Prepare to have a happy St Patrick’s Day – to make memories with your family (regardless of their ages) and to learn something new!
March is the perfect month to learn about the Irish and specifically the life of St. Patrick! If you are looking for fresh ideas, we have you covered.
WHO was SAINT PATRICK?
St Patrick was a fifth century British missionary and bishop in Ireland. As a young teen he was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Britain and enslaved to tend sheep in Ireland for six years before escaping. When he returned home, he desired to be trained and enter the Christian ministry. He returned to Ireland to tell his former captors the Good News of Jesus Christ.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated widely in the US mostly because we have such a large percentage of people who descended from Irish immigrants. And the Irish are so fun-loving everyone wants to join in!
While the Irish came to the U.S. as early as the 17th century, immigration from Ireland to colonial America was minimal and mostly just male indentured servants. The large surge was because of the Irish Potato Famine which lasted from 1845-1849, During these years over one million Irish died and another million migrated. Their population fell by about 25%. In the next decade more Irish flooded into America. My great great grandparents immigrated to Liverpool, England during the Potato Famine, and 20 years later their son, my great grandfather immigrated to America. Let your children know if you have any Irish ancestry!
Holidays are natural opportunities for fun, learning, and family experiences. A threefold win! St. Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrated St Patrick, the Irish people, and their culture. Read some books, eat some food, and perhaps make a craft or watch a movie!
Heather has a wonderful post of books (she has the same top book pick) and activities to do with your eight and under crowd.
While there are so many fun books for the littles, there are some awesome books for your elementary and even older crowd! A well written picture book is wonderful for all ages – just leaving them around, having olders read to youngers, or (perhaps best) read the books to all of them yourself. The kids will catch your enthusiasm. And a well written chapter book might be a good read aloud for kids who are younger as well as older. Give the littles a coloring sheet or some playdough to keep their hands busy while you read. We list more books than you would want to read in one day – but here is a trove of books so that you can read new ones each year, as well as revisit favorites.
TO READ
**** Stars next to the books means they are extra special! ****
Books about St Patrick and other early Christians in Ireland
*** Patrick – Patron Saint of England, Tomie de Paola is the just the best. If you only use one book – let this be it!! While geared towards ages 5 to 10, this story of St. Patrick from his noble birth in Britain, to his capture and slavery in Ireland, to his escape, and to his call to go back to Ireland to share the love of Christ will delight all ages. The first potion of the book covers his life, which is probably mostly true. The end pages cover the myths that have arisen from the St Patrick story which are probably not true but are fun to know.
Peril and Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient Church (History Lives Series), by Mindy and Brandon Withrow. Ages 7-12. This book covers the early church by engaging, accurate stories about the key leaders in the early church. A chapter on St Patrick is mostly about his early life – but is well written and exciting!
* The Man Who Loved Books, by Jean Fritz, illustrated by Trina S. Hyman. Ages 5-11. Columba was an Irish saint who lived in the 6th century. This lesser known saint is well known for his love of books and his missionary work throughout Scotland.
Fanciful books about the Irish
Saint Patrick and the Peddler, Margaret Hodges. Ages 5-10. Tale of a poor Irish peddler during the potato famine who follows the instructions given to him by St Patrick in a dream and changes his life. Includes endnotes with background on St. Patrick and the origin of the story.
Fiona’s Luck, Teresa Bateman. Ages 4–9. Fanciful story of how a girl got the Irish luck back from the Leprechaun king.
* Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk, Gerald McDermott. Ages 4–9. Rollicking fun tale of Tim meeting some wee folk (leprechauns) who give him gifts. Cheerful illustrations capture the rich verdant Irish landscape, cottages, and mythology. Reading aloud easily brings forth the rhythm of an Irish brogue! (This one is in Heather’s list, too!)
The Ring of Truth: An Original Irish Tale, Teresa Bateman. Ages 6–11. Peddler Patrick O’Kelley who fibs, exagerates and boasts has a problem when the Kind of the Leprechauns gives his an emerald ring that compels him to speak the truth. How will he win the county blarney contest? Lovely illustrations with borders imitating the Book of Kells makes this a great read. 
The Irish Cinderlad, Shirley Climo. Ages 4–8. Retelling of an Irish fable where Becan defeats a giants, slays a dragon, rescues a princess in distress after meeting a magical bull. But then he disappears leaving his large boots. Will the princess be able to find him?
Fin M’Coul, the Giant of Knockmany Hill, Tomie de Paola. Ages 4–7. Fin M’Coul spends his days with the other giants moving rocks to build a causeway to Scotland. But the strongest giant in the land wants to fight him! With her wit, charm, and intelligentce Fin’s wife saves him from this most feared giant in Ireland.
Finn McCool and the Great Fish, Eve Bunting. Ages 5–8. Kind, strong, and courageous giant is looking for and finds wisdom.
