Saint Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated on March 17th each year, commemorates Saint Patrick and Christianity’s arrival in Ireland. It is also a celebration of Irish heritage and culture. This free unit study is a great way to teach children of all ages more about St. Patrick’s Day. The unit includes information about the life of St. Patrick and the history of the holiday and its traditions. You’ll also find St. Patrick’s Day-themed activities for language arts, science, art, and more. You may choose to do all of the lessons and activities in a single day, taking the day off from your regular studies, or spread the unit study out over several days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day.
Saint Patrick’s Day History
Read the article and watch one or more of these videos to learn about St. Patrick’s life and the history behind the holiday.
- St. Patrick’s Day– This article from The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains who Saint Patrick was and the history of the holiday.
- The History of St. Patrick’s Day– The ESOL Odyssey’s brief video, which is excellent for all ages, gives an overview of Saint Patrick’s life.
- St. Patrick: Pilgrimage to Peace– This hour-long documentary is great for older children and teens. To watch it, you’ll need to create a free account on RedeemTV.
- Torchlighters: The St. Patrick Story– Also available on RedeemTV, this half-hour episode was created with children ages 8 to 12 in mind. However, your whole family will likely enjoy it.
Saint Patrick’s Day Traditions
These articles explain several St. Patrick’s Day traditions, including the significance of the color green.
- From Shamrocks & Shenanigans – Traditions of St. Patrick’s Day!– Science Made Fun explains the meaning behind many popular traditions and legends surrounding the holiday: wearing green, leprechauns, pots of gold, and more.
- 12 Reasons We Wear Green on St. Patrick’s Day– This mom.com article discusses in more detail the many reasons the color green is associated with the holiday. You may prefer to skip the part near the end about green beer, especially with younger kids.
Saint Patrick’s Day Language Arts
Choose one of these language arts activities for your children to complete. There’s something for all ages.
- Write About It: The Leprechaun’s Wishes– With this writing prompt, kids pretend a leprechaun is stuck under their bed. He offers three wishes if they help him get out. They write about what they would wish for and why. This prompt would be fun for elementary-aged children.
- St. Patrick Day Writing Prompts– Embark on the Journey’s printable set includes eight different writing prompts for elementary-aged students to choose from.
- Irish Proverbs Worksheet Activity– K12 Reader’s worksheet lists several Irish proverbs. The children explain what they think each one means. This worksheet would be a good fit for children in upper elementary or middle school through high school.
- Yeats and the Poetry of Ireland– On this worksheet, students in 8th grade and up read the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” written by William Butler Yeats and answer a few questions about it.
Saint Patrick’s Day Story Time
Watch and listen to a read-aloud of one (or more) of the following storybooks.
- Patrick – Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola- The book begins with the true story of Saint Patrick’s life and ends with several legends about him.
- The Leprechaun Who Lost His Rainbow by Sean Callahan- This story is about Roy G. Biv, a leprechaun who’s lost his rainbow.
- Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola- An Irish folk tale about a farmer who is too lazy to help his wife.
- The Leprechaun’s Gold by Pamela Duncan Edward- A retelling of a traditional Irish folktale about two harpists who compete in a contest to discover which is the best harpist in Ireland.
Saint Patrick’s Day Science
Have fun learning as you do one of these science activities together.
- Exploring Reflections– Create a four-leaf clover with just a green dot on a piece of paper and two small mirrors.
- Rainbow Crystals– Grow rainbow crystals with Borax and pipe cleaners.
- Rainbow Science for Kids: Homemade Spectroscope– Split light into different wavelengths with this spectroscope made from a few household items.
Saint Patrick’s Day Art
Choose an art project for your children to create.
- Color Mixing Rainbow Challenge– Learn about mixing colors and color theory with this challenge.
- How To Draw A Cartoon Leprechaun– Draw a leprechaun with this step-by-step video tutorial from Kids Art Hub.
Saint Patrick’s Day Treats
Conclude your unit study by making one of these sweet treats together.
Related Posts
- Free March Unit Studies and Lessons
- Free April Unit Studies and Lessons
- Christ Centered Easter Activities
This post was originally published on January 29, 2021, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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