Objective

By the end of this lesson, the 2-year-old student will have a basic understanding of St. Patrick's Day and its associated symbols and traditions.

Materials and Prep

• Green construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Markers or crayons
• St. Patrick's Day coloring pages (optional)

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

• Create a Shamrock: Cut out a shamrock shape from the green construction paper. Help the student glue it onto another piece of paper. Encourage them to decorate the shamrock with markers or crayons.
• Coloring Pages: If available, provide St. Patrick's Day coloring pages for the student to color. This can be a fun and relaxing activity while discussing the holiday.
• Green Hunt: Encourage the student to find and collect green objects around the house. This can be a game where they search for items like green toys, clothes, or even fruits and vegetables.
• Story Time: Read a simple St. Patrick's Day-themed book to the student, such as "The Itsy Bitsy Leprechaun" or "Happy St. Patrick's Day, Curious George." Discuss the illustrations and ask simple questions about the story.

Talking Points

• "St. Patrick's Day is a special holiday celebrated on March 17th."
• "People wear green on St. Patrick's Day. Can you find something green to wear?"
• "A shamrock is a special symbol of St. Patrick's Day. It looks like a three-leaf clover. Let's make one together!"
• "Leprechauns are little magical creatures from Irish folklore. They are mischievous and like to hide their gold. Have you ever seen a leprechaun?"
• "Rainbows are often seen on St. Patrick's Day. They have many colors like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Can you name the colors of the rainbow?"