St. Patrick's Day

Shamrock Rolling Pin Art

March 16, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A fun rolling pin art project with three different looks. A process art painting activity on shamrocks the whole family can enjoy.

This shamrock rolling pin art project is bound to get a little messy, and that means your little learner is sure to looove it! Shamrocks make an eye-pleasing subject for this process art activity.

Supplies to Collect

green, yellow and white tempera paint

rolling pins or paper towel rolls

large sheets of sturdy paper

paint containers and spoons

shamrock template

Click here to download a shamrock template.

Shamrock Rolling Pin Art Fun

Set out tempera paints in yellow, white, and shades of green. Invite your little learner to spoon dabs of paint over a paper shamrock.

Invitation to use a rolling pin as a painting tool.

Then ask your little one to roll a rolling pin over the paint.

A paper towel roll works well to move paint around too. On the shamrock below, a pattern of paint was spread vertically. Then a paper towel roll was rolled up and down to give the striped effect. There are diagonal lines left from the paper roll on the shamrock…I kind of like them!

Paper towel roll painting on a shamrock.

The paint can also be splattered on diagonally, with the rolling pin to squish the paint around positioned the same way.

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Leprechaun Sensory Play

March 14, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Leprechauns, shamrocks, pots of gold and the color green are all associated with St. Patrick’s Day. And they make for super fun sensory play…especially the leprechauns! Here are two inexpensive, easy to put together leprechaun sensory play activities.

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Leprechaun Facts

Leprechauns are tiny, mischievous, gold loving characters in Irish folklore.

Shoemaking is how leprechauns spend most of their time.

These entertaining, energetic, miniature men love to participate in dance parties and expertly play the tin whistle, fiddle, Bodhran, and Irish harp.

Underground caves or hollow tree trunks in rural Ireland is where these solitary characters are said to live.

Leprechauns love to collect gold and store it in pots in the remote countryside (or at the end of the rainbow.)

The speedy tricksters can vanish quickly, so are difficult to capture.

But if a leprechaun is caught, he must grant three wishes.

Leprechauns are known all over the world.

Leprechaun Sensory Play

Here’s two easy to set up leprechaun sensory trays:

Leprechaun Rice Tray

Gold coins, shamrocks, a money pot, and an oh-so tricky leprechaun are the highlights of this rice-based tray.

Glutinous rice is the base for this tray. I love it because it is super white, and showcases the loose parts. Included are:

leprechaun figurine

money pot

tiny gold coins

white, green, and gold beads (because leprechauns like all kinds of treasure)

glittery, green hats (to collect any coins or gems that don’t fit into the pot)

shamrocks

St. Patrick’s Day greeting

The leprechaun is a repurposed plant poke topper. The other loose parts are snipped from inexpensive St. Patrick’s Day necklaces.

Shamrocks, gold coins, a money pot, and an oh-so tricky leprechaun are the highlights of this rice-based tray.

Shamrock Confetti Tray

Instead of rice, generously sprinkled shamrock confetti with metallic gold pots added in is the base. The tray also includes a leprechaun, money pot, gold coins, beads, hats, and shamrocks.

The leprechaun has plenty of gold to collect in this shamrock confetti-based St. Patrick's Day sensory tray.

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Scissor Skill Shamrock Collage

March 13, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

An invitation to cut textured craft supplies to decorate a shamrock.

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Ireland is called “The Emerald Isle”, after emerald gems. This is because the landscape has many shades of green. Inspired by the luscious land, this shamrock collage craft is full of green textures and shades. There are tidbits of yellow and orange sprinkled in too.

A shamrock is a young sprig of clover. Each leaf has three heart-shaped leaflets. The shamrock is an emblem of Ireland and is a huge part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. It is also incorporated into everyday Irish life, seen on buildings, monuments, dishware, jewelry, fabric, stamps, and logos.

Supplies To Collect

For this activity, collect craft supplies in orange, yellow, gold, and many shades of green. Feathers, pompoms, pipe cleaners, crepe paper, tissue paper, bead garland strips, straws, and yarn are good choices. Shamrock confetti and foam shamrocks could be added to the mix.

You will also need:

green construction paper

tray

scissors

white glue

glue paddle

shamrock template (downloadable below)

Shamrock template for a collage or painting activity.

Shamrock PrintableDownload

This printable is for personal or one classroom use only.

Making The Shamrock Collage Craft

Set out a tray of craft supplies, and let your little learner cut them smaller.

Invite your little one to glue the cut shapes to the paper shamrock.

Invitation to cut and paste textured craft supplies to decorate a shamrock.

