A Colour Green Lesson Plan

Welcome to another in a series of Rainbow Lesson Plans. See below for lesson plans for other colours to give you lots of ideas, inspiration and resources for your children's group. . So if St. Patrick's Day is going to be celebrated or you just like the idea of welcoming Spring with nature coming back to life, then I hope you find this lens helpful and inspiring. In the process of welcoming new life in the Spring, we can also remember environmental green and show the children how we can be active in recycling the things we no longer need, rather than needlessly destroying and wasting our wonderful world. The colour green reminds me of provision. It's always a good sign when a plant is green as it signifies hope for the future, that it will go on to provide vegetation and fruit. This is what we want for our children, that they will grow to be healthy people who are able to freely give out to others and contribute to society, bearing fruit in season. There is a time for everything, but we don't want to allow ourselves to become green with envy and thus destroy what otherwise could be a healthy plant! There are so many lovely ideas, but see for yourself and you are sure to achieve an enjoyable and creative hour or two with your children. Remember to alternate quiet activities with lively ones, so the children don't have to sit still for too long or become over-excited. When you have read the facts about St Patricks Day, try the mini quiz near the end of the page to test your knowledge, before you share them with your childrens group..

To introduce St Patricks Day

Introduce your session by asking the children if they know who St Patrick was. Discuss the St Patricks Day Facts on this lens. Children love singing and music brings to life any theme or thoughts that you want to get across. Add a catchy tune and they will take it home with them for some time, sharing it as they sing it again and again. Hand out a pile of instruments to get the children's attention and have fun! Don't worry if you can't sing in tune either.

Here we go round the mulberry bush (add verses such as, this is way we mow the lawn/cut the hedge/pick the fruit..)

Five green bottles hanging on the wall, 4,3,2,1,0 green bottles...

Row, row, row your boat (and if you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream- great fun sung whilst all holding the perimeter of a large parachute/cloth and throwing a green crocodile into the centre)

Never smile at a crocodile

Zaccheus was a very little man (if you tell the Bible story where he climbs a (green) sycamore tree

Of course, you can also add other favourites such as: Old Macdonald or tap out the rhyme I went to visit the jungle one day.

If possible use props such as leaves, soft toys etc and include lots of actions.

The colour green can bring on many inspiring stories that children will love to hear, whether they be environmental green or green meaning morals. Whatever the case, your children's group will love it. Use props wherever possible, such as puppets, soft toys, clothing or your own body movements which they can copy. You can even bring in songs where appropriate, between the actual story telling, which will help to break it up and therefore keep the children's attention.

The shamrock was used by St Patrick to illustrate the Holy Trinity, three in one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit..

Draw and cut out a template of a large shamrock (or something else if you find it better reminds the children of your story) for each child. After they have been colored green they can be labelled with the three names of the trinity (one on each leaf) and laminated into the centre of an oblong shaped mat. These can be used as place mats for each child at the table later on.

An alternative activity could be to draw a large tree on the back of a strip of wallpaper and have a number of cut-outs of various fruits. The children can colour them and either stick them on the tree or on the ground, depending on how they grow.

What games do they like playing on the green?

Grass creates a naturally soft base on which to play many different games. Create either a bowling or putting green indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather. Either make, borrow or buy a putting green where the children can hit or roll balls and score according to the game rules. If making one indoors, try using a piece of carpet/rug or large roll of wallpaper which could be coloured green first.

Give each child a placemat (if you made shamrock ones earlier, use these) or board around a table and have a large bowl of green fruit in the centre. Ask the children to identify the different green fruit and talk about them- how they grow and how we know when some fruit is green because it isn't ripe, whilst other fruit is green anyway. This could include:

• green grapes,
• gooseberries,
• green plums,
• apples,
• pears,
• kiwi,
• avocado,
• water melon
• and you might be able to include some exotic types of fruit as well.

Peel and chop the fruit together. Supervise at all times. When all is peeled and chopped, place in bowls and share together with squirty cream or plain yoghurt and honey syrup.

Bring in the concept of Envionmental Green Living and ask the children how you could best dispose of the parts of the fruit you don't require. Did you dispose of the unwanted materials from the shamrock craft activity in the same way?

Discuss why we need to recycle.