leprechauns Archives - Putting the Pretty In Preschool

Easy to put together leprechaun sensory play trays with St. Patrick's Day loose parts.

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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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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