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Pass the Potato (St
Patrick’s Day Song)
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St
Patrick’s Day is a fun day to celebrate with children, and a great way to
learn about Ireland! To make the most of this simple passing game, do the
following:
Assemble items in the song, and place them in a green box or bag (see prop
ideas below). Show the children a map of the world, and point out Ireland.
As you take each item out of the bag or box, give a short explanation of its
relevance to St Patrick’s Day. Following are simple things you can say,
along with a link to a website with more information if you would like to
learn more!
Potato: Potatoes have been a popular food in Ireland because they are easy
to grow. Then you just have to dig them up and boil them in water. They
take no special cooking equipment or skill. Even children could make them!
(Ask children for their favorite kinds of potatoes, from French fries to
mashed).
Potatoes in Ireland in the 1700s - DIVERSITY
Shamrock: Shamrocks mean good luck in Ireland, and so does the number 3.
“Everything good comes in threes”
Mrs. O'Leary's Shamrock
Facts
Snake: Stories say that St Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, and
that’s why there aren’t any snakes there today.
Why Ireland Has No Snakes - National Zoo| FONZ
Rainbow: At the end of the rainbow is a pot of gold!
Rainbow Theme
Crafts for Kids - Enchanted Learning Software
Leprechaun: Leprechauns are fairies in Ireland. Legend says that if you
catch and hold onto a leprechaun, he has to show you his pot of gold!
St. Patrick's
Day Crafts for Kids - Enchanted Learning Software
After talking about the items, put them back in the box or bag and tell the
children you are going to sing a song where you will pass the items around
the circle. Take a minute to make sure they know which way to pass! Sing the
first verse, passing the potato. As you sing the long “Oh----,” STOP
passing the potato, and take out the next item and begin passing it (resume
passing the potato). Every time you get to the “Oh----,” take out and begin
passing another item, stopping all passing while singing the “Oh---.” Keep
passing all of the items until all have been passed, and the song ends.
Children will have to pay attention, as items will be passed to them often!
When singing with younger children, you can pass fewer items.
Lyrics:
Pass the potato ‘round the circle, pass the potato ‘round
Pass it very carefully, don’t let it touch the ground. Oh----------
Repeat with Pass the:
Shamrock, snake, rainbow, leprechaun
Prop Ideas for this song
Check out thrift stores or party stores, or dollar stores for inexpensive
props, and of course, a real potato!
If
you don’t have time to look, or can’t fine them, use the clipart
included
here. You can print it out and laminate it, or just glue each picture onto a
piece of construction paper. I’ve added words for early literacy.
Other ideas
Instead of using the props, gather together a bunch of green items, such as
a toy frog, dinosaur, green book, block, marker- things in your classroom.
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