Setting up St. Patrick’s Day science for young children
St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17. It honors Saint Patrick, associated with Ireland, and is both a Christian feast day and a day of Irish cultural celebration. Many classrooms use the green, gold and rainbow themes for science play. Science for preschoolers works best when it is hands-on, short, and focused on noticing and talking rather than on getting the “right” answer.
Many science activities for this holiday are designed for kindergarten or older. The ideas below are adapted for preschoolers (roughly ages 3 to 5), with simpler steps and adult-led parts where needed. Children under three need very close supervision, and some of these activities may not suit them.
Safety and supervision first
- Close supervision. Stay with children at all times during water, fizzing, sprouting and sorting activities.
- Small items. Coins, beads, pom-poms and small candies are choking hazards for young children. Use large play coins or large gold-colored discs, or keep real coins out of reach and supervised closely. Do not use items that fit through a toilet paper tube with children who put things in their mouths.
- Food and candy. Some activities use cereal, candy or marshmallows. Check for allergies, avoid choking-risk foods for under-fours, and remind children that science materials are not for eating unless the adult says so.
- Food coloring. It can stain skin and clothing. Use smocks, trays and dropper bottles. Check for skin sensitivity.
- Fizzing reactions. Baking soda and vinegar are generally considered low-risk household items, but vinegar can irritate eyes. Consider child-safe goggles, keep hands away from faces, and wash hands afterwards.
- Water. Use shallow trays. Wipe up spills right away to prevent slips. Never leave children unattended around water.
- Hand washing. Wash hands after each activity, especially after handling soil, seeds or flowers.
Sink or float: gold coin hunt
- Fill a clear tub with water.
- Gather items such as plastic “gold” coins, wooden blocks, a sponge, a cork, a rubber duck, a metal spoon and a green felt shamrock.
- Ask: “Do you think it will sink or float?”
- Children place the item in the water and sort items into two trays.
Talk about what they notice: “The sponge floats. The spoon sinks.” Preschoolers may not explain why, and that is fine. Use large objects only, and keep your hand near the water. A pot-of-gold dramatic play version has children search for “gold” in a sensory bin of water and then sort the finds.
Rainbow color mixing
Rainbows are a popular theme and a good way to explore color.
- Dropper mixing. Place three clear cups of water with red, yellow and blue food coloring. Children use droppers to add small amounts into empty cups or ice cube trays and see what new colors appear.
- Paint mixing. Provide red, yellow, blue and white paint on a tray and let children mix on paper.
- Light play. Use a prism or a CD in sunlight to make small rainbows on the wall. Do not look directly at the sun.
Ask: “What happened when yellow met blue?” Provide a color wheel or picture for reference. More ideas are in how to introduce colors in preschool.
Walking rainbow
This is a well-known activity that shows water moving through paper towels.
- Line up six clear cups. Fill cups 1, 3 and 5 with colored water (red, yellow, blue). Leave cups 2, 4 and 6 empty or with a little water.
- Fold paper towels in half lengthwise and place the ends into neighboring cups.
- Watch as the colored water moves along the paper towel and mixes in the empty cups.
The science, in simple words: the paper towel is full of tiny spaces that pull the water along. This is sometimes called capillary action; preschoolers need only hear “the paper drinks the water.” It can take a while, so children may check back over a few hours. Keep cups on a tray to catch spills.
Rainbow fizz (baking soda and vinegar)
- Put a layer of baking soda in a shallow tray.
- Add drops of food coloring to cups of vinegar, or use pre-colored vinegar.
- Children use droppers to squirt colored vinegar onto the baking soda and watch it fizz.
Say: “Fizz! The two things mix and make bubbles.” Vinegar has a strong smell and can irritate eyes, so supervise closely, use goggles if possible, and keep this a sensory exploration, not a taste test. Do not use closed containers: the gas can build up pressure.
Color-changing flowers or celery
Place white flowers (such as carnations) or celery stalks in cups of colored water. Over several hours to a day, the petals or leaves may change color as the plant draws up the water. Children can check each hour and draw what they see. Some cut flowers and plants can cause stomach upset or allergies if eaten, so remind children not to taste them, and wash hands afterwards. Celery is food, but treat colored celery as a science item only.
Shamrock sprouts
Planting is a good way to see living things grow (see also pre-K plant activities). Children can plant grass seed, clover seed or bean seeds in a clear cup with damp cotton or soil and watch them over several days. Keep it on a window sill and water lightly. Seeds are small, so adults should hand them out in small amounts and check that no one puts them in their mouths. Wash hands after handling soil.
Simple building challenge: a bridge or catapult
Older preschoolers may enjoy simple engineering games.
- Bridge for the leprechaun. Give children craft sticks, paper and tape, and ask them to build a bridge that holds a small toy. Use large toys instead of coins.
- Catapult. A spoon on a block, or a craft stick lever, can launch soft pom-poms into a bucket. Make sure launching is aimed away from faces, use large soft balls, and keep eyes protected. Small pom-poms and cereal are choking hazards, so use large soft items.
Treat the “leprechaun trap” idea as imaginative play. Some people see leprechaun images as stereotypes of Irish people, so you might choose a “rainbow helper” or “friendly gnome” theme if you want to be careful.
Talking about the day respectfully
- Describe St. Patrick’s Day as a day of Irish heritage and also a Christian feast day. Not every family celebrates it.
- Avoid portraying Irish people through jokes about drinking or caricature costumes.
- Invite children whose families have Irish heritage to share songs, stories or music, if they like.
- Offer green, rainbow or spring themes as a general invitation to children who do not celebrate the day.
For a broader view on planning, see the importance of celebrations in preschool.
Science vocabulary and questions to ask
Words: sink, float, mix, color, rainbow, fizz, grow, seed, sprout, bridge, build.
Questions: “What do you see?” “What do you think will happen?” “What changed?” “What could we try next?” Write down children’s ideas on chart paper. For more prompts, see inquiry questions for preschoolers.
You might also enjoy Kindergarten Valentine’s Day activities for more hands-on holiday learning.
Frequently asked questions
Are these activities safe for 3-year-olds?
Many can be adapted for 3-year-olds with close adult supervision, large objects and no small items in reach. Always check your own group’s abilities and your program’s rules.
Do I need special materials?
Most use household items such as clear cups, paper towels, food coloring, baking soda, vinegar and seeds.
How do I explain the science to preschoolers?
Use simple words and let children describe what they see. It is fine not to explain every detail.