How would you trap a leprechaun?

During a recent STEAM-inspired activity, students in Ashley Eichel’s first-grade class debated the best way to trap a leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day. Students worked in groups with parent volunteers to solve this problem.

“We followed the steps of our design process model from Science 21,” said Eichel. “This method breaks down the activity into manageable pieces that are achievable and rewarding as they move from start to finish, while still allowing them to explore their creativity.”

First, students reviewed traps that had been made in the past, discussing what made it a successful design, even if they were unsuccessful at catching the leprechaun. Then each group had time to plan how they would use the materials provided to create their trap.

Using materials including shoe boxes, paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, construction paper, stickers, glue, tape, and popsicle sticks, students worked together in groups to design and build a leprechaun trap that could capture a leprechaun before he made a mess of their classroom. Each trap was colorful enough to tempt even the wisest leprechaun, and each had a different mechanism to ensnare him. 

With the help of their parent volunteers, the groups created a variety of unique trap ideas. This activity challenged students to think in new ways, reflect on what had worked (or not worked) in the past, work together as a team to complete the trap, and test their creation to see if they believed it would work.

The only one who won’t be smiling if any of these designs work is the leprechaun—if they manage to trap him!

“We’re going to catch the leprechaun!” the students cheered.