Let the craft dry.

Shamrock collage with rust, green, and yellow textured craft supplies.

Cutting textured collage supplies gives your early learner next-level scissor skill practice. And the resulting collage pieces make the craft project waaaaay more interesting than if all the supplies were precut.

Shamrock collage with rust, yellow, and green textured craft supplies.

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St. Patrick’s Day Painted Shamrock

March 11, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A painted shamrock sprinkled with green glitter and shamrock confetti. An all-ages art activity.

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This painted shamrock art activity has a whole lotta green and plenty of glitter and shine. It is a paint mixing exercise with a finished product that looks lovely displayed. As is the shamrock collage craft, it is inspired by the lush greens of the Irish countryside.

Supplies To Collect

green, yellow, and white tempera paint

large sheet of sturdy paper

egg carton or paint palette

paintbrush

paper towel square

shamrock confetti

green glitter

green ribbon

scissors

glue gun

shamrock template

Painted Shamrock Art

Cut a shamrock from a large sheet of sturdy paper. Shown below is manila paper.

Pour dark green, medium green, yellow, and white tempera paint into an artist palette or used egg carton. This color scheme works well whether your little learner keeps the colors separate or does a lot of blending.

Invite your early learner to paint the shamrock, using green, yellow, and white hues. A paper towel works well to dab excess paint from the brush before switching to a new color. This is a helpful tip from Patty Palmer’s book “Draw, Paint, Sparkle.”

Color mixing painting exercise with green, yellow, and white paint.

Next, have your little one sprinkle on metallic shamrocks and green glitter while the paint is still wet.

When the shamrock art is dry, spray on unscented hairspray from an aerosol can to help the glitter and shamrock confetti stay on.

Fashion a bow from ribbon and use a glue gun to attach it to the shamrock.

Painted shamrock art activity. An all-ages color mixing invitation.

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St. Patrick’s Day Sheep Craft

March 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland and around the world each year on March 17. It is a special day to remember St. Patrick, a missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5^th century and to celebrate Irish culture.

So how does this St. Patrick’s Day sheep craft fit into the celebration?

Patrick was born in the British Isles. His father had a key position in the Roman government. Patrick’s life was comfortable until age 16 when he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland. There he was forced to live a rugged life working as a sheepherder until he escaped six years later.

As for Irish culture, there are tons of sheep who roam the countryside in oh-so-green Ireland. Hardy breeds are raised. The sheep need to be able to handle the hilly land and tolerate cold, rainy, windy water.

Sweet doily and pompom sheep craft perfect for St. Patrick's Day or spring.

Craft Supplies To Collect

sheep printable (downloadable below)

six inch white paper doily

yellow and green pompoms

green craft foam

green ribbon

foil shamrock

mini rainbow erasers

white craft glue

glue paddle

8 1/2 inch x 11 inch cardstock paper in white and green

Making The St. Patrick’s Day Sheep

Craft steps to make pompom and doily St. Patrick's Day sheep.

Cut out one of the sheep from the printable and set it on a table along with pompoms, white glue, and a glue paddle.

Sheep template for a farm or St. Patrick's Day craft.

Sheep Craft PrintableDownload

Invite your early learner to spread glue on the area above the eyes, and add pompoms.

Next, have your little one paste the decorated head on a paper doily.

Then ask your little learner to add two craft foam legs. A ribbon bow, foil shamrock, or mini rainbow erasers can be the finishing touch.

Mount the sheep onto a complimentary colored piece of cardstock. Add a St. Patrick’s Day saying if desired.

A pompom sheep craft perfect for St. Patrick's Day or spring.

A cute sheep craft perfect for St. Patrick's Day or spring.

Sweet sheep craft perfect for St. Patrick's Day or spring.

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St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

March 14, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Leprechauns add an element of fun to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. And a leprechaun is the star sighting in these St. Patrick’s Day treasure blocks that are sure to appeal to little learners.

St. Patrick's Day treasure blocks featuring a leprechaun and shamrock themed craft supplies and coins.

Ten Things To Know About Leprechauns

In Irish stories passed down through oral tradition, leprechauns …

are tiny, imaginary men.

are older in age and have rust-colored beards.

make shoes for a living.

are good craftsmen and musicians.

collect gold for their work. Some stories say they keep it in a pot at the end of a rainbow for safekeeping.

are smart with a quick sense of humor.

are mischievous tricksters. They can easily distract people from getting their gold, or from having three wishes granted.

are hard to catch. Listening for the faint tapping sound of their little shoe hammers is a tip to track them down.

live in remote places and like to be by themselves.

