Introduce St Patrick’s Day in your KS1 classroom with this easy-to-use reading and comprehension activities pack.
This simple yet informative resource is perfect for Year 1 and Year 2 pupils. It introduces children to the story of St Patrick and how people celebrate his special day around the world. Children will learn:
- who St Patrick was
- why he is remembered
- what a patron saint is
- how people celebrate St Patrick’s Day today
From shamrocks and parades to legends about snakes, this topic will capture pupils’ interest while building essential comprehension skills.
When is St Patrick's Day?
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated on 17th March each year and honours St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
St Patrick's Day activities pack
The pack includes a clear, child-friendly PowerPoint and a printable PDF version of the text and questions, giving you complete flexibility.
Use the PowerPoint for a whole-class reading session, modelling fluency and pausing to discuss key vocabulary and ideas.
The carefully structured comprehension questions appear alongside the text, making it easy to check understanding and encourage discussion.
Alternatively, the PDF version is perfect for guided reading or independent work. More confident readers can read the text in pairs or small groups, answering questions that develop retrieval, inference and explanation skills.
Questions such as “Why do you think St Patrick wanted to escape?” encourage pupils to think more deeply and justify their ideas.
Curriculum links
The content links directly to the KS1 National Curriculum for reading. In Year 1, pupils develop pleasure in reading and build vocabulary through listening to and discussing non-fiction beyond their independent level.
In Year 2, pupils practise answering and asking questions about texts they read and hear.
This resource provides a curriculum-linked way to explore St Patrick’s Day, making planning straightforward and supporting pupils’ learning.
Download a KS2 version of this resource. We also have KS1 packs for St Andrew's Day, St David's Day and St George's Day.