Special Features
|
|
|
 Printable Version for your convenience!
Title - Saint Patrick's Day
By - Lisa MacBean
Primary Subject - Social Studies
Secondary Subjects - Other
Grade Level - second
Note from LessonPlansPage.com: This lesson has been edited to reflect more accurate history behind St. Patrick's Day
Objectives: To gain a little knowledge about why St. Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world.
To distinguish between fact and fiction.
Materials: Create a story strictly about the facts of Saint Patrick. Create a worksheet to allow discussion about fact or fiction.
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. A patron saint takes special care of a country or group. Saint Patrick was a caring person and did many nice things for the people of Ireland. Saint Patrick was born in 385 and died around the year 460. Saint Patrick died on March 17th. March 17th is the day Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated. People march in parades and marching bands play. Corned beef and cabbage is a favorite meal on Saint Patrick's Day. Many people wear green on this day. Green is an Irish color because of a few reasons. The first reason is because of the green shamrock leaf. According to legend, the shamrock was a sacred plant to the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad, and three was a mystical number in the Celtic religion. It was used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as he introduced Christianity to Ireland. In the 19th century, it was a symbol of rebellion and anyone wearing it risked death by hanging. This period spawned the phrase "the wearin' o' the green." Occasionally, a fourth leaflet will appear, making a "four-leaf clover," said to bring good luck to the person who discovers it. The second reason green is an Irish color is because Ireland is called the "Emerald Isle" with lots of green pastures. The third reason is because the people of Ireland would burn green leaves to spread over their land to make their soil richer.
There are legends that go along with Saint Patrick's Day. A popular legend is about the leprechaun. Leprechauns are tiny people dressed in green and they collect pots of gold. The legend says that if you catch a leprechaun, he will lead you to his pot of gold.
The first Saint Patrick's Day celebration in the United States was in 1737. This day is now celebrated all over the world. Some people sing songs and dance to celebrate. The Irish dance is called the "jig". A popular song is "The Wearin' of the Green". The Irish are very thankful on this day because Saint Patrick taught them to read and write. The Irish read and write because generations passed their knowledge on to other generations.
Use words such as: shamrocks, leprechauns, patron saint, St. Patrick, legends, jig, parades, leprechaun's pot of gold, corned beef and cabbage, shamrocks bring good luck
Discuss fact and fiction. If you decide one or more items might be either one, you can construct a Venn Diagram.
Questions: 1. When was Saint Patrick born?
2. When did Saint Patrick die?
3. What was he known for?
4. What is a patron saint?
5. Why do people wear green on Saint Patrick's Day? List three reasons.
E-Mail Lisa MacBean!
|
|
|
|
|
Math
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Art
Computers & Internet
Music
P.E. & Health
Other
Multi-Disciplinary
