Where's My Pot of Gold?: Fun St. Patrick's Day Learning Activities

Bouncing shamrocks! Can St. Patrick's Day be here already? Irish eyes will be smiling as your little leprechauns are getting "jig-gy" with these Emerald Isle-inspired activities! No blarney about it!

The Rainbow Sight Word Game and Shamrock Fill-In the Missing Numbers Game 

Completed Shamrock Fill-In the Missing Numbers Game

Shamrock Fill-In the Missing Numbers Game (Unfortunately, I do not remember what website I found this ingenious idea from) *See Above*

Subject: Math - Placing number in 1-10 sequential order and identifying missing numbers.

To Do:Create shamrocks and numbers from a Cricut cartridge, coloring page or other die-cut machine using green and gold cardstock. Laminate for durability. Place hook and loop Velcro on numbers and shamrocks. 

  Place shamrocks in 1-10 sequential order in your circle. Give each student a missing number and have them fill in the missing numbers. 

* Have older students place the shamrocks in sequential order in your math center and have them individually place "missing numbers" in their correct order. 

The Rainbow Sight Word Game (Game Source Printout: themeasuredmom.com)  *See Above Picture*

Subject: Language Arts: Print Awareness and matching color words to their correct colors. 

To Do: Place The Rainbow Sight Word Game on a table. Have each student choose a colorful bear counter as their game piece. Place color word game cards (that you had previously color coded for non-readers) face up on the table. Have each student place their bear counter on start. Students take turns choosing a card and identifying the color on the card. They then move their bear counters to the first circle that matches their card (ex. purple card= first purple circle on The Rainbow Sight Word Game. Continue until a student lands on the "pot of gold" finish line.  (Optional: Laminate game cards and The Rainbow Sight Word Game for durability beforehand). 

No Losers Alternative: Have each child play out the game and give them a St. Patrick's day sticker. Some of my favorite stickers are St. Pat's Day by Darice. They are very cute,  seasonal and colorful. 

A Few Center Ideas 

Water Table

Green water with gold glitter

Dyed Green, orange, and white rice (Irish Flag) 

Fill with foam shamrocks, plastic coins, colorful fruit or bear counters (rainbows) and a leprechaun for the students to find. 

Fine Motor

Pot of gold Playdough mats (Wonderful for number recognition too!) http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/StPlaydoughMats.htm

Lacing cards (Rainbow and shamrock)

http://www.chalkinmypocket.com/2011/03/st-patricks-day-lacing-cards-shamrock.html

Irish Symbols of Luck and Folklore puzzles (a great math center idea also)- Print out and color Irish symbols of luck such as a horseshoe, shamrock, harp, leprechaun etc. Glue onto cardstock and laminate. Cut into several pieces. This activity also teaches children the following subjects: Social Studies: Recognizing common themes in Irish folk customs, math: parts of a whole and spacial concepts, language arts: understanding symbols used in Irish folklore and literature. 

Art 

Cut a paper plate in half and have children collage rainbows with wrapping, tissue and construction papers.

Snacks 

Green Fizzers 

• Seven Up 
• green Food dye 

Mix together and serve cold. 

Healthy Alternative 

• Dye milk green with food coloring 

Shamrock Sundaes 

Mint chocolate chip ice cream with "orange" whip cream.  Add a couple of chocolate candy gold coins (remove wrapper prior to eating). 

Healthy Alternative

• Use shamrock cookie cutters to create shamrock apple shapes 
• Carrot sticks, celery and a healthy white dip to celebrate the colors of the Irish Flag 

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!