Introduce St Patrick’s Day in your KS2 classroom with this clear and curriculum-linked reading and comprehension activities pack.
This resource is perfect for Years 3-6. Use it to introduce pupils to the life of St Patrick, the history behind his feast day, and how people celebrate it around the world. Pupils will explore:
- who St Patrick was and his journey from slave to priest
- why he became the patron saint of Ireland and Northern Ireland
- the significance of the shamrock and other symbols
- how people have celebrated St Patrick’s Day over the centuries
From historical facts and legends to parades, green clothing and leprechauns, this topic captures pupils’ curiosity while developing key comprehension skills.
When is St Patrick’s Day?
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on 17th March, honouring St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
St Patrick’s Day activities pack
The pack includes a printable PDF version of the text which you can use for whole-class reading sessions, modelling fluency and discussing vocabulary and ideas, while the comprehension questions check understanding and promote discussion.
This activities pack is also ideal for guided reading, paired work or independent tasks. Pupils are encouraged to answer a range of questions that develop retrieval, inference and explanation skills. Questions include:
- Why is it unlikely that St Patrick actually chased snakes from Ireland?
- Why do you think there is a festival celebrating the Irish language before St Patrick’s Day?
Curriculum links
This resource is fully linked to the KS2 English curriculum. Pupils practise reading non-fiction texts, answering and asking questions, building vocabulary and developing comprehension skills.
This resource offers a curriculum-linked way to explore St Patrick’s Day, making planning straightforward and supporting pupils’ reading and comprehension skills.
Download a KS1 version of this resource. We also have KS2 packs for St Andrew's Day, St David's Day and St George's Day.