Have fun this St. Patrick’s Day making leprechaun traps with the kids. Start by reading a related story, such as How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace, for inspiration. Then use imagination and creativity, along with materials you have around the house (boxes, pipe cleaners, LEGOs, etc) to make a fantastic trap of your own! For those who prefer specific directions, below are guidelines on how to create a leprechaun trap. There are two styles to choose from. Be sure to share a photo of your invention on Instagram and tag us @sandiegofamilymagazine for a chance for it to be shared on our IG stories.
SUPPLIES
Read through directions below. Choosing the type of trap you want to make first will help determine what supplies are needed from the list below.
- Recycled items such as boxes, cups, containers, straws, bottle caps, lids, cardboard tubes.
- Newspaper or placemat cover work space
- Construction paper or cardstock in rainbow colors and different shades of green
- Paper fasteners
- Chenille stems (pipe cleaners) in rainbow colors
- Pom-poms or cotton balls
- Tissue paper or cupcake wrappers
- Tape, white glue and/or hot glue
- Chopsticks, craft sticks or twigs
- Washi tape
- Colored pens
- Scissors
- Glitter, coins, stickers or other St. Patrick’s day items
DIRECTIONS
Cylinder Leprechaun Trap
- Cover a Handi-wipes or Pringles container with green paper; attach with tape.
- Decorate the green container with stickers, if desired.
- To make the rainbow (in photo), cut 1½” x 9” strips of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple construction paper. Fasten the ends together, making a loop with each color, then fan out to make a rainbow. Attach the rainbow to the bottom end of the container with tape or hot glue. Add pom-poms, or cotton balls at the base of the rainbow to make clouds.
- Make a sign that says “gold” and use tape to attach it to the open end of the container.
- Make a “pot of gold” to entice leprechauns into the trap. Crumple yellow tissue paper, use a cupcake wrapper or fill with gold coins.
Ladder Leprechaun Trap
- Cover a cereal box in green paper; use Washi tape for decorative accent.
- Cut a hole in the wide side of the box. Optional: Camouflage the hole with fake leaves.
- Cut a small section out of the edge of the cup and a hole on the opposite side (see photo). (This is where the slide will go.)
- Turn the cup upside down and decorate the base with green paper cut like grass. Attach the cup to the cereal box with hot glue so that the opening is right over the hole in the box (see photo).
- For the slide, cut a cardboard tube in half lengthwise. Color in a rainbow pattern. Cut the length of the slide to fit through the cup and over the hole in the box.
- Add a “pot of gold” to the top of the cup. It could be a bottle cap filled with shiny items covered in glitter, gold coins or other items of your choice.
- For the ladder, cut 2” pieces of rainbow colored chenille stems and wrap them around chopsticks or twigs (see photo).
- Make a sign that says “gold” and attach it to the front of the trap. Lean the ladder against the trap.
Discussion points for Parents/Teachers
- Talk about the origins and history of St. Patrick’s Day.
- Learn about Ireland and Irish customs.
- Discuss how characters such as leprechauns are from fables.
- Discuss different ways kids might trap a leprechaun.
- Have children sketch their ideas.
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Alyssa Navapanich is an award-winning art educator who teaches art to elementary school kids in East San Diego County.
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