Initially a religious feast to honor the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrickās Day has now become a celebration of Irish culture across the world. Help preschoolers get into the holiday spirit with a few of these fun crafts for kids!
7 St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers
Leprechaunās Hat Coin Collector
Supplies:
- Empty coffee can with lid
- Black and green paint
- Black, green, and yellow construction paper
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
First, adults and teachers, cut a small slit into the plastic lid where coins can be inserted. Help children paint the coffee can green (with the lid on). While the can is drying, cut a circle out of the green construction paper. Glue the circle to the bottom of the coffee can to create the brim of the hat. Let dry. Cut a strip of black construction paper and glue it around the base of the can to make the belt of the hat. Cut a small square out of the yellow construction paper and a āCā with squared edges from the black construction paper. Glue the black āCā onto the yellow square to form the buckle and then glue it to the black belt on the base of the can. Let dry.
Shamrock Tree
Supplies:
- Shamrocks all shapes and sizes (precut)
- Glue
- Cardstock
- Brown marker
Instructions:
Hand out one piece of cardstock to each child. Help children trace their arm (from the elbow up and around their fingers) with the brown marker. This will become the trunk of the tree. Next, glue the shamrocks onto the branches (fingers) of the tree. When all the shamrock leaves have been attached to the tree, let dry. Once the shamrock tree has dried completely, hang up around the room to bring some good luck for St. Patrickās Day.
Rainbow Lacer Mobile
Supplies:
- Paper plates (thicker is better)
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Single hole punch
- Rainbow laces
- Beads
Instructions:
Adults and teachers: cut the plates in half, draw lines with the pencil to create the rainbow, and punch holes around the plate. Provide children with rainbow laces and have them lace the colors of the rainbow around the plate. With the extra lace hanging off of the sides, thread on a few beads to each lace and tie off with knot to keep the beads from falling off. Suspend the rainbows from the doorways or windows to brighten up the space in honor of this holiday.
Shamrock Wand
- Supplies:
- Green hearts (precut from construction paper)
- Glue
- Tape
- Stick
- Glitter
- Ribbon
Instructions:
Glue three paper hearts together creating a shamrock. Using glue and glitter, decorate the shamrock so it sparkles. Once dry, tape the shamrock to the top of the stick forming the wand. Embellish with ribbons by gluing or taping them to bottom on the wand. Let dry and encourage toddlers to engage in pretend play and expand their imaginations.
Pot of Gold
Supplies:
- Small bowls (paper or Styrofoam)
- Small rocks
- Twine
- Yellow and black paint
- Paintbrush
- Gold glitter
- Wax paper
- Smocks (this will get messy)
- Single hole punch
Instructions:
Make sure they are wearing their smocks because itās about to get messy! Using the wax paper as a placemat, help children paint the bowls with the black paint creating the pots. Set aside to dry. Put dollops of yellow paint mixed with gold glitter on the wax paper for each child. Give them each a few small rocks to roll around in the paint and glitter mixture, coating each one as they go. While the golden rocks are drying, adults can hole punch two holes (one on each side of the rim of the bowls) and attach the twine to create the handles of the pots. Once everything has dried, place the gold nuggets into the black pots forming the pots of gold.
Leprechaun Trap
Supplies:
- Empty shoebox
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Glitter
- Stickers and other embellishments
- Glue
- Stick
Instructions:
Have the children decorate and embellish the outside of the shoeboxes however they want. Be sure that the little learners know that more sparkle the box has, the more likely it is to catch a leprechaun. When all the boxes are decorated and dried, prop them up with the sticks all around the classroom. Let them sit overnight to trap those sneaky leprechauns. If a leprechaun is caught, their pot of gold can be taken, otherwise, they will leave a piece of gold to let you know your trap did not work.
Handprint Wreath
Supplies:
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Glue
- Green and white construction paper
- Paper plate
- String
Instructions:
Cut out the center of the paper plate forming a ring for the wreath. Trace little hands on the construction paper (a lot) and cut them out. Preschoolers can glue their cutout paper hands around the plate creating a wreath. Use the string to hang once dried.