St. Patrick’s Day is coming up quickly! If you are in a busy season like me, finding the time to create effective and interactive therapy sessions can be difficult. If you are a long time reader, you know how much I love incorporating books into my practice. Shared book reading is a great way to encourage vocabulary knowledge in our students! Today, I will be discussing two books you can add to your St. Patrick’s Day collection that you and your students will enjoy. I also encourage you to take a look at the Story Sidekicks that go alongside That’s What Leprechauns Do and Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk to provide the ideal literacy-based therapy session for your students.
That’s What Leprechauns Do
That’s What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting is a story about three mischievous leprechauns and their important mission. With a storm coming in, Ari, Boo, and Col have to find where they buried their pot of gold and dig it up before the rainbow in the sky appears. Will the three naughty leprechauns be able to resist wreaking havoc along the way?
Activity #1
For a fun and low-prep activity, gather pipe cleaners, a box or two of Fruit Loops (or Tootie Fruities!), and some mini marshmallows. First, pour each child a little pile of cereal and have them sort the Fruit Loops by color. Next, cut your pipe cleaner into short pieces and form them into arches. This step can be done beforehand! Each student will then thread the cereal through the pipe cleaner in rainbow color order. Pop up a picture of a rainbow on your computer or tablet if needed! After they have made their rainbow, they can place a marshmallow at the ends of their rainbow which represents the clouds. The marshmallows also are used as stoppers so the Fruit Loops don’t slide off. Be aware that your rainbow probably won’t be able to stand on its own. If that is an issue, your students have the option of gluing them on a small plate or construction paper. Don’t forget to take pictures of your students’ work! I can’t wait to see what they create!
Activity #2
For the teletherapists out there (or SLPs who just really love Boom Cards!), here is a fun look and find activity by Tiny Voice Therapy Services, LLC. The leprechauns are up to no good and it is your students’ job to grab the flashlight to find him and catch him. This activity will be perfect for spatial concepts, irregular past tense verbs, -wh questions, and more!
Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk
Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk by Gerald McDermott is a story about Tim O’Toole and his very poor family. Tim decides to travel the countryside to find work in order to get his family out of poverty. Along the way, he runs into a group of leprechauns who give him gifts to make his fortune. However, it is up to Tim to avoid the cunning McGoon family along the way back home.
Activity #1
Plastic eggs aren’t just for Easter! Whether you get them on Amazon, Oriental Trading, or Walmart, you can use golden fillable eggs and fill them with your own mini objects, erasers, or strips of paper with different target words, vocabulary, etc. A limitless activity that can target naming, basic concepts, following directions, and turn-taking, but don’t let the McGoons find them!
Activity #2
The wee folk gave Tim O’Toole a “fine linen tablecloth” that was covered in a variety of food and drinks that Tim had never seen before. You can create your own tablecloth by using regular construction or printer paper for this activity. However, I actually love using kraft paper that can cover my table. Have your students create their very own “delectable eatables and drinkables” while you target describing, answering -wh questions, and inferencing. As the week goes by, all your students will have a chance to see all the different types of food and drinks that were created while they were gone.
With St. Patrick’s Day coming close, what type of activities do you enjoy doing with your own students?
