St Patrick's Art Therapy Session

In this blog post I’m sharing a peek into our St Patrick’s art therapy session. We love doing art therapy sessions in our classroom.. And I’m so excited to share more of this with you today!

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses creative expression to help individuals explore emotions, develop fine motor skills, and support self-regulation. For our students, art therapy provides a safe, non-verbal way to communicate, reduce anxiety, and enhance sensory processing.

By incorporating seasonal themes like St. Patrick’s Day, we can create a fun and meaningful experience that helps our students engage in learning while celebrating in a sensory-rich environment.

We LOVE art therapy sessions in our classroom, and whenever holidays or celebrations approach, we theme our sessions accordingly! This week, we planned a St. Patrick’s Day art therapy session, and the children absolutely LOVED it! Below, you’ll find a detailed lesson plan that outlines how we structured our session, the different art stations, and how you can set up your own St. Patrick’s Day art therapy lesson in your classroom.

Lesson Plan: St. Patrick’s Day Art Therapy

Objective:

Students will engage in various sensory-based and creative activities to develop their fine motor skills, self-expression, and color recognition, all while celebrating St. Patrick’s Day through art.

Materials Needed:

Green paint (various shades)
Large blank paper
Green playdough
Plastic shamrocks and gold coins
Green crayons, chalk, markers, and felt tips
Sliced green peppers, pretzels, toilet rolls (for stamping)
Green glitter
Jumbo tweezers and scooping scissors
Sensory trays
Green jelly
Letter and number stamps

Station 1: Sensory Exploration – Hidden Treasure Jelly

Focus: Fine motor development, sensory exploration, problem-solving
Setup: Cut up green jelly and place it in a large sensory tray. Hide gold plastic coins and shamrocks within the jelly. Provide students with scooping scissors, jumbo tweezers, or allow hands-on exploration.
How It Helps: This activity supports tactile tolerance, coordination, and engagement while making learning fun and interactive.

Station 2: Collaborative Green Art Table

Focus: Creative expression, pre-writing and writing skills
Setup: Cover an entire table with blank paper. Provide a selection of green drawing tools (pencils, chalk, felt tips, crayons) along with letter and number stamps. Students are encouraged to freely create, doodle, and experiment with different shades of green.
How It Helps: This station supports early literacy, hand-eye coordination, and choice-making skills. A staff member can guide students in forming letters, numbers, and shapes.

Station 3: Sensory Bin & Playdough Fun

Part 1: Green Glitter Sensory Bin

Focus: Language development, fine motor skills, sensory regulation
Setup: Fill a tray with green glitter and different small objects. Students use hands, tweezers, and scooping tools to find hidden treasures.
How It Helps: Encourages tactile play, builds vocabulary, and improves hand strength. Teachers can prompt discussions about textures, colors, and objects found.

Part 2: Playdough Creativity

Focus: Motor skills, creativity, sensory exploration
Setup: Provide green playdough along with rolling pins, cutters, and stamps. Encourage students to mold shamrocks, rainbows, or other St. Patrick’s Day shapes.
How It Helps: Enhances fine motor development, muscle control, and imaginative play.

Station 4: St. Patrick’s Day Stamp Art

Focus: Sensory play, artistic expression, exposure to different textures
Setup: Students stamp shamrock shapes onto paper using:

Sliced green peppers (dipped in paint)
Pretzels dipped in paint and glitter
Bent toilet rolls shaped into shamrocks
Various shades of green paint

How It Helps: Exposes students to different food textures in a non-threatening way, promotes hand-eye coordination, and builds confidence in creative decision-making.

How to Create Your Own St. Patrick’s Day Art Therapy Session

1️⃣ Choose a Theme: Select one primary color (green) and incorporate various shades and textures to create an immersive experience.
2️⃣ Set Up Multiple Stations: Provide a mix of sensory, fine motor, and creative activities to cater to different student needs.
3️⃣ Encourage Free Exploration: Let students choose how they interact with materials, supporting independence and confidence-building.
4️⃣ Integrate Language & Learning: Use opportunities to introduce vocabulary, letter recognition, and social interactions through discussions and guided play.
5️⃣ Keep it Flexible: Adapt activities based on student preferences and sensory needs, ensuring a positive experience for all.

Art therapy is an amazing tool to help students express themselves, regulate emotions, and develop important skills. By theming art therapy sessions around holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, we create engaging and inclusive experiences that students look forward to each year! 🌈🍀🎨

Do you theme your art therapy sessions? What are your favorite St. Patrick’s Day art activities? Let us know in the comments!