St. Patrick’s Day activities for kindergarten are a big favorite for young kids! The chance to dress up in green, decorate with rainbows, and eat chocolate gold coins makes the day fun and unique for kids. In order to help them celebrate, use these fun St. Patrick’s Day activities for kindergarten to direct their excitement for St. Patrick’s Day towards learning about literacy, reading, and writing.
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1. Word Scavenger Hunt
Instead of finding a leprechaun, this St. Patrick’s Day children’s activity centers around students finding leprechaun-themed words! To begin with, print out a few copies of vocabulary words that center around St. Patrick’s Day. Next, include with each of them an illustration that indicates the word’s meaning. Then, hide the words around the classroom. For example, stash some in desks, toy bins, or shelves.
Then, the class can spend some time seeking out the words as they’re hidden around the classroom. They will be on the lookout for those special St. Patrick’s Day words! Obviously, you can offer them some location clues to help them along. The class can work as a team or work in groups against one another. When you finish the activity, the winner could get a special prize or the class can be rewarded as a whole for finding the words!
2. St. Patrick's Day Word Wall
St. Patrick’s Day is a great time to introduce some vocabulary and spelling words that are new to your students. Some might be simpler for students to absorb, like “gold” or “luck.” Also, you could add some that are more challenging, like “rainbow,” “clover,” “shamrock,” and “Irish.” There are several different ways you can display them to class. For example, one option would be to simply have them written on the whiteboard for them to see. On the other hand, you could create a wall display that features illustrations of the meanings of each word.
Then, you can get students involved in the creation of the display by asking them to contribute their own art. Students can work independently or in small groups to create a special display for each word. For example, they can write about the word’s meaning, give an example sentence, or just draw a picture that illustrates it. Next, students can share and present their work to the rest of the class. Leave the display up just for St. Patrick’s Day, for the whole week, or even the whole month of March.
3. Leprechaun Catching Plans
One of the best St. Patrick’s Day activities for kids is thinking of ways to catch a sneaky leprechaun! Either as a class or in small groups, have kids brainstorm how they might catch a leprechaun. For instance, ask them about how they might put bait into a trap or track down where the leprechaun is hiding. Also, make sure to ask thought-provoking questions, like “what sort of things do you think would lure in a leprechaun?” “How are you going to keep it trapped?” “What if the leprechaun tries to escape?”
Then, once they have come up with their ideas, children can work independently or in small groups to record their plans. Firstly, kids can draw a diagram of their designs. Next, independently or with adult assistance, they can write out their ideas on how they could catch the leprechaun. This kind of writing is great practice for kids. It encourages them to use technical writing skills and clearly communicates complex ideas. Their verbal and written language skills will get a great workout, and they’ll have tons of fun with their plans!
Additionally, you can even extend the learning further by having children build their creations in small groups. For example, have them build their traps using simple tools and recyclable materials and then present their work to the class.
4. Lucky Charms Tracing
The most fun St. Patrick’s Day activities are the kind you can eat! To begin with, give each student a bowl of Lucky Charms cereal. Then, give each papers that have their St. Patrick’s Day sight words written in big, clear lettering. Next, students can pick their favorite “charms” out of the cereal and spend some time gluing them down onto the paper over the letters. For instance, they can create fun patterns, pick their favorite colors, or just go crazy!
Not only does this activity familiarize children with their vocabulary words, but also is a great way to build fine motor skills and letter recognition. But the best part is, your kids get to eat their leftover charms!
5. St. Patrick's Day Activities For Kindergarten: Printable Letter Recognition Games
When celebrating big holidays in the classroom, sometimes simpler is better. Specifically, having something planned for St. Patrick’s Day printable activities can help you cut down on planning time. For instance, a great printable activity to use for St. Patrick’s Day letter recognition game! Children can play alone, with a partner, or in a small group.
These no-prep letter recognition games are great in a pinch and fun for your kindergarten kiddos! Therefore, add them to your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations for students who are still working on letter recognition skills or even working on learning to take turns. Â
6. St. Patrick's Day Activities for Kindergarten: Journaling Prompts
Journaling is a great way for children to express themselves while practicing writing skills. Of course, it gives them a chance to practice spelling, vocabulary, and penmanship. However, it also offers important practice in sentence composition, communication, and expression. While celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, there are lots of fun journaling prompts that can be used.
To list, some fun questions to ask might be, “What would you do if you had a pot of gold?”, “What makes you lucky?”, “What would you wish for if you found a four-leaf clover?”, and “What would you do if you were friends with a leprechaun?”
Students can write out their thoughts and then illustrate them in their journals. Also, you can even give them a special journal just for St. Patrick’s Day. Then, each day leading up to the holiday, students can work on a different journaling prompt. Finally, at the end of the week, you can send their journals home as a fun St. Patrick’s Day keepsake for families.
7. Sight Word Rainbow Bingo
Sight word bingo is always a fun way to practice word recognition, but it’s especially fun on St. Patrick’s Day! To begin with, start by creating bingo cards with the vocabulary words printed on them in various configurations. Then give each student a bingo card with some bingo markers. In order to add some extra fun, give them each a bingo marker in every color of the rainbow!
Then you can call out vocabulary words one after the other. With each word, students have to seek out the word on their page. If they find it on their card, they can cover it with a bingo marker color of their choice. The first student to get a straight line of colors across their paper wins! In the end, each student’s card will have a beautiful rainbow of colors across it.
Fun St. Patrick's Day Activities For Kindergarten!
Altogether, there are so many different ways to include this fun holiday in your classroom activities. Surely these St. Patrick’s Day activities for kindergarten are the perfect addition to your class curriculum!
Did you try these activities with your class? Then tell us about it in the comments below!
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