Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th is a wonderful opportunity to explore the holiday’s rich history and legends with your upper elementary students. St. Patrick’s Day not only commemorates the life of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but also offers a glimpse into Irish culture, traditions, and folklore.
Lesson Handout
Jump into the magic of St. Patrick’s Day with our exciting handout packed with activities and resources! Explore the history and legends of this holiday. All these materials are available in the Spring Vault. Simply click the button below to access your username and password.
The Life of St. Patrick
St. Patrick’s Life Article
Have your upper elementary students watch the St. Patrick video or read the article in the Spring Vault. This narrative takes them through St. Patrick’s life, from his early days in Roman Britain to his mission in Ireland. Key moments, like his escape from slavery and the legend of the shamrock explaining the Holy Trinity, are highlighted. The article blends historical facts with the cultural significance of St. Patrick’s contributions to Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Day Video
Bring history to life with our animated video! This video offers an alternative to traditional reading, making the history of St. Patrick and his impact on Ireland’s cultural heritage more engaging and memorable for students.
St. Patrick’s Day Comprehension Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Quiz your students with printable multiple-choice questions that cover St. Patrick’s life and the history behind the holiday.
Constructed Response Questions
Enhance your students’ writing skills with constructed response questions. The first prompt requires students to list details from the text to explain the cause-and-effect relationships between the events in St. Patrick’s life.
The next question asks students to write about the legends of St. Patrick, such as the tale of him driving snakes out of Ireland, to reflect on the blend of history and mythology. Graphic organizers are included to help students plan and structure their responses effectively.
St. Patrick Activities
Activity #1: Somebody Wanted But So Statements
Students can summarize the article using the “Somebody-Wanted-Because-But-So-Then” technique. This technique helps them break down the key moments of St. Patrick’s life and create a simple narrative structure. A printable graphic organizer is included to guide students through this activity.
Activity #2: Timeline of St. Patrick’s Life
Students complete a cloze exercise using a timeline of St. Patrick’s life, from his birth in Roman Britain around 385 AD to his death in Ireland in 461 AD. This visual summary helps students understand the historical context surrounding St. Patrick and his influence on Ireland.
Activity #3: Task Cards and Irish Folklore Character Creation
St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just about green shamrocks and parades—it’s also a time to dive into Ireland’s rich folklore! Students will explore famous Irish legends in this activity, including tales of mischievous leprechauns and magical creatures. Using task cards featuring short stories about Irish folklore, students will read and analyze key elements of each legend through various activities designed to deepen their understanding.
Afterward, students design their own Irish folklore character! Using a printable template, they will describe their character, draw an illustration, and explain how it connects to Ireland’s cultural history. This exercise encourages students to think about the characteristics that make Irish folklore unique and create a character that could fit within these legendary tales.
This activity not only helps students gain a better appreciation of Irish culture and storytelling but also lets them actively participate in the tradition of creating legends. Download the template and task cards to get started with your classroom adventure!
Activity #4: St. Patrick’s Day Color-by-Code
Looking for a fun and educational way to reinforce your students’ learning about St. Patrick’s Day? Our Color-by-Code activity is the perfect way to blend creativity with content review! This activity features iconic St. Patrick’s Day shamrock, which can be colored by following the correct answers to trivia questions.
In this activity, students answer trivia questions related to St. Patrick’s Day and its symbols, such as the legend of the shamrock and the life of St. Patrick. Each question is paired with a specific color for either the background or object in the picture. Students color different parts of the image based on whether they answered true or false correctly.
Activity #5: Design a St. Patrick’s Day Commemorative Stamp
Ask students to design a commemorative stamp for St. Patrick’s Day. Encourage them to include symbols like the shamrock, St. Patrick himself, or Irish landmarks to showcase their understanding of the holiday’s cultural significance.
These activities and resources provide a variety of ways to engage your students in learning about St. Patrick’s Day. Whether it’s hands-on projects like creating a folklore character, reading the included article, or watching the video about St. Patrick’s life, these tools are designed to enhance your lessons.
Download the lesson handout today by signing up for the Spring Vault, and bring the history and legends of St. Patrick’s Day into your classroom!
