Introduction 1. Enter the An Post INTO Handwriting Competition! Learn all about the origins and traditions associated with Saint Patrick and the St. Patrick s Day Festival when you complete Activity 1, 2 and 3. Download and print your writing templates from www.anpostschoolbag.ie Using the templates, have your pupils use their best handwriting to compose their entries. 2. Celebrate handwriting and literacy with An Post Handwriting Week from February 26th to March 2nd. Visit www.anpostschoolbag.ie for other resources, information and activities, such as: An Post Handwriting Week Guide An Post Handwriting Week Activities An Post Handwriting Certificates The History of Handwriting Teacher Resource Tips for Great Handwriting Teacher Resource Activity 1 Whole class discussion Show pupils the An Post St. Patrick s Day stamp (page 4). As a class, discuss the image and establish pupils prior knowledge of Saint Patrick. Then discuss pupils experience of the St. Patrick s Day Festival/Parades/Traditions, noting key vocabulary on the board. Activity 2 Comprehension (see page 3 for comprehension and questions) Junior - Senior Infants Read highlighted text to pupils and discuss highlighted questions. First - Second Class Ask your pupils to read the highlighted text about Saint Patrick and to answer the highlighted questions in their copies. Third - Sixth Class Ask your pupils to read the entire text about Saint Patrick and to answer all the questions in their copies. *Highlighted elements may also be used for those who need additional support. 1
Activity 3 - Write about it! An Post INTO Handwriting Competition Challenge Using the An Post INTO Handwriting Competition templates, ask pupils to do the following writing activity: Junior - Senior Infants Ask pupils to write the following sentence: We celebrate Saint Patrick on March 17th. 1st - 6th Class Hugo/Chloe from France is coming to the St. Patrick s Day Festival in Ireland this year. Hugo/Chloe doesn t know anything about Saint Patrick or the festival. Write a letter (1st & 2nd class can write a note) to Hugo/Chloe, explaining about Saint Patrick and the St. Patrick s Day Festival. Optional You can design your own St. Patrick s Day stamp for your letter in the Stamp Design Template (page 5). Curriculum links History Junior and Senior Infants Story Stories First and Second Class Story Stories Myself and My Family Feasts and Festivals in the Past Third and Fourth Class Local Studies Feasts and Festivals in the Past Story Stories from the Lives of People in the Past Story Myths and Legends Fifth and Sixth Class Local Studies Feasts and Festivals in the Past Story Stories from the Lives of People in the Past Story Myths and Legends English Junior Infants to Sixth Class Developing receptiveness to oral language Developing emotional and imaginative life through oral language Creating and fostering the impulse to write Developing competence, confidence and the ability to write independently Developing emotional and imaginative life through writing Clarifying thought through writing Responding to text Developing reading skills 2
Saint Patrick We celebrate Saint Patrick on March 17th. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He grew up in Britain but when he was sixteen years old he was taken by Irish raiders to Ireland. He was sold to an Irish chief and worked as a shepherd for six years. One night, Saint Patrick had a dream that he found a ship to take him home. He decided to escape. He found a ship just like the one in his dream and he returned home to his family in Britain. Soon after, Saint Patrick became a priest. He then had another dream calling him back to the people of Ireland. When Saint Patrick returned to Ireland he began to teach the Irish people about Christianity. At that time in Ireland, most people were of Pagan religion. One of the best-known legends about Saint Patrick was that he used the shamrock to teach the Irish Pagans about Christianity. He used the three-leaf plant, to explain the idea of the father, son and the holy spirit. The picture on the St. Patrick s Day stamp shows Saint Patrick with toads, scorpions, snakes and dragons at his feet. There is another legend that Saint Patrick rid Ireland of these creatures by driving them into the sea. On St. Patrick s Day it s traditional to wear green clothes and shamrock. People may also try to speak more Irish. In Ireland, there are lots of parades held all around the country, with Irish music, dancing, bands and all types of performers. People celebrate St. Patrick s Day all around the world. Famous landmarks have even turned green for St. Patrick s Day, like the Sydney Opera house in Australia, Niagara Falls, The Colosseum in Rome and even the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Questions 1. When is St. Patrick s Day? 2. Where did Saint Patrick grow up? 3. What age was Saint Patrick when he came to Ireland? 4. Who brought Saint Patrick to Ireland? 5. What job did Saint Patrick do when he first came to Ireland? 6. Why did Saint Patrick leave Ireland? 7. What are the two most famous legends about Saint Patrick? 8. What plant did Saint Patrick use to teach the Irish Pagans about Christianity? How did he use the plant to do this? 9. Name two St. Patrick s Day traditions. 10. Why do you think St. Patrick s Day is celebrated all around the world? 11. Name three famous landmarks which have been turned green for St. Patrick s Day? 12. If you could turn any famous landmark green on St. Patrick s Day, which landmark would you choose? Why? 3
Saint Patrick s Day Stamp 2018 4
Design your own Saint Patrick s Day stamp 5