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By Kelly Wilson | 1 Comment
Photo by laff4k
I have to admit, I love leprechauns. I think it’s loosely tied to how much I loved Lucky Charms as a kid. The marshmallow shapes would squeak between my teeth if they weren’t yet soaked in milk, and my salivary glands would tingle just a little from the outrageous sugar content.
My fellow writer and editor, Carol Brooke, inspired me with her Leprechaun Trap craft post. Here’s a writing lesson plan to go along with that particularly fun leprechaun project!
Lucky Charms might be a good place to start a discussion with your students regarding what they know about leprechauns. Consider filling in a K-W-L chart on the subject. Questions to consider include physical attributes of Leprechauns, what kind of magic they use, personal characteristics, where they live, and the rainbow and the pot of gold.
I’ve put together a piece to read with your kids, called The Legend of the Leprechaun. When you’re all done reading the legend, finish filling out the K-W-L chart with all of the new information you have about leprechauns.
Extend the K-W-L chart discussion with one more question central to the writing project – How could we catch a leprechaun?
On chart paper, list ideas from your students about what strategies they would use to catch one. Include reasons why they would want to catch a leprechaun, and what challenges they might encounter in the process. Another option is to ask them what they would do with the gold if they were lucky enough to find it – leprechauns must be honest, after all.
When they’re ready, have them begin the Writing Process, providing the title “How to Catch a Leprechaun.” Your students would have done the bulk of the brainstorming together, so they might be ready to start a rough draft.
It might be fun to have your students make booklets as a final draft of these pieces. Here is a front cover of a Leprechaun Booklet, with a space for the author’s name and room for artwork. For the inside of the book, fold white paper in half and staple along the crease. Students can use the space to create a picture book with their text and original artwork. Keep the books as a worksample until the end of the year, then send them home – parents will love them!
Ireland’s Eye has a Leprechaun Watch, with webcams that monitor the enchanted area of Tipperary, Ireland. The webcam is a live look, and if you scroll down you’ll find a couple of videos to play for your kids, one of which is a leprechaun sighting. There’s also a link to read about other leprechaun sightings!
Patty O'Brien Novak
- Feb 21st, 10
Interesting activity, Kelly! Your Writer’s Workshop Piece can also be linked to engineering.
The part where you recommend listing “ideas from your students about what strategies they would use to catch one. Include reasons why they would want to catch a leprechaun, and what challenges they might encounter in the process.” form the basis for the engineering thought process. Perhaps adding “Today, you will become Leprechaun engineers” will bring about even more excitement for the activity!