St. Patrick's Day: Day Four

Leprechauns

LEPRECHAUN LEGEND
Explain to your child that there are many stories about the magical little characters called leprechauns. It is said that they are hard to spy and very hard to catch. But if you should catch a leprechaun, they say, he will have to show you where his pot of gold is buried.

	Have your child tell you how he might try to catch a leprechaun.
	Or have your child pretend to be the leprechaun and have her tell you where she might hide her gold.

Books:
Clever Tom and the Leprechaun, by Linda Shute
That's What Leprechauns Do--Eve Bunting
St. Patrick's Day Countdown--Salina Yoon

Leprechaun Trick Book

Songs:
Leprechaun, LeprechaunLeprechaun, leprechaun,Reach up high.Leprechaun, leprechaun,Touch the sky.Leprechaun, leprechaun,Turn around.Leprechaun, leprechaun,Touch the ground.Leprechaun, leprechaun,Show your shoe.Leprechaun, leprechaun,That will do.
Do Your Ears Point Up?Do your ears point up? (Pull on tops of ears.)Do you have a lot of luck? (Cross fingers.)For gold do you dig? (Pretend to dig.)Can you dance an Irish jig? (Dance a jig.)If you answered, "Yes," (Nod head.)You're a leprechaun, I'd guess! (Wink eye.)
This Little LeprechaunThis little leprechaun slid down the rainbow, (Point to thumb.)This little leprechaun stayed home. (Point to index finger.)This little leprechaun picked a shamrock, (Point to middle finger.)This little leprechaun found some gold. (Point to ring finger.)This little leprechaun cried, "See if you can catch me," (Point to little finger.)
As he ran all the way home. (Wiggle little finger.)

I’M A LITTLE LEPRECHAUN Tune: “Mary Had A Little Lamb”

I’m a little leprechaun,
Leprechaun, leprechaun.
I’m a little leprechaun
On St. Patrick’s Day.

See me dance a little jig,
Little jig, little jig.
See me dance a little jig
When I come out to play.
Elizabeth Scofield

THE LEPRECHAUNS ARE LEAPING
Tune: “The Ants Are Marching”

The leprechauns are leaping all around, hooray, hooray! They are happy because it is, St. Patrick’s Day. Some leap high, some leap low.
They all wear green wherever they go.
Oh, we’re oh so glad the Leprechauns could come today.

I’M A LITTLE LEPRECHAUN
Tune: “I’m A Little Teapot”

I’m a little leprechaun. Watch me dance. Up go my feet.
Up go my hands.

When I get excited,
You will know.
Faster and faster I will go!
Jean Warren

I'm a Little Leprechaun #2

(sung to I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT)

I'm a little leprechaunDressed in green,
The tiniest man
That you’ve ever seen.
If you ever catch me, it is told,
I'll give you my pot of gold!
Author Unknown
How Many Leprechauns

(sung to TWINKLE TWINKLE)

How many Leprechauns do you see? Can you count them, one, two, three?
How many skinny ones? How many fat? How many leprechauns without a hat?
How many Leprechauns do you see? Can you count them, one, two, three?

Author Unknown

Activities:
Leprechaun and Pot of Gold Bingo Dauber Pages

Coloring Pages

L is for Leprechaun

Cut and Paste
Draw the Details

Decorate the Leprechaun's Hat with Shapes
Leprechaun Crafts--paper crafts, door hanger, puppet, TP roll leprechaun

Pot of Gold Crafts

Playdough mats--use yellow playdough to make balls (gold coins) based on the number the leprechaun wants.

Leprechaun Ladders
Need per child: white or clear plastic straws cut into 1-inch sections, shamrock shapes cut out of green construction paper and punch holes in the centers (holes need to be smaller than the straws), green yarn.

Make leprechaun ladders to use as room decorations.

Let the children string the shamrock shapes on pieces of yarn with a straw section between each shamrock. When they have finished, hang their leprechaun ladders from the ceiling or in the window.

For a fun surprise, sprinkle a light dusting of flour and gold glitter on the shamrocks for the children to discover on St. Patrick's Day. The "magic dust" was left by leprechauns as they climbed and danced on their ladders!

LEPRECHAUN SHOE BUCKLES

	Cut two 2-inch squares out of black construction paper and give them to your child.
	Show her how to fold each square in half.
	Then, show her how to cut a ½-inch square shape out of the middle of each fold.
	Have your child open her squares to reveal two buckle shapes.
	Use double-sided tape to attach the buckles to your child’s shoes when they are doing leprechaun dances.

Pot Of Gold: use those flower pots that look like black kettles. Get some rocks that are different sizes (no larger than your fist) then spray paint them gold. Every few days have the children do something different with them: count them, weigh them, measure them, sequence them, compare them, stack them, etc.

Leprechaun Games:

Pot of Gold: each child gets a paper pot of gold for a game board. Roll the dice and count out that main pennies. The one with the highest number gets a point.

LEPRECHAUN GOLD SEARCH (Problem Solving)
Collect some shiny pennies or chocolate coins covered with gold foil to use for “Leprechaun Gold”.

	Hide the gold outdoors or inside where your child can easily find it.
	For fun clues, spray-paint some small stones gold and arrange them in a pathway for your child to follow when going on his search.

GREEN AND GOLD TREASURE
You will need some green play money and some play gold coins for this game.

	Hide the green and gold money around your room.
	If you don’t have play money or play gold, you can make gold paper circles and green paper dollar bills.
	Have your child or children pretend to be Leprechauns hunting for gold.
	Give them a small sack to put their treasure in.
	When they are done, have them sit down and count out how much money they found.
	If you have a black pot, let them count as they drop their money into the pot.

HOT POTATO
This is a group game.

	Have your children sit in a circle.
	Play music and let them pass around a potato that they pretend is hot.
	Children pass the potato as fast as they can.
	Whenever you stop the music, the child holding the potato puts it in the center of the circle and does a jig.
	Then pick up the potato, hand it to another child and begin the game again.

Snacks:

Magic Pudding

Need: vanilla pudding, green food coloring, containers.

Prepare vanilla pudding and place in the refrigerator to set. Without children around spoon pudding into cup and put in a drop of green food coloring.

Add more pudding to the top carefully. Place the cups with spoons at tables. Give children the instructions to not start until everyone has sat and together said the magic words. Use a St. Patrick's day word and instruct children to stir to make the magic happen. The children will stir and stir and enjoy their treat.

Irish Soda Bread

Make Irish Soda Bread. In a large bowl mix together 2 cups sifted flour, 3 teaspoons baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Use fingers to blend in 1/4 cup butter or margarine. Stir in 1 cup milk and add 1/2 cup raisins.

Knead the dough briefly, then shape into a flat loaf and place in a greased pie tin. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve warm with butter.

Leprechaun Fizz Punch:
Pour ginger ale over lime sherbet.