Hello, social studies teachers! Don’t you love a seasonal product? Seasonal products are perfect for quick lesson plans, homework, enrichment, early-finisher work, substitute plans, virtual learning assignments…all the things! I created a St. Patrick’s Day history lesson perfect for rounding out your March lesson plans.

How can you use this in your middle school (or high school!) classroom? I have a few suggestions!

Jigsaw Activity

Read aloud the first page, whole-class. Then, have students jigsaw the next two pages (Legends & Celebrations). To do this, assign students different sections of the Legends and Celebrations pages. Each student is responsible for reading about and learning the essential facts, and then writing the important points on the student note-taking page. Then, place students in groups and have them share notes on what they learned through the reading. As a group, students can complete the writing prompt!

Paired Reading

Place students into pairs to complete the activities together. Have students take turns reading each paragraph, then have the other student briefly summarize that paragraph before moving on. For example, if Rachel and Sam are working together, Rachel will read the first paragraph about the history of St. Patrick. Then Sam will briefly re-state or summarize what Rachel read. Then, Sam will need the next paragraph and Rachel will re-state or summarize what Sam read. Encourage pairs to complete the note-taking page as they work through the readings!

A Note About Activities

This resource includes a student note-taking page, a St. Patrick’s Day writing prompt, a Create Your Own Float activity, and a Four Leaf Clover activity. What kind of time do you have to implement this lesson?

One Class Period

I suggest a whole-class read-aloud with highlighting and discussion as you read. Then, have students complete the note-taking page independently. Stop here, unless you want to assign a creative activity or the writing prompt for homework.

Two Class Periods

I suggest either the whole-class read-aloud, paired readings, or the jigsaw activity. It will likely take 60 minutes (which I know for some is longer than one period) to complete the readings and student note-taking pages. On day two, have students pair up to work on the writing prompt. The writing prompt is argumentative, and it asks students to argue for why St. Patrick’s Day should be an official holiday (that is if you don’t live in Savannah or Suffolk County, MA!). OR skip the writing prompt and let students work on both creative activities. OR assign the creative activities for homework (or day 3, if you have one to spare!).

Do you think this St. Patrick’s Day lesson is for you? Head over to my Teachers Pay Teachers store and grab one!

So what will you be doing on St. Patrick’s Day in your classroom? I’d love to hear about your lessons!