Leprechaun Trap!

What You Need:

• 40 plain popsicle sticks
• 10 colored popsicle sticks (purchased or painted)
• 3 wooden hearts and half a popsicle stick (for the clover)
• Green marker or washable paint
• Glue
• leprechaun-themed cereal or treats

What You Do:

1. Construct the walls of your trap. Have your child start by gluing four popsicle sticks into a square shape. Then, continue adding sticks in a log cabin fashion until you’ve used up all 40 sticks.
2. Now the trap needs a lid! Ask your child to arrange the ten colored popsicle sticks on top of the walls in a rainbow pattern (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) to make a cover. Since leprechauns are attracted to rainbows, this will help lure one into the trap!
3. Another great way to attract a leprechaun is to place a shamrock on top of the box. Have your child take the three wooden hearts and the half popsicle stick and color them green with markers or paint. When they are dry, glue them together to form a shamrock shape.
4. Next, your child will need to set the trap. Find a spot indoors (and out of reach of pets!) where a leprechaun might dance in the moonlight one night leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. Be sure to add a trail of leprechaun-themed cereal or treats as bait!
5. After your child goes to bed, remove all of the leprechaun-themed cereal or treats and replace them with gold-foil wrapped chocolate coins. Remove the stick that is propping up the box, and use washable green paint and your pinky finger to leave tiny leprechaun footprints.
6. When the sun rises on St. Patrick's Day, have your child check the trap and look for clues that prove leprechauns exist!

This is a fun family project that everyone can participate in! Children can keep their homemade leprechaun trap to set out year after year; it also doubles as a colorful St. Patrick's Day decoration.