Savannah Mcginnis and Nicole Rosati

Savannah McGinnis and Nicole Rosati

Resource Unit

Objectives
Theme
Vocabulary
Developmentally Appropriate Activities
Assessment/Evaluation
References

Students will learn about St. Patrick’s Day.
Students will compare and contrast St. Patrick’s Day with other holidays.
Students will learn about the traditions of St. Patrick’s Day.
Each student will be able to identify and define St. Patrick’s Day vocabulary.

The theme of this unit is to teach children about St. Patrick’s Day.
Grade Level: 2nd
Unit: Social Studies

St. Patrick
shamrock
holiday
celebrate
March
leprechaun
Ireland
green
rainbow
gold

At the beginning of March, begin a class discussion about St. Patrick’s Day. Ask the students if they know what it is, when it is, and what kinds of things they do to celebrate it. Make a chart on a big piece of paper and list the students’ traditions. Hang the chart in the room.

Have children read Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by Peter Roop, and make a list of traditions mentioned.Have children compare and contrast the traditions in the book from that of the children’s traditions.
Have children write a story about being a leprechaun on the first St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Offer help as needed. Let children take turns sharing their stories in the Author’s Chair.
Have children research how/why the shamrock become the symbol of St. Patrick’s Day. Provide research materials for in-class work and encourage research at home as well. (Library with parents, etc.)
Guide children through writing a letter to a leprechaun. Let them share their stories with a partner.
Have children arrange the U.S. holidays in chronological order. Have them make a timeline so they have visual representation of where St. Patrick’s Day falls in regards to the other holidays. Hang it with the chart of traditions.
Green Food Day! Children will bring in any kind of green food on designated day. (green grapes, green Kool-aid, etc.) Make sure to send a letter of explanation home to parents.
Green Cupcakes! Let children help in making cupcakes in class with green food coloring. Implement math concepts (measuring, etc.)
Set up a “Leprechaun Trap” center. In this center, students will have the opportunity to be creative and design their own leprechaun trap. Some examples of supplies needed include, craft sticks, plastic bags, scissors, glue, pipe cleaners, etc. (Teacher Note: Traps are to be completed by March 16th and set up somewhere in the classroom at the end of the day. Before the students return the next day, put some gold glitter and/or a piece of green felt in the traps, along with a chocolate “gold” coin. The green felt is to look like a piece of a leprechaun’s shirt got caught in the trap.)
Go to the library and collect 20-30 books about St. Patrick’s Day. Let students select one of these books and designate their SSR time to these books. Each child will complete a book report on their selected book. When they are finished, let them design a cover for their report out of construction paper.
As a concluding activity to the St. Patrick’s Day unit, work with students to create a St. Patrick’s Day play to be preformed for parents on the evening of March 17th. Let students decide the setting, plot, characters, etc. (Teacher should only offer guidance not control the entire thing!)

1)What day is St. Patrick’s Day on?

a. May 17b. October 20

c. March 17d. The 17th of every month

2)Identify the symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.

a. shamrockb. shamerok

c. shamrickd. shmrck

3)Ireland is all of the following except:

a. State b. Island

c. Countryd. In Europe

4) St. Patrick’s Day is named after what/who?

a. a dog b. An IrishRiver

c. an Irish city d. A missionary

5) The color celebrated with St. Patrick’s Day is:

a. purpleb. orange

c. greend. white

6) The luck of the Irish is what?

a. a Pot of Goldb. a bowl of candy

c. finding a penny d. finding a 3-leaf clover

Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by Peter Roop This book discussed some St. Patrick’s Day traditions, and also includes riddles and recipes.
Very Little Leprechaun Tale by Yvonne Carroll This book tells the story of a leprechaun and his life.
Lucky Leprechaun by Dawn Bentley discusses the lucky leprechaun’s gold coins.
It’s St. Patrick’s Day by Rebecca Gomez A book about St. Patrick’s Day traditions.
A Very Unlucky Leprechaun (1998) This movie follows the life of a leprechaun who isn’t so lucky. Rated PG.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) This is an older movie. Rated G.

This is a website that provides teachers with educational information about Ireland. Hear about Irish history, geography, government, language (Gaelic), Ireland’s flag and currency.

This website provides teachers with a variety of educational and fun craft activities to teach the class about St. Patrick’s Day.

This website provides printable resources, art activities and how to incorporate St. Patrick’s Day into the daily curriculum.

The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)

Hallmark movie. A businessman (Quaid) rents a cottage on the magical Emerald Isle which happens to inhabit leprechauns and fairies. One night at a party, a young leprechaun falls in love with a fairy princess. Their forbidden romance starts a war between the mythical communities. The businessman is chosen by the Grand Banshee (Goldberg) to help bring peace to the island which propels him into a wondrously fantastic adventure.

Riverdance- The Best of Riverdance (2005)

Riverdance displays wonderful Irish dancing that will be fun and inspiring for kids. The Riverdance phenomenon has seen the show performed all over the world. This documentary on the popular musical follows its evolution, from its beginnings in Dublin up to its global success in places as diverse as New York City and Geneva.

Leapin Leprechauns / VHS (1995)

A man gets more than he bargained for when he tries to build a theme park on top of land that'ssecretly the home to friendly Leprechauns.