Each March 17th we celebrate Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Ireland as well as the inspiring faith of Saint Patrick. Here are a few ways you can make this day special in your homeschool.
Make a traditional Irish recipe.
There are plenty of great dishes to choose from. Corned beef and cabbage with Irish soda bread is a classic choice for St. Patrick’s Day. Shepherd’s pie or a traditional Irish stew would also be great choices!
Learn about Irish music with this free music lesson.
You’ll learn about some traditional Irish instruments like the fiddle, the Irish flute, the Celtic harp, the Bodhrán (drum), and the Uilleann pipes. You’ll also see some traditional Irish dancing.
Read a St. Patrick’s Day story.
Here is our list of St. Patrick’s day favorites!
Watch a St. Patrick’s Day video.
If your children enjoy VeggieTales, they might enjoy this short video on the history of Saint Patrick. For a more detailed account, check out the Torchlighters series DVD on Saint Patrick. Older children might benefit from the one-hour documentary, St. Patrick: Pilgrimage to Peace, which seeks to go beyond the legends to historical facts about who Saint Patrick really was.
Do a St. Patrick’s Day art project.
We love these free St. Patrick’s day video art lessons from ChalkPastel.com. Or you can download some free St. Patrick’s Day coloring pages with Scriptures and blessings from Courtney at Grace, Grow, Edify.
Explore the history of the early church.
Older children (8 and up) may be ready to dive deeper into the heroes of the Christian faith who inspire us to spiritual greatness through their faithfulness and fortitude. Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History by Richard Hannula is an excellent resource for learning more about these steadfast men and women. It includes forty-six brief biographies of faithful ancestors in our family of faith including Saint Patrick, as well as Monica and Augustine, Anselm, Francis of Assissi, and more. For more church history resources for homeschooling, head here for a complete list of options.
Enjoy this post? Read on, and sign up for our homeschool newsletter.
10 Books to Encourage Your Heart As a Homeschool Mom