Lesson Plan - Going Green

Watch the Video
Build engagement by watching the video “Happy St. Patrick’s Day.” Discuss: Based on the video, what are some things you might see on a visit to Ireland?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• immigrants
• lush

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about why “Going Green” is a good title for the article.

1. According to the article, how did St. Patrick’s Day become a popular holiday in the United States?
According to the article, St. Patrick’s Day became a popular holiday in the United States when immigrants from Ireland brought the celebration to this country.
^{(RI.3.2 Main Idea and Key Details)}

2. Based on the article, why was the color green chosen to represent Ireland?
The color green was chosen to represent Ireland because Ireland’s countryside is lush, or covered with healthy green plants.
^{(RI.3.3 Cause and Effect)}

3. What do you think the article means when it says that “the Chicago River isn’t the only site to go green”?
When the article says that “the Chicago River isn’t the only site to go green,” it means that other cities also dye things green for St. Patrick’s Day. It states, “The Empire State Building in New York City will be lit up in green lights. Fountains at the White House in Washington, D.C., will be dyed green too.”
^{(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)}

FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Pictograph
Use the skill builder “Top Parades” to have students compare the sizes of some popular St. Patrick’s Day parades.
^{(RI.3.5 Text Features)}