Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the start of spring, or just keep your kids from running amok with a printable shamrock template. Yep, one shamrock printable free download can do all of that … so imagine what you can do with six! Are you ready for that kind of power? If so, today is your lucky day. 😉
What does St. Patrick’s Day look like for you? For me, now that I’m a Mom and you know, no longer a college student, it’s definitely a more sedate holiday. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t like to acknowledge the day, and these printable shamrock images are a fun and free way to do so!
Small Green Printable Shamrock Template
Not Irish? That doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and seize the opportunity to educate your kids. It’s a fine time to teach your kid about Irish culture and to help him or her differentiate the true holiday from certain stereotypes. An easy way to start the conversation is with one of these free printable shamrock templates.
For example, do you know why shamrocks are the symbol of St. Patrick’s Day? If not, keep reading (and checking out these printable shamrock patterns)!
Tip: These free shamrock templates aren’t just for educational purposes or for kids! Specifically, you can use the small green printable shamrock template to create a printable shamrock pattern such as for a scrapbook page.
Medium Green Printable Shamrock Template
St. Patrick’s Day was originally the celebration of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. There are a whole slew of legends about St. Patrick, including that he drove the snakes out of Ireland and that he used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated with religious services and food.
Irish immigrants brought the holiday to America. In fact, St. Patrick’s Day was being celebrated in the United States before there was a United States! Boston held it’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737 (source)!
Bonus: Printable green shamrocks like this medium green shamrock printable are great, but if you’re looking for something a little more St. Patrick’s specific, check out these St. Patrick’s Day printables!
Large Green Printable Shamrock Template
Not religious? No worries, the shamrock is also Ireland’s national plant so you could just use these free printable shamrock images to teach your kid about Ireland! Have him or her help cook an Irish dish, find Ireland on a map, and weather permitting, go outside and find their own shamrock.
Wait, find a shamrock? Aren’t they just in Ireland? Nope!
Tip: If the weather doesn’t lend itself to doing some outside exploration, download this large green printable shamrock template and hide it in the house for them to find.
Small Black and White Printable Shamrock Template
Shamrock comes from an Irish word that means “little clover.” And guess what? There are a lot of different types of clover; in fact, there are probably a few in your own backyard.
As you’ll see on these shamrock printable free downloads, shamrocks only have to have three leaves. Don’t confuse them with four leaf clovers, which have, you guessed it, four leaves! Depicting shamrocks with four leaves is pretty common, although inaccurate, which is why the shamrock outline printable has just three leaves.
Bonus: Looking for more free printable shamrock images? Look no further than these shamrock coloring pages!
Medium Black and White Printable Shamrock Template
Now, technically a four leaf clover could be a shamrock … because a shamrock is a clover. Does that make sense? It’s sort of like this—all thumbs are fingers but not all fingers are thumbs.
However, four leaf clovers are an uncommon mutation. In addition, the three leaf version is the way shamrocks were traditional represented; remember, St. Patrick used one to explain the Holy Trinity. Due to that, all of these free printable shamrock templates have only three leaves.
Bonus: If this printable shamrock pattern doesn’t have you feeling lucky, what about these printable four leaf clover templates ?
Large Black and White Printable Shamrock Template
So, to recap, these free printable shamrock images can be used to:
- Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day – For example, use the printable green shamrocks as decorations around your home.
- Educate your child about Irish culture or Ireland.
- Educate your child about plants, specifically shamrocks and clover.
I don’t know about you, but for me, greenery always makes me think of spring! That means you could use this shamrock printable free download to commemorate the start of the new season. The Spring Equinox occurs on March 19, 20, or 21 every year.
Bonus: If these printable green shamrocks have you thinking of spring, and you’d like even more color in your world, consider making these bright springtime cakes in a jar!
Another use for these shamrock outline printables, specifically the uncolored black and white downloads, is to use them as coloring sheets. Print out different sizes and let your kid get creative. Coloring is a great way to stave off cabin fever; in fact, it’s proven to help with relaxation!
Can you think of other uses for these printable shamrocks? Share your inspiration in the comments!
Marci says
Kelli-you are the best-I’m a grandma, retired teacher, who homeschooled her grandsons through the pandemic. They are back in school, but now I have a new, little one to start on the road to learning. I’m on a fixed budget, so your website is so appreciated, Wishing you all of the best!
Marci