153. Shamrocks, Rainbows and Gold: St. Patrick’s Day SEL That Actually Works
From Counselor Chat Podcast by Carol Miller, School Counselor
March 11, 2026 · 15 min · Episode 153
About this episode
This episode shares creative ways to incorporate St. Patrick’s Day themes into meaningful social-emotional learning experiences for students.
153. Shamrocks, Rainbows, and Gold: St. Patrick’s Day SEL That Actually Works March in an elementary school often comes with a little extra magic. Leprechaun footprints. Construction paper rainbows. Gold coins hidden in classrooms. But seasonal fun doesn’t have to mean fluffy lessons. In this episode, I'm sharing creative ways to turn St. Patrick’s Day excitement into meaningful social-emotional learning experiences that students will actually remember. You’ll hear simple strategies you can use right away to teach growth mindset, resilience, goal setting, impulse control, and emotional regulation — all while leaning into the fun of the season. As I remind students during one of these lessons: “Some people think leprechauns bring the gold… but what if the real gold comes from effort?” In This Episode • A Luck vs Effort growth mindset lesson students love • How to use rainbows to teach goal setting • Turning leprechaun traps into problem-solving activities • A character traits treasure hunt with gold coins • A gratitude shift from “I’m lucky because…” to “I worked hard for…” • A playful impulse control lesson: Leprechaun Trick or Think • Rainbow Regulation coping strategies for…
People in this episode
Host: Carol Miller
Topics covered
- social-emotional learning
- growth mindset
- resilience
- goal setting
- impulse control
- emotional regulation
Keywords
- St. Patrick’s Day
- social-emotional learning
- growth mindset
- resilience
- goal setting
- impulse control
- emotional regulation
- elementary school
- seasonal lessons
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Shamrocks, Rainbows and Gold
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