St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner! If you’re looking for some ideas for your class, or just simply to find out more about the day and how to explain it your kids, I’ve got some ideas for you!
Turn your students into Leprechaun Experts for the day! Teach your kids some facts from Irish folklore, so when they write a story, or plan a leprechaun trap, they can use the facts that you’ve shared with them, to support their ideas. By using facts from Irish folklore, you’ll also be helping them to understand, in more depth, about these famous characters from Irish tales, and the stories surrounding them.
Growing up in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day was always such a giant celebration, and I still get excited about it! Every every year my own kids wear Irish shirts (posted to us from Ireland), and some green necklaces, bowties, or something that is just the right shade of green! I love thinking of fun ways to celebrate Irish culture for St Patrick’s Day, and one very fun part of Irish culture is our folk tales – especially the stories about Leprechauns!
So, if you want to add a little Leprechaun-themed excitement to your classroom,…..here are 7 great leprechaun facts that will elevate your Leprechaun Expert status in your classroom in no time!
1. Leprechauns have been part of Irish folklore for over 1,000 years! Leprechauns are fairy folk that come from Ireland. In fact, stories about fairies in Ireland still exist. When my grandmother was a child, they had a tree at the bottom of the garden that they weren’t allowed to touch, because people believed it was a fairy tree. Fairies and fairy trees are still part of Irish tradition and culture.
2. Leprechauns often look like old men, with a beard, and wearing a coat and a hat. They are never bigger than a small child, and the Irish word for a leprechaun comes from the old Irish word luchorpán, which means – small body. There are no stories about girl leprechauns, but we can’t be sure that that they don’t exist.
3. Leprechauns aren’t quite as cute and loveable as they look in many of the pictures we see of them today. They are actually pretty grumpy and get up to quite a lot of mischief. If you try to trick a leprechaun they often use their magic on you!
4. Leprechauns are very hard working. They are shoemakers who make a lot of their gold from fixing fairies’ shoes. One of the ways you can tell if a leprechaun is nearby, is if you hear the tapping of his cobbler hammer as he fixes shoes nearby. Leprechauns like to store the gold that they earn in a giant pot.
5. Leprechauns often like to store their gold at the end of a rainbow, but we can’t really be sure because people are rarely successful in capturing leprechauns. If you do happen to be lucky enough to catch one, be sure to keep your eyes on him, because as soon as you look away from a leprechaun they can escape!
6. Leprechauns are solitary creatures, so they like to live alone and away from people. They like to live in a hole in the ground, and the best time to see them is after dusk and before dawn.
7 . Leprechauns LOVE to play music and dance!
Once your mini experts filled with excitement about Leprechauns, here are some questions to get them feeling like they really know their stuff!
- How long have there been tales about leprechauns in Ireland?
- What does a leprechaun look like?
- Where do leprechauns like to live?
- What do leprechauns like to do?
- How might you know if a leprechaun is nearby?
- What is the best time to see a leprechaun?
When your students feel like true Leprechaun Experts, it’s time to put their skills to work! Here are some ideas that your students could do:
- Design a leprechaun trap using what you know about leprechauns
- Create your own leprechaun character: What does he look like? What are his interests? Where does he live?
You room should be filled with mini Leprechaun loving experts in no time!
Do you have any fun ways to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with your class?
If you’d like to inspire your mini Leprechaun Experts with no-prep, the Leprechaun Fact Files are available in my TpT store here:
Little Learner Toolbox 