Students in Room 209 participated in a St. Patrick’s Day themed learning experience designed to support literacy, communication, creativity, and fine motor development. The activity began with a class read-aloud of the story How to Catch a Leprechaun. During the story, students were encouraged to listen carefully and participate in discussions about the different traps that characters in the story created to try to catch a leprechaun. Students also talked about what leprechauns look like, including their green clothing and the gold they are known to leave behind.
To further support engagement and participation, students listened to the song “I’m a Little Leprechaun” and practiced following directions while participating in a group activity. Music and movement activities help students build listening skills, attention, and participation within a group setting.
Students in the classroom use a variety of communication methods, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, gestures, visuals, and teacher-supported responses to share their ideas and participate in classroom discussions.
After the story and discussion, students were asked if they would like to try creating their own leprechaun traps in case a leprechaun decided to visit our classroom. Students decorated plastic cups using stickers and other craft materials to design their traps. This activity encouraged creativity while also supporting fine motor development as students practiced grasping materials, gluing, placing stickers, and decorating their traps. Students also practiced following one-step directions and participating in a structured classroom activity.
Students were extremely excited about the possibility that a leprechaun might visit the classroom overnight and left their traps out in hopes of catching one.
The next day, after returning from specials, students entered the classroom and discovered that a leprechaun had visited while they were away. The classroom environment appeared changed, with desks and chairs moved, leprechaun footprints on the floor, and glitter, gold coins, and small ducks left behind on the tables. The traps students created were still on the tables, suggesting that the leprechaun managed to escape. A letter from the leprechaun was also left for the class.
Students observed the classroom environment and participated in a group discussion about what they noticed and what they thought may have happened. Students communicated their observations using AAC devices, gestures, and teacher prompting. These conversations supported language development, observation skills, social communication, and imaginative thinking.
Although the leprechaun escaped this time, he left behind glitter, footprints, gold, and lots of excitement in Room 209. Students are already wondering if they will have better luck catching him next year! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
