Saint Patrick’s day is right around the corner. Have your kids ever made a leprechaun trap before? I first introduced the “naughty leprechaun” when the kids were 2.5 years old. I told them that he was going to try to find their shiny coins and would be sure to leave a mess behind. So together we made a leprechaun trap. It’s such a fun art activity that sparks imagination. For older kids the activity encourages problem solving as they think what they can do to catch the leprechaun.
Make a Leprechaun Trap
For Young Children
A day or two before Saint Patrick’s Day get a small box and let the kids decorate it. Offer them green paint, glitter, glue, green tissue paper, and anything else shiny or green you have hanging around the house. Let the kids get creative however they wish. Remind the kids that the leprechaun loves shiny and green things. They need to catch him before he takes any of their coins. Once the kids have finished decorating, help them make a ladder out of popsicle sticks. And a slide can be created out of a paper towel roll. Explain that is how the leprechaun will get stuck in their box. You can read Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase by James Dean to fuel their imagination.
For School-Age Children
A week before Saint Patrick’s Day ask the children how they think they would catch a leprechaun. You could read, How To Catch A Leprechaun by Adam Wallace, to get their thoughts flowing. Put out some materials such as a box, green paint, glitter, popsicle sticks, glue, yellow/gold paper, string, pennies, pipe cleaners, a paper towel roll, green tissue paper, and green duct tape. If they have additional ideas such as green and yellow legos to make stairs, encourage them to get creative!
If your kids made a leprechaun trap last year show them pictures and ask what they can do this year to improve their design in hopes of catching the leprechaun. Get those gears turning by asking thought provoking questions.
- What does a Leprechaun like (refer to books)?
- Why will the Leprechaun want to go in your box?
- How will the Leprechaun remain stuck inside the box?
STEM Inclusion
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Engineering is most certainly included in this leprechaun trap activity. Math can be included if the children measure the necessary height to reach the top of the box. What length will they need to make their ladder and/or slide? Science can be included by using the scientific method. Children can make observations from last year’s leprechaun trap or one they read about in a book. They’ll need to make hypothesis and alterations in hopes for a successful trap. Finally they will use their imagination and what they see left behind from the mischievous leprechaun to draw a conclusion.
Finally it’s Saint Patrick’s Day!
Today is the fun day, especially for the adults. The night before, or in the morning before school, have your kids set out their shiny leprechaun trap. While the kids are out (or napping) it’s your turn to make a green mess! Here are a few leprechaun tricks to get you started.
Leprechaun Tricks
- Footprints: If you have snow outside you can paint green footprints leading to the house. If you have tile or laminate flooring you can use washable paint to create footprints that lead from a mess to the children’s leprechaun trap.
- Scatter Coins: Leading up to the box, drop a few coins and put a few in the box too. Feel free to use a few real coins and some chocolate coins covered in gold foil. You could tell the kids, “The leprechaun must have dropped some of his coins when he saw your shiny box.”
- Streamers: Hang green and white streamers in different doorways.
- Toilet Paper Roll: Roll out a long strand of toilet paper. Draw green footprints on the end of it.
- Green Pee: Put a few drops of green food coloring in the toilet bowl and you can use washable paint to leave two green footprints as if the leprechaun stood on the toilet seat.
When the kids wake up or get home from school they will be in awe to see footprints and coins. Before they get to eating the chocolate coins ask them what the leprechaun did. Do they see green around the house? When they look in the leprechaun trap they will see he somehow escaped, dropping a few coins behind him. Ask the kids how he could have possibly gotten away; let their imaginations run wild! You can leave his hat in the box that he may have dropped while escaping.
End your exciting Saint Patrick’s Day with a story. Here are a few suggestions: That’s What Leprechauns Do, The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day, or Jack and the Leprechaun.
About The Author
Kelsey Dickson has over 15 years of experience working with children as a nanny, preschool teacher, and now a mother. She has her degree in Early Childhood Education and works for Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny as the eLearning Manager. Check out our online childcare classes, such as Baby Sign Language and Sleep Coaching 101! In her free time she enjoys gardening with her son, going for walks with her husband and dog, and discovering local wineries in New England.
