47 Fun St Patricks day science activities and experiments

Taking advantage of fun holidays and events such as St Patrick’s Day is a great way to engage young learners in middle school.

There are tons of fun ways to incorporate St. Patrick’s day theme into the classroom.

So grab a coffee, sit back and relax while I give you a heap of St Patricks Day Science Activities you could do with your class.

St Patricks Day Science Activities

14 St Patricks Day Science Activities

If you’re a science teacher that wants to get into the theme of St Patrick’s Day but don’t have the time, materials or patience for science experiments, then this list is for you!

These activities are low prep for you while still engaging students in learning and fun. This list of fun activities will help you create a space for st patrick’s day fun in your classroom without increasing your planning time.

1. St Patrick’s Day Escape room: This is one of my favorite St Patricks Day Science Activities as it is zero prep and students LOVE it! Digital escape rooms are a great way to develop students problem-solving skills and review general science content.

2. Crosswords: Use a crossword with cute St Patrick’s Day themed clipart such as this one.

3. 4 leaf clover research activity: Explore the genetics involved in creating 3 or 4 leaf clovers.

4. Science of a rainbow: Explore the science of a rainbow and how reflection and refraction are involved.

5. St. Patrick’s Day Science Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt with questions related to St. Patrick’s Day and science facts. Students can research and find the answers to the questions.

6. St. Patrick’s Day Science Trivia: Host a St. Patrick’s Day science trivia game where students can test their knowledge on both St. Patrick’s Day and science-related topics.

7. St. Patrick’s Day Science Puzzles: Provide students with St. Patrick’s Day-themed science puzzles & word searches to solve.

8. St. Patrick’s Day Science Kahoot: Create a St. Patrick’s Day-themed Kahoot quiz with science-related questions for students to answer individually or in teams. This is a one of the best low prep St Patricks Day Science Activities as you can also find some already made on Kahoot for you!

9. St. Patrick’s Day Science Reading: Assign readings about the science behind St. Patrick’s Day traditions, such as the chemistry of green dye or the biology of clovers.

10. St. Patrick’s Day Science Writing Prompts: Provide writing prompts related to St. Patrick’s Day and science, such as imagining the life of a leprechaun scientist or writing a fictional story about a scientific discovery related to St. Patrick’s Day.

11. St. Patrick’s Day Science Art Projects: Have students create St. Patrick’s Day-themed science art projects, such as drawing or painting rainbows, shamrocks, or leprechaun laboratories.

12. St. Patrick’s Day Science History Research: Assign research projects on the history of St. Patrick’s Day traditions and how they relate to science, such as the origins of green beer or the science behind corned beef and cabbage.

13. St. Patrick’s Day Science Podcasts or Videos: Curate a list of podcasts or videos that discuss St. Patrick’s Day and its connection to science, such as the chemistry of beer brewing or the physics of rainbow formation.

14. St. Patrick’s Day Science Debates: Organize debates on scientific topics related to St. Patrick’s Day, such as whether leprechauns could exist or the environmental impact of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

St Patricks Day Science activities

21 St Patricks Day Science Activities: Experiments

What makes science the best subject? The experiments! If you’re lucky enough to be in a lab for St Patrick’s Day then capitalise on it by choosing an experiment from this list!

Or make a week of it by including a range of fun experiments from rainbow themed, to gold coin themed, to leprechaun and shamrock themed. There is absolutely no shortage of ideas on this page to help you transform your classroom into a St Patrick’s Day Haven.

St Patricks Day Science activities

1. Rainbow science experiment: This following instructions experiment is a great way to remind students of the importance of following a scientific method closely. If they do it correctly, students will end up with test tubes colored like the rainbow!​

2. Walking rainbow experiment: Here is a video showing how you can easily set this one up using paper towels, water and food dye

3. Rainbow Density Tower: Explore density by layering liquids of different densities to create a rainbow in a large measuring cylinder or glass jar.

4. Leprechaun Trap Engineering: Design and build a leprechaun trap using household materials, incorporating principles of engineering and physics.

5. Chromatography Shamrocks: Use chromatography to separate the colors in green markers and create colorful shamrocks.

6. Clover Leaf Chromatography: Go a step further and use chromatography to separate the pigments in clover leaves and explore plant biology. Crush them down with a mortar and pestle and add a little water to then separate using chromatography paper.

6. Fizzing Pots of Gold: Create a chemical reaction by mixing baking soda and vinegar to make pots of gold fizz and overflow. Use yellow food dye and glitter!