No one has ever seen one!

St. Patrick's Day loose parts with gold coins, foil shamrocks, rainbows, pots of gold, and a leprechaun.

20^th Century photos and figurines usually show leprechauns as well dressed, wearing green coats, buckled shoes, and top hats. In earlier years they were dressed in dark red.

St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

There is plenty of gold to keep a leprechaun happy in these St. Patrick’s Day-themed treasure blocks.

Items in the treasure blocks:

leprechaun

gold and green beads

rainbow, pot of gold and top hat erasers

rainbow and pot of gold stickers on felt backing

green, gold, black, and white pom poms

gold and green coins

pot of gold confetti

shamrock confetti

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St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tub

March 3, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

St. Patrick's Day sensory table inspired by the city of Chicago, USA. Green and shamrock themed loose parts invite sensory play opportunities.

This St. Patrick’s Day water play sensory table is inspired by the city of Chicago’s tradition of turning the river water green as part of their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

The tradition of coloring the water vibrant green in Chicago became an annual event in 1962, but the origins of this practice started much earlier. A green substance was used to test the river water for pollution in the early 1900s and continued in the following years. People liked seeing the change in color, and in 1962 the practice was implemented for St. Patrick’s Day. In 1966 the powder used became a more environmentally friendly vegetable dye.

How The Water Turns Green

Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Union 130 members turn the water bright green. The recipe is secret: an orange powder is spread on the water and mysteriously turns green when mixed in. The river water becomes fluorescent green for a stretch in the center of the city. Plumbers using a few boats carry out the procedure. One or more boats spread the powder on the water. Another boat mixes the powder in.

Bottles of orange powder, clear water and green water. It is a mystery how Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Union 130 use orange powder to turn the water green at the annual St. Patrick's Day festivities..

Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Activities

The river water in Chicago is turned green to coincide with a large St. Patrick’s Day parade that is held on the Saturday closest to the holiday. Irish dancers and kilted musicians playing bagpipes are feature performers in the parade. Many spectators gather around the shore or on one of the downtown bridges to watch the parade and view the brilliant green water.

Other events held in Chicago to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day:

Iconic buildings, monuments, and streets are lit in green.

Cruises are offered near the green river water.

Irish bands give performances.

Events are held featuring Irish music, dance, and storytelling.

Irish refreshments are served.

Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day as an opportunity for people to get together to have a good time and to recognize what the Irish have done for their city.

For current St. Patrick’s Day activities in Chicago, click here.

St. Patrick’s Day Water Table

Water table filled with green and gold St. Patrick's Day-themed loose parts.

This St. Patrick’s Day themed water table has plenty of green items and a few gold ones, and will offer your early learner a variety of sensory and sorting experiences.

Items in the sensory table include:

green and gold coins
marbles and buttons
ping pong balls
large plastic shamrocks
foam shamrocks
ice cube shamrocks
bracelets
small drinking glasses
leprechaun hats
cut necklace pieces
foam dice
storage containers
trays
scoops

Some of the above items can be exchanged for sailors and boats.

Toy boats on green water filled with St. Patrick's Day-themed loose parts offer a rich sensory play experience.

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Build A Christmas Tree STEAM Activity

December 15, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Invitation to build a Christmas tree from clear plastic serving trays, plates, and cups, A family STEAM activity with many opportunities for learning.

This “Build A Christmas Tree” STEAM activity offers a unique opportunity to incorporate construction, lights, and Christmas decorations in an engaging way. Materials needed are readily available and easy to collect. In the process of building a tree and decorating it, young children progress in many areas of development.

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St. Patrick’s Day Activities

March 12, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

It’s March, but there is still lots of snow outside in Edmonton. St. Patrick’s Day activities and the green color they surround us with are so welcome. Here are three centers my class is currently playing in.

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tray

Items included in this sensory tray:

spinach rice vermicelli noodles (broken up)
green bowls, sieves, and scoops
green buttons, beads and bead garland
shamrock and leprechaun shaped erasers
green coins
leprechaun mini hats
shamrock ice cubes

St. Patrick's Day rice noodle tray with leprechaun hats, green sieves, utensils and loose parts.

The green vermicelli noodles are a great find, as they are “ready-made” for this activity.

Green rice vermicelli noodles for sensory play.

St. Patrick’s Day Play Kitchen

Pretend play is hands down one of children’s favorite activities to do. When effort is put into adding details to a play kitchen, children respond with delight.

St. Patrick's Day house center dramatic play accessories. Tableware, play food, jewelry, coins, and decorations are included.

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