What are your plans for St. Patrick’s Day and Snake Saturday? Whether it is going to a parade or just wearing green, here are a few enriched activities for children toddler through school-age.
Shamrock Chips with Pot of Gold
This fun snack is fun for the whole family!
Supplies: shamrock cookie cutter (smaller = more chips), baking sheet, spinach tortilla wraps, cooking oil, salt, hummus dip
Preheat over to 375° and coat the baking sheet in a light layer of oil. Cut shamrocks from the tortilla wraps with the shaped cookie cutter. Place the shamrocks on the baking sheet, coat with a light layer of oil, and a sprinkle of salt. Bake the chips for 5-6 minutes or until browning begins.
Let the shamrocks cool then serve with hummus for a tasty treat!
Rainbow Pinwheels
In tradition of finding the rainbow, let’s catch the cool March breeze in these colorful rainbow pinwheels!
Supplies: cardstock or watercolor paper (heavier weight is best), watercolor, paintbrushes, scissors, ruler, pencil, thumbtack, short straight pins, thin wooden dowels, small round bead, hot glue gun
Use watercolors to create some rainbow-filled painting. Once the rainbows are dry, cut the paper to a 6″ by 6″ square. Use the ruler and create an ‘X’ by drawing lines from corner to the opposite corner.
Cut along the lines from the corner stopping about 1-2″ from the center. From the extra paper, cut a circle 1″ in diameter.
Use the thumbtack and poke a hole in the center of the circle, in the center of the square on the ‘X’, near the corner of each pinwheel spoke (you will have two points in each corner of your paper square, just pierce one point making sure that it is the same side each time), and through the top of your dowel (about 1/2″ from the top).
Assemble the parts by sticking the dress pin through the hole in the circle, through each of the holes in the four spokes of the pinwheel, and then through the hole in the center of the ‘X’. To keep the pin on, slip the bead on the sharp end then use the glue gun to place a dab of glue on the bead. Now enjoy your pinwheel in the wind!
Rainbows and Gold Noise Makers
This fun and easy activity is a must!
Supplies: dry beans, gold paint, ribbon (all colors of the rainbow), plastic bottle and lid, thumbtack or scissors
Pour some beans onto newspaper and coat with a layer of gold paint. While your pieces of gold dry, take the plastic water bottle and poke a small hole in the lid. Gather the colorful ribbons and pull through the hole in the lid. gather the ribbon ends on the bottom side of the lid and knot them. Place the dry gold in the bottle and tighten on the lid. Now you are ready to make some noise!
Green Goodies – Fruit Kabobs
Assemble these yummy green treats for an easy on-the-go snack.
Supplies: green fruits (apple, pear, melon, kiwi, grapes), wooden skewers
Wash and cut fruit into 1″ by 1″ pieces. Thread the fruit onto the skewers, varying the pieces as you add them. Enjoy your green goody on-the-go!
We hope that you have a great St. Patrick’s day this year and enjoy all of these great activities!