St. Patrick’s Day Music Activities

 

 

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Today, I am excited to share 3 active St. Patrick’s Day music activities for your students. Now, if you’re anticipating spring break or Easter holiday, and you just need a few activities to add to your Irish music lesson, then I’ve got you covered.

Here are some activities that are simple, yet active and kid-tested in my own classroom – my students love these St. Patrick’s Day activities. Well, let’s dive in!

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day Dances

First, I love adding a dance activity to my Irish music lessons. First, I show a video demonstration of some Irish dancing to inspire the students. Then, I have students try out a folk dance – that’s just a bit easier.

 

“Rakes of Mallow,” from Phyllis Weikart’s Rhythmically Moving set is a simple circle dance that your young students will just love. Check out this video performance:

 

 

 

Another circle dance I use for St. Patrick’s Day comes from a book from New England Dance Masters. They have amazing dances, books, CDs, and more. Although not necessarily Irish, I love their “Lucky Seven” circle dance from the book, “Chimes of Dunkirk.” (I get a small percent with no extra cost to you)

 

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day Songs

Next, let’s take a look at some Irish songs to add to your St. Patrick’s Day music lesson. Honestly, I have a few favorite Irish songs, but one definitely, for sure, is “Danny Boy.” I grew up listening to the Irish Tenors sing this song and many more traditional Irish tunes. 

 

With upper elementary, I love adding rhythmic and Orff instruments to accompany this beautiful song. If you want to try it with your students, you can find the arrangement here.

 

Another song I have memories of listening to as a child is “Too-ra Loo-ra.” Every time I heard John McDermott start this song, it just filled me with excitement. 

 

 

 Each year for St. Patrick’s Day, I use this song and add some rhythmic instrument parts to accompany it. And you can get it in PDF and Google Slides for free – click here!

 

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day Games

Finally, let’s take a look at an exciting Irish singing game called “One, Two, Three O’Leary.” I just love using it with students from kindergarten up to third grade. Sometimes, I will need to make some modifications to simplify the game for young children. 

 

 

This song includes a ball-passing game. First, I teach the song, which is pretty simple. Then I add the motions or movement of picking the ball up and passing it over your head to the person behind. It’s good to practice that before the ball shows up.

 

Traditional Instructions for “One Two Three O’Leary”

Game: Students stand in lines of 5-7 students, all facing forward. The first person in the line holds a ball (large playground ball). On beat 1, the student bounces the ball. On beat 2, they catch the ball, and on beats 3-4, they bring the ball over their head to pass it to the person behind them. Now the student with the ball repeats the same actions (bounce-catch-pass) for the next 4 beats. When the song ends, the student who has the ball runs to the back of the line. All of the others spread their legs open in their spot for the student with the ball to roll it back up and through their teammates’ legs. The first team who gets their ball back to the front of the line is the winner. Play continues with the first one or two students rotating to the end of the line so that all can have a turn.

Modified Instructions for “One Two Three O’Leary”

Modified Game for K-1st Grade: Students sit in a circle, passing the ball while they sing the song. On the last phrase (“ten O’Leary postman”), the student with the ball rolls it across the circle to anyone they would like. Play continues.

 

 

 

 

Well, I hope you found a St. Patrick’s Day music activity or idea that you can use in your own classroom! Let me know what your favorite one is by leaving a comment below, emailing me (beth@bethsmusicclassroom.com), or sending me a DM on Instagram @bethsmusicclassroom.

 

If you’re looking for some more elementary music activities, check out this post on “Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks.”