Fun St. Patrick’s Day Games for the Classroom

St. Patrick’s Day is a perfect time for celebration, creativity, and team-building in the classroom. Students LOVE anything related to a holiday, and this day is no different. They enjoy dressing up in green and speaking like a leprechaun. It’s the perfect time to channel this excitement into fun team-building games that everyone will enjoy. Below, you’ll find fun St. Patrick’s Day games for the classroom that are sure to bring smiles, laughter, and collaboration.

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1. Leprechaun’s Longest Rainbow Chain Challenge

Objective: Build the longest rainbow chain using limited material.

Materials:

• Construction paper or colored paper in the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
• Scissors
• Tape or glue
• Ruler, yardstick, or measuring tap

Instructions:

1. Form teams of 2-4 students
2. Give adhesives, scissors, and one sheet of each color to every group
3. Students cut out strips of paper and create links to form a rainbow chain in the correct color order
4. Groups should work together to assemble their rainbow chain, following the color order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
5. Set a timer (e.g., 10-15 minutes) to keep the challenge fast-paced.
6. Once the time is up, measure each group’s rainbow chain using a ruler, yardstick, or measuring tape.
7. Announce the winning team

Why It’s Great: This activity is a creative and hands-on way to promote teamwork and fine motor skills. Plus, the colorful chains can double as St. Patrick’s Day decorations!

2. Lucky Charms Sorting Race

Objective: Sort and count colored cereal pieces as a team

Materials:

• Lucky Charms cereal
• Bowls for sorting
• Clothespins or chopsticks
• Timer

Instructions:

1. Form teams: Pair students into small groups
2. Distribute materials: Provide each team with a bowl of mixed cereal (try to make sure groups have about the same number of marshmallows)
3. Set the timer
4. Sort by shape: Teams use the clothespins or chopsticks to sort the marshmallows by shape.
5. Count and Record: Teams count their sorted pieces; the team with the most wins! 

Why It’s Great: This fast-paced activity combines teamwork and attention to detail. 

3. Leprechaun’s Gold Hunt in the Snow 

Objective: Find and collect hidden gold pony beads around the classroom.

Materials:

• Plastic gold or yellow pony beads
• Rice or sensory bin filler

Instructions:

1. Hide the beads: Hide gold beads in rice or sensory filler. Hide the same amount in each bin.
2. Form teams: Divide students into groups of 2-3.
3. Search and collect: Teams search for the beads together.
4. Winning team: The group that collects the most beads in the time allotted or the team to first find all the beads wins!

Alternative Instructions:

1. Create several bins: Add gold beads into containers of rice and place them around the classroom.
2. Form teams: Divide students into groups of 2-3.
3. Search and collect: Team members go up to the bin and bring back one bead at a time.
4. Winner: The team that collects the most once the time is up wins! Or the first team to collect a certain amount wins!

Why It’s Great: This activity encourages communication and teamwork.  

4. Build a Leprechaun Hat Challenge

Objective: Work as a team to construct a tall leprechaun hat using green plastic cups, a rubber band, and strings.

Materials:

• Green plastic cups 16 per group (optional: substitute 4 of the cups for black or yellow cups to represent the “belt” of hat)
• 1 rubber band per team
• 3-4 strings per team (to attach to rubber band)

Instructions:

1. Form Teams: Divide students into groups of 3-4.
2. Distribute materials: Provide each team with the cups, rubber band, and strings.
3. Build the hat: Teams use the strings and rubber bands to stack the cups into a hat shape. The bottom row: 7 cups Second row: 4 cups (optionally, black cups to represent the belt of the hat) Third row: 3 cups Top row: 2 cups
4. Rules: Students may not touch the cups with their hands.
5. Winning team: The first team to complete the hat wins.

Why It’s Great: This STEM-inspired challenge develops problem-solving skills and promotes collaboration.

5. Class Rainbow Cup Stack Challenge

Objective: Work together as a class to build a large rainbow using colored cups.

Materials:

• Plastic or paper cups in rainbow colors: red (16), orange (13), yellow (10), green (7), blue (4), purple (1)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Cups: give each student 1-2 cups (make sure all cups are distributed)
2. Build the rainbow: Place the purple cup on the floor. A student with a blue cup comes up and places the cup next to the purple. Another student with a blue cup places the cup on the other side of the purple cup. Next, students with green place their cups next to the blue ones. Continue working their way out and up to create a rainbow.
3. Celebrate the Finished Rainbow: Once complete, take a class photo with the rainbow!

Why It’s Great: This activity encourages teamwork and a group feeling of accomplishment. 

6. St. Patrick’s Day Puzzle Team Challenge

Objective: Collaborate as a team to solve St. Patrick’s Day-themed puzzles.

Materials:

• St. Patrick’s Day-themed puzzles (word searches, crosswords, riddles, etc)
• Pencils

Instructions:

1. Form Teams: Divide the class into pairs.
2. Distribute Puzzles: Provide each team with a set of puzzles.
3. Solve as a Team: Teams work together to solve the puzzles.
4. Winning Team: The team that solves the most puzzles or finishes first wins!

Why It’s Great: This activity builds critical thinking and collaboration while embracing the holiday theme.

7. Lucky Charms Marshmallow Stacking Challenge

Objective: Work as a team to stack as many Lucky Charms marshmallows as possible into a tower.

Materials:

• Lucky Charms cereal (1 bowl per team)
• Flat surface

Instructions:

1. Form Teams: Divide students into pairs.
2. Distribute materials: Provide each team with a bowl of Lucky Charms cereals that include the marshmallows
3. Stack the Marshmallows: Teams stack marshmallows into a single tower
4. Winning Team: The team with the tallest tower when time is up wins!

Why It’s Great: This simple yet challenging activity combines teamwork, patience, and persistence.

Conclusion

I hope these fun St. Patrick’s Day games will have your students working as team, laughing together, and creating special holiday memories. If you are looking for more St. Patrick’s Day inspiration, check out the following blog posts:

1. St. Patrick’s Day Activities for Upper Elementary
2. St. Patrick’s Day Books for Upper Elementary Students
3. St. Patrick’s Day Shirts for Teachers