Holidays are MY JAM! Teaching a holiday is even more my jam!
St. Patricks Day in the classroom can be SO.MUCH.FUN. even if you teach upper elementary. You can still challenge your kiddos while having a ridiculous amount of fun.
READ FUN BOOKS
Like any other holiday, the best way to get into it is with some good BOOKS! Click on the picture books below to head to the affiliate links! Also, check out my favorite read-aloud chapter books!
St. Patrick’s Day Reading Challenge- Find the Leprechaun!
I love a good reading challenge!
The students will go through a series of five challenges. They will be earning clues to find out where the leprechaun is hiding. The leprechaun will leave them a note at the beginning and end of the challenge (provided for you). At the end they will use their inferencing skills to figure out where the leprechaun is hiding, only to find out that he left! 😉
Challenge 1:
Read two different passages and then write a comparison paragraph comparing the two themes of the stories.
Challenge 2:
Read a leprechaun story and then create a character trait profile for themselves and the leprechaun. The students then compare themselves with the leprechaun.
Challenge 3:
Use context clues to solve the clue through the leprechaun’s sayings.
Challenge 4:
Read the history of St. Patrick’s Day and then create a main idea and detail four-leaf clover.
Challenge 5:
Read different accounts of a crime committed during the parade and analyze the different point of views.
After completing the challenge they earn their clue and go to the next one. The challenges are checked by you (answer key provided). Each clue will lead them closer to the last and final note.
When they are done I set up a special St. Patrick’s Day spot with books, St. Patrick’s Day games, and anything fun!
>>>Find the Challenge Here<<<<
Leprechaun Traps
My kids love this activity every year. We finish the word problem race (below) and then we do a writing on how to catch a leprechaun (also below).
Then, I let my students bring in 3 recycled materials from home. They get with a group of 3 or 4 kids and they make a trap using the materials.
It is always A MESS, but the kids are always crazy about it.
The next day I come in and mess up their traps and make the room a little messier! I usually add some green around the room to show that he was there!
They always FREAK OUT when they walk in and it is always memorable for me!
St. Patrick’s Day Word Problem Race FREEBIE
I love a good word problem race. What is a word problem race you ask?!
Well, basically the kids complete word problems in order to earn something!
For St. Patrick’s Day we make Leprechaun traps (read above).
I use this race in order to show my kids what we will be doing! Each word problem earns them a letter and then it spells out LEPRECHAUN TRAPS! Once we finish the race we make them!
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How to Catch a Leprechaun Writing FREEBIE
There is so much fun to do with writing over a holiday. For St. Patrick’s Day we learn about how-to writing. Then, we write how we are going to catch our leprechaun.
>>>>You can grab this whole project for FREE here! <<<<
After we get done with the writing we do a directed drawing of the leprechaun.
I like to use the Art Hub videos and play them for my kids. My kids watch the video and then draw their leprechaun.
St. Patrick’s Day Close Reading
You have to throw in some close reading into your month. We do 10 fiction and 10 nonfiction passages each month and review every reading skill. They are quick but effective.
>>>You can check out the March Paragraph of the Day here!<<<
WOW! We do a lot for St. Patrick’s Day! I would love to see everything that you do! Let me know what you love in the comments! Don’t forget to sign up for your freebie above!
Hannah Wilde
I am so glad you’re here! I love helping 3rd-5th grade teachers by providing ideas, engaging resources, and professional development they need. I am a literacy coach who is here to help lessen the workload for teachers while making them more confident! I want students to be continually engaged in a rigorous environment!