I am Lucky! St. Patrick’s Day Craft

This is a St. Patrick’s Day braille activity I have done with my Pre-K student. He is learning about St. Patrick’s Day and shamrocks. I found this activity on Pinterest and adapted it to make it accessible for the student. 

Using braille paper, I traced and cut an outline of a full-page shamrock. The student then brailled out things that he is lucky for. This is a cute activity that the student can take home and share with his family about the things he is “lucky for”.

Materials

• Braille paper
• Brailler
• Braille adhesive sheets 
• Marker for interlining
• Tactile green paper 
• Scissors
• Glue

Material Preparation

1. I found and printed an outline of a 4-leaf shamrock. I used this to trace the outline on a piece of braille paper and cut it out.
2. With piece of green tactile paper, I cut out each individual leaf of the shamrock.
3. On the stem of the shamrock I wrote “I’m Lucky for”. I then brailled on an adhesive sheet “I’m Lucky for”, cut it out, and placed on top of the printed text.

With Student

1. Reviewed previously taught concepts about St. Patrick’s Day, such as who celebrates it, how it is celebrated, and why? Color green, shamrocks, and Irish culture.
2. Talked about what he is lucky for and came up with list of 4 ideas
3. Student brailled each of the things he is lucky for
4. Student asks instructor to interline his braille so others can read what he wrote

After Lesson

1. Cut out each of his brailled words 
2. Glue each of the ideas onto the shamrock outline
3. Once dried, glue the tip of each shamrock leaf to cover the words the student brailled
4. Have the student read each of the ideas he is lucky for and have him practice explaining what he wrote so he can share it with his class and/or family.

Variations

• These steps could be done more independently by an older student (such as the cutting and gluing)
• Braille does not have to be incorporated into this activity for students that have low vision
• For students who are lower functioning, tactile representations or objects can be used to show their favorite things they are lucky for.