Leprechaun Wooden Block

               This photo is a sample of the September Block.  See below for information on how to make the Leprechaun Block for March.

  I have had so many requests for special directions and patterns for the "Monthly Blocks" that I am going to be making these available to those who are interested in purchasing this resource.  You will be provided with full colored pictures, patterns and detailed directions.  There is a different character for each of the months from September through May.   

An on line link will be provided to access the directions and patterns.  Please make sure you provide the correct email address for me to be able to send you this link.  There are no shipping charges since this is a digital link.  You will be able to start your projects as soon as you receive this link.

The blocks that the children make use a 2x4x6 inch piece of wood.  They last forever and will be a family treasure for many, many years to come.  Many parents tell me that they still have all of the blocks and use them each year!  You could also use these blocks for your Cub Scouts or Brownies.  The whole year of crafts!

 You will receive detailed directions to make the following:

September—Apple man ( see sample)

October   Pumpkin man

November  Turkey

December  Reindeer

January  Snowman

February  2 different blocks for Feb--Cupid and Abe Lincoln

March  Leprechaun

April   Bunny

May  Bee

This is a great time to get started.  I will provide the link for you as soon as I receive payment for you to be able to get started right away on your monthly blocks!!  The cost will be $9.99 with no shipping charges.  If you would like to pay with a credit card, click below on the link.  If you would like to pay by check, you may mail a check for $9.99 to:

Linda Critchell
5361 Sisson Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
 

                                     Thanks!   J

Puffy Shamrocks

Click on the photo above to enlarge.

These shamrocks were made with shaving cream, white glue and paint or food coloring.  Each child was given a pattern for a shamrock that they cut out.  We used a Styrofoam cup to mix the white glue and shaving cream.  I didn't measure the shaving cream or the glue.  I gave each child a squirt of the shaving cream and then poured in about a tablespoon of glue.  Then we added the green paint or food coloring.  Each child mixed this in the cup with a craft stick.  Then they spread it on their shamrock pattern.  While it was still wet, gold or green glitter was sprinkled on the shamrock.

These shamrocks have a puffy look when they are dry.  They do take quite a while to dry.  Even in southern California, they take a couple of days!  So, maybe it is a good Friday project? 

  Leprechaun Stories

Each child's picture was taken with a digital camera and cropped into an oval.  Leprechauns were printed and the face cut out for the picture of the child to be inserted for the face.  Then each child writes a story of what kind of trick they would play if they were a leprechaun.  We find that if the students have heard several different stories about leprechauns, they are better able to come up with different ideas for tricks.  See the list of books below for stories to read before doing this project.

 Click on picture to enlarge.

Leprechaun Fun!

We used these little shoes to pretend there was a leprechaun visiting our classroom! 

I bought the shoes at a garage sale and sprayed them with green paint.  I sprinkled gold glitter on while the paint was still wet. 

On St. Patrick's Day (or the day before,) we scattered things around the room and turned the chairs upside down, and hid the shoes in a fairly obvious place and put the letter on our message board.  You could also scatter shamrocks all around!  Then we pretended that a leprechaun had been to visit when the children arrived.  We found the letter left by the leprechaun. (Click on the letter below)  So, we searched for the leprechaun shoes that had been left behind. 

We wrote a letter to the leprechaun telling him that we found his shoes, and we would like to have the pot of gold that he promised! 

The next day...

I used a small black pot to put the gold chocolate coins in.  I have also used pistachio pudding as the magic dust that when mixed with milk turns green.  However, most of the children did NOT like the pudding.

 Leprechaun Hats

These hats were made on a sentence strip headband.  A green pipe cleaner was used to attach a shamrock at the top. 

Irish Vests

The vest on the right was purchased years ago at a party shop.  Then we decided to make our own!  We had the children bring any kind of green decoration to school such as ribbons, shamrocks, buttons, stickers, etc.  We had great fun decorating them.  I try to get to the craft or party stores after the holiday and stock up for next year's projects.  Please click on the letter below for a sample of our parent letter that was sent home prior to St. Patrick's Day.

     Lucky Charm Graph

We love to do the Lucky Charm graph each year.  I have noticed that they do change the things that they include.  So, you might want to check to see that the same items are in your box of Lucky Charms! 

Click on the photo to enlarge.  

    TLC Leprechauns

We included our TLC Leprechauns in our March Rainbow Bulletin board.  The rainbow was made with handprints from each child.  The two green pots were purchased several years ago at a party supply store.  Each child's picture was taken and made into a gold coin for the "More Precious Than Gold" title.  I used gold wrapping paper to mount their pictures that were cropped into a circle.  It is a little difficult to tell from the photo, but the coins are in the pots and the leprechauns are also holding some of the "gold coins!"

   Shamrock Leprechaun

Each child was given a shamrock pattern to decorate.  Children were given scraps of paper, yarn and any other things available.  They loved making their own little leprechauns!  It's always fun to see what creative ideas they have when given opportunities to express themselves!

Crayon Resist Mushrooms

During the month of March and reading about leprechauns, we discuss where they live.  Many stories show them living in the forest and under toadstools!  We made magical mushrooms.  Each child is able to draw a mushroom and then we encouraged them to decorate them.  We thinned green tempera paint for the wash.  These make a really cute bulletin board with leprechauns all around them. 

        Shamrock Quilt Bulletin Board

Click to enlarge photo.

The idea for this bulletin board was found in Easy Literature-Based Quilts Around the Year.  I highly recommend this book!  There are patterns and directions for two quilts for each month of the year.   Each of the quilts are based on a popular book that most of us use.  There are also ideas to tie creative writing in with each quilt.

This quilt was based on the book Clever Tom and the Leprechaun by Linda Shute.  Everyone loves this story and we had a great time making the pinwheel quilt square.  The shamrock has a gold coin (chocolate) glued in the center!  Each block is a 6 inch square.

  More Precious than Gold!

    We used each child's photo to put on gold wrapping paper to make the gold coins.  These were added to the black pot. 

Leprechaun Literature Suggestions

Jack and the Leprechaun by Ivan Robertson

Clever Tom and the Leprechaun by Linda Shute

Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka   by Tomie dePaoloa

Let's Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by Pamela Johnson

Mary McLean and the St. Patrick's Day Parade
by Steven Kroll

Leprechaun Gold by Roseanne Litzinger

Daniel O'Rourke An Irish Tale
by Gerald McDermott

Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folks 
by Gerald McDermott