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This post: LEPRECHAUN TRAP IDEAS is part of our series THE HOMESCHOOLING YEARS and was originally published in 2010.
These original blog posts came with me from my “blogger” days. They were written from the heart, as a way to record the memories in real-time as they were happening. Their intended audience was simply family and close friends. Because they are an ESSENTIAL PART of Happy Hive Homeschool’s evolution, I have chosen to keep them in their original form with minor edits if needed. You may see the post repeated in a more recent more descriptive post as well. I hope you can indulge a mother in her memory keeping!
Learning about the Leprechaun
Leprechauns are mythical beings who originally lived in Ireland long before humans did! You may be surprised to learn they are fairies (if their small size and magical powers didn’t give that fact away!) According to Legend, there are only Male Leprechauns, and since they are magic, we don’t have to worry about how more leprechauns appear.
Research by historians suggests the Leprechauns wore red, not green in the early days of their existence. This author’s theory is that it was long before the clever fairies had to hide from humans, making it necessary to switch to green so they were hard to detect among the clover!
As they introduced fashion changes in Ireland, the Leprechaun advanced his look also, until he found his iconic style including his hat and shoes with the gold buckle. Ever the trickster, do not be surprised if the hat or shoes are some variations of the typical leprechaun fashion. This would be the Leprechaun’s attempt at not being captured because further legend tells us that if captured a Leprechaun will trade his pot of gold for his freedom!
A great way to learn more about Leprechaun facts and History is through books. Here are some of our favorites:
How to Catch a Leprechaun: A Saint Patrick’s Day Book for Kids
The BEST Leprechaun Trap Idea 2010
I don’t know about you, but our homeschool is in desperate need of some Leprechaun gold! As such, we decided to build a Leprechaun Trap!
We started with a DEEP box…the bugs painted it to look like a flowerpot (you can’t exactly leave it looking like a trap can you??)
Daddy built a ramp going up the side so the leprechaun would naturally explore…
We covered the open top with silk flowers so it would look like a garden…
Lauren added this cupcake and note to the path… see the gold flakes (just dried paint peeled from a plastic lid) – those were to lure the leprechaun up to the top…
Grass painted along the bottom…
Now the real trick was getting the leprechaun to walk over the tissue paper ‘garden’ so we needed more bait… each bug placed a rock, painted like a gold nugget at the far end of the ‘garden’. The leprechaun would need to walk across one thin sheet of tissue paper to get these ‘gold’ nuggets – instead, he would drop through the tissue paper and be TRAPPED!
We left the, um… flower pot… out on the table on the Eve of St. Patrick’s Day…
this morning we awoke with anticipation –
SURE we were going to have a leprechaun and be RICH beyond our wildest DREAMS…
instead:
We wake up to this…
A chair on top of the table, The trap torn, the holiday tree tossed aside…
My office chair flung onto the floor…
The couch fliped over and all the bottles of paint on the floor…
Inside the trap… not leprechaun, but M&M’s, fallen flowers, the … ahem, gold nuggets…and a NOTE!
I don’t think the leprechaun was too happy with the paper cupcake…
..I do not think a flower garden is a good leprechaun trap. Darn.
He did leave us this cute hat we can use as a topper for our Holiday tree!!!
What do I need a pot of gold for anyway??? With three clever kids, a hardworking, loving husband, and a roof over our heads – we are rich beyond our wildest dreams!
To enrich your homeschool experience with trapping a leprechaun, may I recommend:
The Leprechaun Trap: A Family Tradition For Saint Patrick’s Day
step by step leprechaun trap
What you need:
- a small box or sturdy gift bag
- green paper
- paper in each color of the rainbow
- cotton balls
- glue sticks
- gold coins or gold paper to wrap quarters
- glue stick
- craft knife (adult supervision/assistance)
Scroll through the slide show to see how easy it is to make your own Leprechaun trap!
Need supplies for your Leprechaun Trap? These kits are the perfect solution!
St Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Trap Crafts Kit for Kids Ages 4-8
St Patrick’s Day Trap Kit DIY Catch a Leprechaun
St. Patrick’s Day DIY Leprechaun Trap Kit
Need More Inspiration?
The road less traveled – leave a treat not a trap
In 2015, we decided NOT to trap the Leprechaun. Instead, we left HIM treats. This went far better than any of the years we left traps!
Since we didn’t try to trap him this year he left shirts, hats for the buddies, and a box of Lucky Charms! The Pot of Gold is a craft we did With Aunt Ana. Pipe cleaners, a flower pot, and rocks painted gold. Quite easy and quite fun as well!
I still decorate with that EASY pot of gold craft my kids made all those years ago. I bet you and YOUR kids could whip one up too.
Pot of Gold Decoration
This easy craft can be enjoyed for years to come and may be filled with chocolate coins from the leprechaun when he visits!
You need:
3-inch clay pot, black and gold acrylic paint, and foam brushes
Next, you need small rocks, floral foam, and pipe cleaners.
Rocks… take a walk and collect them or buy a bag from Amazon
Floral foam – these are 3 inch balls you can cut easily to fit into the container, but any will do.
Finally, you will need pipe cleaner in all the colors of the rainbow…Grab a big pack for crafts all year long.
Step By Step instructions
The first thing you want to do is paint. Paint one side of the rocks gold, set them aside to dry, then paint the other side. It may take 2 or 3 coats to get the look you want. Be sure to let the paint dry between each coat.
Next paint your pot black. It may take 2 or 3 coats to get the look you want. Be sure to let the paint dry between each coat. We painted the inside of our pots also. You can’t tell, but it made a difference to me.
On the one in my sample, that child chose to paint the rim of the pot gold. Creativity is always welcome!
To assemble your rainbow, first, insert the floral foam into the pot to get the proper size, then you can insert each end of the pipe cleaner to form the rainbow. You can do it inside or outside the pot. After the rainbow is formed, begin adding the gold nuggets (rocks) until you achieve the look you want.
Thanks for stopping by Happy Hive Homeschooling for leprechaun trap ideas.
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Sources:
Leprechaun Traps – Canva
https://lifehacker.com/the-real-history-of-st-patrick-s-day-1793354674