Realistic books about the Irish
** Fiona’s Lace, Patricia Polacco. Ages 4–10. Based on the true story of young Fiona in Ireland who helps her family with her skilled lacemaking. Leprechauns, blarney, textile industry, lace making, indentured servitude, and the Chicago Fire are all in this delightful tale of a family that loves each other and trusts the Lord.
** Dreaming of America: an Ellis Island Story, Eve Bunting. Ages 5-12. Based on a true event, Annie Moore cares for her brothers while immigrating from Ireland to America and is the first immigrant processed through Ellis Island.
S is for Shamrock, Eve Bunting. Ages 6–10. The alphabet book has large bright pictures and simple text to read in addition to more detailed text for older children.
Chapter books about the Irish potato famine and immigration
These well written books about the time of the Potato Famine and the mass immigration to America are sobering, but encouraging as well. Consider reading aloud to the whole family.
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* Nory Ryan’s Song, Patricia Reilly Giff. Ages 8-13; A good read aloud for all ages. The Ryans have lived on the west coast of Ireland for generations raising a pig, a few chickens, and potatoes. When the blight attackes the potatoes the family and their friends face starvation. Twelve-year-old Nory demonstrates the courage ad ingenuity to find food, hope, and a way for her family to survive. Well written, sensitive presentation.
** Maggie’s Door, Patricia Reilly Giff. Ages 8-13; Another great read aloud for all ages. Nory’s journey from Ireland to America told by both Nory and her neighbor and friend Sean Red Mallon. This is beautifully written and a sensitive presentation of enduring a very difficult experience with the hope of freedom and a new start in America.
Water Street, Patricia Reilly Giff. I (almost) never recommend a book that I have not personally read. But the third book in the Nory Ryan trilogy was not in my library and I am waiting for it to arrive in the mail. I am confident that it will be well written and a satisfying addition to this series. In 1875 Nory’s daughter is living in Brooklyn on Water Street with her family and friends. They are watching the Brooklyn Bridge being built and facing decisions about their futures.
A book on the Irish for your teens or you
- *How the Irish Saved Civilization, Thomas Cahill. Witty, entertaining, and compelling narrative of how the Irish (starting with St. Patrick) maintained the record of Western Civilization which was able to be replanted on the European Continent. Erin Go Bragh! (Ireland forever!)
TO EAT
Make an Irish dinner of Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, or Lamb Stew. There is nothing quite like eating food from another culture to enhance the learning process and truly enter in.
TO CRAFT
See Heather’s post for craft ideas with food or paper!
TO MOVE (TO LEARN)
Movement is such a powerful component for learning, and it doesn’t have to be that complicated. It is a central pillar to our approach to learning. Dramatizing is such a powerful way to cement learning into long-term memory because it involves both the imagination AND movement. Have your kids each take a scene from St Patrick’s life and act it out! Older siblings can act it out for younger siblings, neighbors, or cousins or perhaps you could challenge them to come up with a creative way of dramatically retelling the life of St. Patrick. The older they are, the more creative ownership you can give them.
TO TIME and MAP
Putting events into historical perspective is so powerful. Here is the St. Patrick timeline figure for our Go Global curriculum. Giving kids a visual of where people and events fit in both time and space is so important. Knowing that St. Patrick lived in the 400’s AD is important. You can talk about how this was only 400 years after Christ or that he lived in the same century as Augustine or shortly before many believe the legendary King Arthur lived and the fall of the Roman Empire. Context matters. If you are highlighting the Great Potato Famine that brought so many Irish to the US, you might want to put the Great Potato Famine of 1845-1849 on your timeline and look at what else was happening in the world at that time.
Mapping is important and FUN too! Pull out your globe and find Ireland on your map. Discuss where Patrick grew up and where he was taken as a slave and subsequently returned as a missionary.
TO WATCH – The Secret of Roan Inish
This is a magical tale of a young girl living with her grandparents in a small fishing village. As she searches for her missing brother, she unravels the mysterious secret of the Irish legend of the selkie. This movie is a treat for all ages. Seriously it is one of my favorite movies as it showcases the beautiful Irish landscape and sea, the love of the family, the courage of the children, the importance of home.
TO PRAY – The Breastplate of St. Patrick
This is a prayer for protection that, in its original Old Irish text, is attributed to Saint Patrick. A breastplate is a garment of protection (Ephesians 6:14) that an ancient or medieval warrior would wear to protect his heart and life. Just so this is a prayer to protect our hearts and our lives.
Each verse starts with the phrase “I arise today”, which also can be translated as “I bind unto myself today.” Through prayer we arise and tie His protection on us. Each verse talks about specific things/people who protect us. Explain this to your children and then read the prayer out loud. In a subsequent read, assign parts to each person. Perhaps the youngest could read, “I arise today”, while the older children take turns reading the rest of the verse. The portion near the end starting with “Christ with me…” is comforting and worthy of memorization for those times of fear or peril when we need to acknowledge His presence with us.
If you want to download a copy of this powerful prayer in it’s entirety, you can grab your copy of St Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer here.
ST PATRICK’S PRAYER
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.