saint Patrick's Day (this Saturday, March 17).




St. Patrick's Day Books:
The Luckiest Leprechaun; A Tale-Wagging Tale of Friendship by Justine Korman, Ill. by Denise Brunkus
Clever Tom and the Leprechaun by Linda Shute
Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk; An Irish Tale Told and Illustrated by Gerald McDermott
Leprachauns; Tale of the "Little People." (Pamphlet)