St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.

This activity will help you understand who Saint Patrick was, why he is considered the patron saint of Ireland, how this holiday is observed in the United States and Ireland.

Because of time constraints, you teacher will review what you have to do during your class's lab session: 1) visit the websites provided that include readings and videos, 2) answer the guiding questions for this task, 3) report your findings to your partners in a class discussion, and 4) create a "poster" with a newsprint and magazines provided by your teacher. Beside your 45-minute lab session, your teacher will give time in class to create your poster and prepare for the class discussion.