St. Patrick’s Day Activities

If you’re looking for a hands-on St. Patrick’s Day math center that’s cute and effective, this one is it! Kids will use pom poms to “feed” a rainbow (and a leprechaun!) while practicing counting, one-to-one correspondence, number recognition, and fine motor skills.

This printable includes two versions:

• Feed the Rainbow (counting by number cards)
• Feed the Leprechaun (counting + color matching)

What You’ll Need

• Free printable (download is below!)
• Scissors
• Pom poms
• A small container/bowl (to catch the pom poms)
• Optional: laminator, tape/Velcro dots, tweezers/tongs

Before the Activity

1. Print the rainbow or leprechaun page.
2. Cut out the character and cut out the mouth.
3. Place a container underneath so the pom poms have somewhere to fall.
4. Print the “Feed Me!” cards and cut them apart.

Pro Tip: Laminate the character and cards so you can reuse them every March.

Activity 1: Feed the Rainbow

This version is perfect for number recognition + counting.

How to Play

1. Students pick a “Feed Me!” card.
2. They count out the correct number of pom poms.
3. They drop them into the rainbow’s mouth so they land in the container below.

Skills Practiced

• Counting with one-to-one correspondence
• Number recognition
• Fine motor control (especially if you add tongs!)

Easy Differentiation

• Simpler: Use only the smaller numbers first.
• Challenge: Have students put two cards together and add the totals before feeding the rainbow.

Activity 2: Feed the Leprechaun

Kids “feed” the leprechaun using the pom-pom colors shown on the jar cards.

How to Play

1. Students choose a card.
2. They count how many pom poms they need and match the colors.
3. They feed the leprechaun by dropping the pom poms into his mouth.

Skills Prcticed

• Counting objects in a set
• Color recognition + matching
• Visual discrimination
• Fine motor skills

Extra Challenges

• Put the pom poms in a sensory bin (green rice, gold beads, shamrock confetti, etc.)
• Use tweezers/tongs for a “leprechaun tools” fine motor boost

Ways to Use This in Your Classroom

• Math center
• Morning tubs / table time
• Small group intervention (perfect for counting practice!)
• Indoor recess station
• Early finisher activity

Free Printable

If you’d like to use this printable in your classroom, you can download it below!

Hope you love this activity! 💚🌈

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