Have the kids make the face of a leprechaun by using common shapes (oval, rectangle) and the national colors of the Irish flag (green, orange and white.) Print out a template of a leprechaun face (see Resources). Have the children color the shapes using green, orange and white crayons. Once colored, cut out the shapes. The children can assemble the pieces to make their own leprechauns. You can also add shapes, like triangles, for a bow-tie.
Kids can also make a leprechaun hat. Have the kids trace a rectangle shape onto green construction paper. Trace a small square to be used as the hat buckle on yellow construction paper. Cut out a long rectangular shape from black construction paper to be used as the band at the bottom of the green hat. Have the kids glue the pieces together to form the hat. This will create a one-dimensional hat. Cut a long band from green construction paper and glue or tape it to either side of the back of the hat. Cut off excess paper so the band holds the hat in place (see resources.)
Print a shamrock from a template. Using green crayon or paint, have each student color the shamrock. When completed, cut out the shamrocks and place them on a class bulletin board for parents and teachers to admire.
For an idea that's slightly more difficult, have the class cut out and assemble the shamrock. Each student should trace four hearts and a long stem on green construction paper. Cut out the hearts and stem and glue the pieces together to form a shamrock. If the preschool class has difficulty tracing, give the class the green construction paper with pre-traced hearts and stem. Cut out the shapes for the class if students have difficulties but allow each student to assembly the shamrock on her own.
A leprechaun needs his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Create a rainbow with a paper plate and colorful streamers. To do this, cut the center out of a paper plate. Cut long pieces of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple crepe paper streamers. Each streamer should be approximately three feet long. Staple or glue each rainbow piece of streamer onto the edge of the paper plate. Let the kids grab the plate by the cut out center and run and watch the rainbow streamers flow.
To create another rainbow project, use a pack of multi-colored construction paper. Have each child trace both hands. Make about 10 handprints of each of the colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple). Cut out the handprints. Glue or staple the handprints onto a piece of construction paper in an arc to make the shape of a rainbow.
Use online printed pages for coloring worksheets. Print out pages of shamrocks, leprechauns and rainbows. Each child should use her imagination and color the pages as she pleases. Printed pages can also be used for activities like connecting the dots and matching the picture with the printed word.