7. Magic Milk Experiment: Explore surface tension and chemistry by adding drops of food coloring to milk and then adding dish soap to create swirling colors.

8. St Patrick’s day slime: Make green slime and explore its non-Newtonian properties.

9. Leprechaun Potion: Mix together different household ingredients to create a foaming “leprechaun potion” and explore chemical reactions.

10. Green Fire Experiment: Use a boric acid solution to make green flames in a safe and controlled environment, exploring the science of fire and combustion. Copper sulfate also makes a cool green flame. (Ensure you complete a proper risk assessment and follow your school’s safety protocol).

11. Shamrock Crystals: Grow crystals on shamrock shapes using a supersaturated solution of borax and water.

12. Leprechaun Oobleck: Mix cornstarch and water with green food coloring to create a messy oobleck to explore non-Newtonian fluids.

13. Shamrock Leaf Skeletons: Use a process called “decomposition” to remove the green pigments from shamrock leaves and observe the leaf skeletons.

14. Leprechaun Rainbow Paper: Use chromatography to create rainbow patterns on filter paper and explore color separation.

15. Shamrock Capillary Action: Use celery stalks and colored water to observe capillary action and how plants transport water.

16. Leprechaun Ice Excavation: Freeze small toys or coins in ice cubes and challenge students to “excavate” them using salt, warm water, and tools.

17. Shamrock Dissection: Dissect a shamrock to explore plant anatomy and learn about the different parts of a plant.

18. Shamrock Leaf Stamping: Use shamrock leaves as stamps to create art and explore plant morphology.

19. Leprechaun Rainbow Spinners: Make rainbow spinners using paper plates, markers, and string, exploring color mixing and centrifugal force.

20. Leprechaun Balloon Rockets: Create green balloon rockets using string, straws, and balloons, exploring Newton’s third law of motion.

21. Leprechaun Rainbow Prism: Use a prism to create rainbows and explore the science of light refraction.

St Patricks Day Science activities

St Patricks Day Science Activities

 12 St Patrick’s Day STEM Activities

St Patrick’s day STEM activities are perfect for encouraging hands-on learning using simple materials.

1. Leprechaun Coding Challenge: Create coding challenges or puzzles with a St. Patrick’s Day theme using platforms like Scratch or Blockly.

2. Leprechaun Engineering Challenge: Task students with building a bridge or tower using only green materials, testing their engineering and design skills.

3. Pot of Gold Probability: Design activities to teach probability using a pot of gold theme, such as flipping coins or rolling dice to simulate finding gold.

4. Saint Patricks Day Music and Sound Engineering: Explore the science of sound by creating musical instruments or sound effects with St. Patrick’s Day themes, such as rainbows or leprechaun footsteps.

5. Saint Patrick’s Day Environmental Science: Study the environmental impact of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, such as the effects of dyeing rivers green or the sustainability of traditional St. Patrick’s Day foods.

6. Shamrock Geometry Art: Use geometric principles to create intricate shamrock designs or tessellations.

7. Leprechaun Physics Challenge: Design physics challenges related to St. Patrick’s Day themes, such as leprechaun catapults to launch coins or rainbow pendulums.

8. St. Patrick’s Day Virtual Field Trip: Take a virtual field trip to explore Irish landmarks or cultural sites, discussing their significance and connection to St. Patrick’s Day.

9. Rainbow Weather Science: Study the science of weather and rainbows, exploring concepts like refraction, precipitation, and atmospheric conditions.

10. St. Patrick’s Day Astronomy: Explore the night sky and learn about Irish contributions to astronomy, such as the ancient Celtic observatories or modern-day space missions.

11. Leprechaun Genetics: Learn about genetics and heredity by exploring the genetics of traits associated with leprechauns, such as height, hair color, or shoe size.

12. Gold coins Economics: Introduce economic concepts by discussing the value of gold and analyzing the economics of finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

St Patricks Day Science activities

St Patricks Day Science activities

Conclusion

Incorporating any of the above St Patrick’s day theme science or steam activities is a perfect way to liven up your classroom and engage students in learning. Build their love of science by embracing themed lessons and experiments.

What are your favorite St Patricks Day Science Activities?

Please comment below and share this blog post with your teaching friends.

St Patricks Day Science activities

Note: Always consult your school’s specific safety guidelines and policies, and seek guidance from experienced colleagues or administrators when in doubt about safety protocols. 

St Patricks Day Science Activities

About the Author