Introduction
Hello everybody,
Today is Saint Patrick's Day and we are going to celebrate it by knowing some interesting facts about his life.
Task
Who was St Patrick, and what is the history of St Patrick’s Day? Find the answers in this webquest, and learn about how 17th March is celebrated around the world.
Go to each link and find information in order to answer each activity. Please type FULL answers.
Process
Activity 1: Who was St Patrick?
Visit this site: https://theconversation.com/10-things-to-know-about-the-real-st-patrick-92253. Read the article and look for the answers to these questions. Share your answers with your classmates.
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Where and when was St Patrick born?
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How did Patrick come to Ireland?
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What did Patrick do whilst he was looking after sheep?
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What did Patrick do on Ireland’s east coast?
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What new job did Patrick have when he returned to Ireland?
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Was Patrick welcomed as he spread Christianity around Ireland?
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What did the druids do to Patrick?
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What are Catholic school children taught about Shamrocks and is this true or false?
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Why could Patrick not have driven snakes out of Ireland?
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What are the names of the other two saints of Ireland and were they born in Ireland?
Activity 2: Biography. Using questions 1–10 above, now finish the biography about St Patrick below in your own words.
St Patrick was born in … around …
Activity 3: What is the history of St Patrick’s Day? 
Visit this site: www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-st-patricks-day-parade-1773800. Read the article, then complete the following sentences.
- The first recorded St Patrick’s Day parade happened in _______________ (1) in the year _______________ (2).
- In New York, St Patrick’s Day celebrations from 1784 onwards involved the playing of fifes and _______________ (3), and a _______________ (4) was held in Manhattan.
- In the 1800s, the Irish population of New York increased because of the _______________ (5), so there were more St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
- However, the newspapers reported stories of _______________ (6), and so there were efforts to make the celebrations more respectable.
- The parade today has hardly changed since the _______________ (7). Other American _______________ (8), as well as Dublin in Ireland, now also hold large parades.
Activity 4: St Patrick’s Day traditions
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated all over the world and is well known for a number of its traditions. Visit the following site to find the answers to the questions below: www.ireland-information.com/saintpatricksdaytraditions.htm
- When did people first start wearing Shamrock to celebrate St Patrick?
- Why did Irish people use the Shamrock?
- What colour was originally associated with St Patrick?
- Who held the first St Patrick’s Day parade?
- How many people take part in the parade in New York?
- For how many days is St Patrick’s Day now celebrated in Ireland?
- Which river was first dyed green in 1962?
- Which famous places have been coloured green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day?
- What drinks are traditionally drunk on St Patrick’s Day?
- How many extra pints of Guinness are drunk on St Patrick’s Day?
- What traditional Irish food is often eaten on St Patrick’s Day?
Evaluation
You have to answer the activities and submit them to Moodle according to the information you will find in each link.
It is a good chance to learn about Saint Patrick.
Conclusion
If you want more information about him and about this day celebration you can......
1. Visit the Saint Patrick Centre online: www.saintpatrickcentre.com. The Centre offers an interpretative exhibition that tells the story of Ireland’s patron saint.
2. Do you like cooking? Search for some traditional Irish recipes. Are they very different from your country’s dishes?
3. Search the internet to find a free St Patrick’s Day card to send to your friends or teacher.