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If you've been wondering how to celebrate St.Patricks Day in the classroom with your middle and high school students, keep on reading-- this is for you!
I know having fun isn't always on our agenda, but hear me out-- use every excuse possible to sneak an opportunity for fun into your class time. So to me, St. Patrick's Day sounds like cookies followed by a quick YouTube video + Google Form teaching students about the history of St. Patrick's Day.
You can grab the Google Form and YouTube video I'm using for free right here! The video is only like 2 minutes, so nothing too long or boring.
click here to get you free copy!
Then the"fun" is simply disguised as giving students an opportunity to complete an interactive activity that allows them to use their imagination, catch their breath, focus on a mental health reset + check-in with you, catch up on some missing work, and talk to me as I bounce around the room.
It's essentially a get your life together day disgusted with green goodies.
These are my favorite St. Patrick's Day Activities to use with students-- they are focuses on SEL, social media themed, and creative prompts to get you and the students in the 🍀 St. Patrick's Day Spirit🍀 without 100% focusing on the holiday itself.
Alright teacher homies, now green boas and grab your shillelaghs because it's time to celebrate the man behind the madness - St. Patrick! Every year on March 17th, people all over the world (and now in your classroom) take part in a global Irish fest, but we bet you didn't know the real story behind this cultural phenomenon. Buckle up, grab a pint, and let's dive into the history of the patron saint of Ireland and find out what we've been celebrating all these years!
The Origins of St. Patrick's Day
I know as teachers we naturally are nerds so here's the origins of the Irish holiday or keep scrolling to see the list of 10 ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with students!
You know the drill - green clothes, parades, and a whole lot of shamrocks, but did you know that St. Patrick wasn't even Irish? He was born in Britain, part of the Roman Empire, and was later kidnapped by Irish raiders. He converted to Christianity and used the simple shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. From there, St. Patrick went on to change the religious landscape of Ireland forever. Oh yeah, what about the famous myth about St. Patrick driving all the snakes from Ireland? Well, there's just one problem with that story - Ireland never had any snakes, to begin with! The weather was too cold for them to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.
The tradition of wearing a shamrock and green on St. Patrick's Day comes from the Irish Christian pride and the green hills of Ireland. The first recorded St. Patrick's Day parade took place in New York in 1762, and it has since grown into a global celebration of Irish culture.
So, as you plan your St. Patrick's Day activities, take a moment to reflect on the incredible story of the man behind the madness. From his humble beginnings in Britain to his lasting impact on Ireland, St. Patrick is a true legend and a symbol of Irish pride.
Here's 10 Ways You can Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the Classroom
Irish culture and history lessons: Teach your students about the history and culture of Ireland, including the life and legacy of St. Patrick, traditional Irish music and dance, and the symbolism of the shamrock.
St. Patrick's Day BINGO: Bingo but St. Patty's style and here is a free one for you!
Art projects: Have your students create their own shamrocks or leprechaun hats, or have them decorate the classroom with green streamers and balloons.
Food tasting: Organize a food tasting of traditional Irish dishes, such as colcannon or Irish stew, or have students bring in food from their own Irish heritage to share.
Literature: Share Irish poems, stories, or legends with your students. This could include works by famous Irish authors such as W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, or Seamus Heaney.
Music and dance: Play traditional Irish music, such as "Danny Boy" or "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," or teach your students some traditional Irish dances, such as jigs or reels. You could also have a St. Patrick's Day dance party!
Games: Use a real potato for a game of hot potato!
Scavenger hunt: Here are some items that can be used for an Irish-themed scavenger hunt: shamrocks, leprechaun hat, pot of gold, harp, Irish flag, Celtic knot, claddagh ring. Print these and hide them around the classroom and let them hunt and swap for items they are in need of!
Wear green clothing or accessories: Green is the traditional color of St. Patrick's Day and Ireland, and is often worn or used to decorate for the holiday.
St. Patricks Day Party: Send parents a sign up genius to gather goodies for the kids and spend 15-30 minutes celebrating and chatting with one another
And there you have it, teacher homies! A little lesson in the history of St. Patrick's Day + ways to celebrate with the kiddos.
Feel free to take any of these ideas and put a personal spin on them to meet the needs of your students.
Remember it’s our first duty to love on the kids and second to teach them.
XoXo,
Hugs, Love, and Lots of Kisses.
Cheers,
Ty Tiger | Kinda Sorta Teacher