Recycled Cardboard Leprechaun Trap Craft for 1st Grade
Every year my kids get excited about trying to catch a leprechaun. The wee little guys are both mischievous and magical. Catching one is tricky, of course. Coming up with different leprechaun traps makes a great, hands-on STEAM project for kids of all ages.
Here’s my daughter’s recycled cardboard leprechaun trap craft she made in 1st grade for a St. Patrick’s Day homework project. Made with items found around our home, it’s easy to challenge your kids to make one!
*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I also received many of the items listed below from our blog partners CraftProjectIdeas.com. You can find their products in the craft aisle at Walmart. (pony beads/fuzzy sticks/jewel gems)
Suggested Supplies For A Recycled Cardboard Leprechaun Trap
- empty tissue box
- cardboard tubes
- cotton balls
- glue
- scissors
- markers
- construction paper
- foam shamrock cutouts (check your dollar store)
- mini rainbow duct tape, glitter washi tape
- rainbow stickers
- jewel gems, variety of shapes and colors and sequins
- pipe cleaner/fuzzy sticks
- pony beads
More suggestions:
- toy ladder
- gold coins
- mini cauldrons (optional)
Easy Leprechaun Trap Craft Idea for 1st Grade
Use these suggested supplies to set up an ‘invitation to build’ a leprechaun trap. Children can use my daughter’s idea to recreate a similar recycled box trap or they can get creative with the supplies to come up with their own idea for catching a leprechaun.
Little Sister used a rainbow theme for her trap. First, she glad construction paper to the sides and bottom of the box. Then, I helped her add small rainbow duct tape along the ages.
Next, she separated cotton balls by tearing them into smaller pieces and glued them to the top of the tissue box to create a fluffy cloud. This is actually going to be the front of the trap with the hole creating the entryway.
Related: Fun Handprint Rainbow Leprechaun Trap Art Project
Now it’s time to decorate. She decorated the box and the cardboard tubes with stickers, gems, sequins, and glitter washi tape. Once everything was decorated, I use hot glue to attach the cardboard tubes to the bottom of our leprechaun trap.
Since she wanted to be able to carry her rainbow inspired trap, she made a rainbow handle using a pipe cleaner and rainbow colored pony beads. Then I hot glued the ends to the top of the box in an arc to create a rainbow handle.
To trick the leprechaun she created a ‘FREE GOLD’ sign which she placed above the entryway. Then she placed a pot o gold coins inside the box. Both the pots and coins can usually be found at the dollar store.
To finish her fun rainbow leprechaun trap, we used a mini toy ladder leading up to the gold coins. The idea was to catch the leprechaun by tricking him to climb up the ladder to get the free gold. Once inside, she planned to remove the ladder so the leprechaun was stuck inside without a way to get down.
See also → St. Patrick’s Day Children’s Books
Cute Books About Leprechauns
We have a fun list of St. Patrick’s Day books found here, but here are a few leprechaun themed books that talk about catching a leprechaun and leprechaun traps: How to Catch a Leprechaun ages 4-10, The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day ages 4-8, and How to Trap a Leprechaun ages 3-6.
More Ideas For St. Patrick’s Day
More Recycled Craft Ideas