How to Plan an ESL Saint Patrick's Day Lesson

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By bostonienne
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Plan an ESL Saint Patrick's Day Lesson

Help your ESL or EFL students understand the significance of Saint Patrick’s Day and take part in this Irish celebration with these simple lesson plan ideas. No matter the ages or levels, you can craft a lesson based around this fun holiday -- just don't forget to wear green!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Saint Patrick in the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade

Discuss the history of the holiday. Who was St. Patrick and why is he important? From Roman history to the slithering snakes that Saint Patrick expelled from Ireland, this subject will appeal to a wide spectrum of English language learners. There are excellent worksheets and gapfills available at the Nancy-Metz Academie’s website (see the links section, below).
Step 2

Shamrock cupcakes make for a fun St. Patrick's day treat

Use an illustrated crossword (such as the one found at Bogglesworld, below) to introduce words like shamrock, leprechaun and other difficult St. Patrick’s Day vocabulary.
Step 3

Chicago celebrates St. Paddy's Day with an emerald green river

Explore the different ways of celebrating the holiday. If computers with Internet access are available, consider assigning a “webquest” where students conduct online research about aspects of the holiday, such as history, traditions and customs, or the different ways it is celebrated around the world. Outside of Ireland, major celebrations occur in Boston, Massachusetts, New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois.
Step 4

Corned beef and cabbage, a traditional St. Patrick's Day recipe

Introduce traditional Saint Patrick’s Day foods, such as Corned Beef and Cabbage or Irish Soda Bread. Describe the ingredients involved, and give students a scrambled recipe (see below for traditional recipe links). Ask them to reassemble it in the proper order.
Step 5

Find a four-leaf clover for good luck

Talk about traditional legends associated with St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland in general. Are your students aware of any such tales?
Step 6

The Irish Potato Famine memorial in Boston, MA

For upper-level groups, consider introducing the subjects of Irish immigration to the US and the obstacles immigrants faced. Use this as a starting point for a discussion of modern immigration issues.