Magical Leprechaun Rocks – Fun & Easy St. Patricks Day Activity for Kids

How to make fizzling, fun, magical Leprechaun Rocks

So, as previously eluded to ,in last years post, I didn’t grow up with much fuss over St. Paddy’s day. And well, neither did Mike. Save for our exposure to American TV of course. But I still find that weird, as Mike’s granddad was Irish Oi-rish. But, as you know, it doesn’t take much to get me going on a holiday. So, with Irish blood coursing through my children’s veins, of course I’m breaking out the green everything in celebration thereof!

But let’s be straight here, I’m a full time working mom, so no surprise then that my time is always at a premium, not to mention my energy levels are iffy at best now during pregnancy. So rest assured that I am all about quick and easy, yet effective crafts that are not going to swallow me whole! Enter Leprechaun Rocks!

But what are Leprechaun rocks, Tracey? I hear you ask. Well, they’re fun little green rocks that the Leprechauns use to hide their gold in (when the end of the Rainbow gets a bit full), or even sometimes little trinkets they’ve stolen from you. (They are mischievous little buggers, after all!) And then using a magical potion, which you, as the amazing mom you are, just happen to have in your kitchen cupboard, are then able to dissolve those rocks in a fizzling fuss to reveal those shiny gold coins and trinkets!! Taaa-daaa!

Well, at least, that’s what I’m going to tell my kids this year. Complete with over-dramatic voice tones where needed…You’re welcome to use that story too, by the way. In fact, I encourage it! That way we have strength in numbers, mom! 😉 Also that trinket baugarting story means you wont need to buy NEW little trinkets for this activity, but merely reuse beloved little trinkets already around your house. Your pockets will thank you, but youre also welcome to splash out on new ones too.

Anyhoo, I saw the original over here, and thought this would be an easy win for tomorrow’s St. Patrick’s Day 2017 (yes, its TOMORROW, people!), but also perfect to add to my current list for a dinosaur excavation activity at a Dino party. It’s really endless as to how you can apply it.

And the idea is that the kids will go a-hunting for these sneaky leprechaun rocks that hold secret treasures, and once they find them, they toss them into the magic potion (vinegar and water mix) they reveal the treasures.

What’s nice, apart from the thrill of a scavenger garden hunt (kids LOVE scavengers) is that it can also serve as a bit of a science project for older kids. Talk about the reactions between the bicarb and the vinegar. Just maybe for those kids old enough, explain how that it fizzles because the baking soda and vinegar react to form carbon dioxide gas inside of the vinegar. The carbon dioxide then reacts and rises to the surface of the baking soda and vinegar mixture in the same way that carbon dioxide rises in carbonated drinks, such as a can of soda, but on a slightly smaller scale.

Oh side note, before we go on, please excuse the crappy pix, but I made these late at night (almost midnight), because thats the freakin time I get home from class, and was genuinely the only time I got to make it…But you’ll get the gist of it. Ok, now..onwards..
Now then, lets rock ‘n roll with these..urghh, rocks, shall we?
What do you need:
1. cup baking soda/bicarbonate of soda (same-same)
2. 1/4 cup of water
3. Few drops of green food colouring to mix into water first
4. plastic gold Coins(think Pirate’s booty in the party isle)
5. (optional) trinkets
6. Vinegar
7. (optional) magic potion bottle to house the vinegar magic potion- to keep the pretence up.

How to make it:
1. Place baking soda into bowl.
2. Slowy mix the coloured water into the baking soda.

Note, you dont want it too wet or it will just form a puddle once you leave it to dry. If that is you , then merely put it back in bowl and add more baking soda till desired consistency.

You dont want it too dry either, otherwise it’ll just crumble apart. If thats you then add a few drops of water as you go along to get it just right.

Experimenting with the right measures is best, as your climate humidity and temperature also have an effect on your “dough”. You want moldable and stickable, that will dry in 24 hours.

3. Stick a trinket or coin into the cetre of the molded ball in your hand and cover it up.

4. Let dry on a sheet of wax wrap or on plastic tray.

Then go out and hide the suckers and let your kids loose on it. To get them really excited, first let them find one, then hadn over the magic potion, pour it into a bowl, and let them pop that rock into the potion.

They’ll oohh and ahh over the fizzling, find the coin and will then want more! Then let them loose on the rest of them.

Enjoy, folks. Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you tomorrow. And may the luck of the Irish be wif ya!
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