Rainbow Streamers

Bring the rainbow inside with these fun and colorful streamers. Have a parade, put on some Irish dance music, or just enjoy the bright colors flowing in the breeze.


Supplies:
1 1 paper plate
2 Paper streamers or wide ribbon in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)
3 Scissors
4 White craft glue
5 Piece of ribbon for hanging


Directions:
1. Cut a large circle out of the center of the paper plate. You will end up with just the rim of the plate.
2. Cut 1 streamer or ribbon of each color about 18" long.
3. Glue each streamer to the bottom half of the circle.
4. Poke a small hole at the top of the circle and thread a piece of ribbon through it. Tie a loop in the ribbon and hang up the streamers.


Tips:
• Use a pencil or pen and pressing firmly on the paper plate, draw the circle to cut out. Pressing down firmly will make a deep indent making it easier to cut out.
• If you like, cut the ribbon or streamers twice the length, then drape through the circle and glue at the center. This will give you double the hanging streamers and you can display from either side.
• Foam plates are nicer for this craft than paper as they have a smooth outer edge.

Leprechaun Bubble Pipe

St. Patrick's Day legend says that fairies catch rides on bubbles from leprechaun pipes.

A leprechaun bubble pipe makes the day festive.

Supplies:
Acorn
Kitchen knife
Nail
Straw
Cool-temp glue gun and glue
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup green dish-washing liquid
1 teaspoon salt
Bowl
Plastic spoon

Directions:
-Find a large acorn. With adult help, cut the top off and dig out the meat to make a little bowl. Make a hole in the side near the bottom of the bowl, just big enough for the straw to fit into.
-Using the cool-temp glue gun (with adult help), put the straw into the hole and fill the area around the straw with glue. Blow gently through the straw to make sure no glue is clogging the hole.
-Set the bubble pipe aside. Mix up some bubble solution by adding 1 cup warm water, 1/2-cup green dish-washing liquid, and 1 teaspoon salt together in a bowl. Stir until the salt dissolves.
-Dip the pipe in the bubble solution, and blow gently.
-Next, conjure up St. Patrick's Day fun with some green-magic rings.

Leprechaun Dust

Supplies:

1 box jello instant pistachio pudding

One baby food jar with lid for each child

Spoons

Milk

Directions:

Place one tablespoon of leprechaun dust (pudding powder) in each jar add 1/4 cup milk place cap on jar and have your little leprechauns shake away adding the milk makes the instant pudding turn green.

Build a Leprechaun Trap for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is acomin' and with it the chance to see the wee faerie folk known as leprechauns. As the story 'tis told, if you're to catch a leprechaun he'll do anything to get away--even reveal the location of his hidden pot o’gold. The leprechaun is a thrifty and crafty creature tho, so if you're to take your eye offa him your efforts will be for naught, as he'll right up and disappear. It's much better to build a leprechaun trap to keep the wee mannie trapped 'till he gives up the goods.

Supplies:

1 Glittery bits and shiny baubles

2 Shoebox or small wooden crate

3 Stick, 12 to 18 inches long

4 Shamrocks

5 Glitter

6 Lucky Charms cereal

7 String

8 Glue

Directions:

1. Step 1

Gather glittery bits and gaudy baubles. They need not be valuable--a leprechaun is a greedy fellow and will be tempted to steal any little bits of shiny treasure. His heart really desires coins and gold, so it may be best to find some gold coins to use as bait.

2. Step 2

Decide where you shall set your trap. Remember the faerie folk are a bit braver nigh St. Patrick's Day and may be venturing into your home, but nonetheless it may be best to build your trap in the grassy glen. If you don't live near a grassy glen, your backyard ought to do.

3. Step 3

Find a good-sized shoebox or a small wooden crate and disguise it well. Consider using bits o'grass, leaves and green paint to make the box blend into the surrounding area.

4. Step 4

Locate a stick, about 12 to 18 inches long and glue some of your glittery bits to it to attract the leprechaun' s attention. As an alternative, you may consider wrapping the stick in shamrocks to mark the trap as a lucky and magical place.

5. Step 5

Tie a length of string to one end of the stick and make a small loop on the other end of the string. The loop should be just large enough to catch the toe of a leprechaun as he stumbles over the string.

6. Step 6

Place your box so that the open end 'tis flat on the ground, placing the remainder of your leprechaun bait underneath the box. Tilt it up on one end and use the stick to prop it open, making sure to put the end with the string on the ground.

7. Step 7

Trail the string outside the box. The leprechaun is sure to get his foot caught in the loop as he rushes to grab the glittery goods. That way, even if he isn't greedy enough to grab the stick on the way out, he will still pull the stick out of the box--ensuring that the trap will fall upon his head and keep him captive.

8. Step 8

Leave a trail of glitter and Lucky Charms leading to the leprechaun trap and wait 'til St. Patrick's Day morn. When you awake listen for the sound of the wee leprechaun' s hammer pounding inside the trap.

Week 11

Week 11: St. Patrick’s Day

*Suggested Reading*
Billy Beg and His Bull: An Irish Tale
by Ellin Greene

Clever Tom and the Leprechaun: An Old Irish Story
by Linda Shute

Hooray, for St. Patrick's Day!
by Joan Holub

Jack and the Leprechaun
by Ivan Robertson, Katy Bratun

The Luckiest Leprechaun: A Tail-Wagging Tale of Friendship
by Justine Korman


Items needed this week:
Glittery bits and shiny baubles
Shoebox or small wooden crate
Stick, 12 to 18 inches long
Shamrocks
Glitter
Lucky Charms cereal
String
Glue
1 Box jello instant pistachio pudding
One baby food jar with lid for each child
Spoons
Milk
Acorn
Kitchen knife
Nail
Straw
Cool-temp glue gun and glue
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup green dish-washing liquid
1 teaspoon salt
Bowl
Paper plate
Paper streamers or wide ribbon in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)
Scissors
Piece of ribbon for hanging


Preparations to be made:


The tradition in our family is to eat corned beef and cabbage the night of St Patrick’s Day.
(Make sure you add the ingredients to the shopping list if you choose to make this meal) Another fun recipe I stumbled upon was rainbow jello which takes days to make because each jello layer must set before the next one can be added but I think that it would be a very festive St Patrick’s Day dessert!