Have you got the luck o’ the Irish?
With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, why not ask your friends and family to try their luck in a guessing game? You can use one of the three game options below or combine them all into one big fundraiser!
ADVERTISING
Let your friends and family know about the quick and fun guessing games they can participate in to help you raise money for your upcoming Summit. Encourage everyone to start saving their dollar bills and coins in the lead up to the games. Be sure to advertise on social media as well as by word of mouth.
While you’re at it, speak to your school principal and ask permission to post flyers in the hallway advertising your guessing games to your peers. We recommend running your guessing games during lunch for a week to allow as many people as possible to play.
Getting ready to play
We put together three St. Patrick’s Day themed guessing games for you to choose from.
Option 1: Taste the Rainbow!
What you will need:
Skittles
Mason Jar or Secured See-Through Container
Ziploc Bag
Head to your local dollar store or grocery store and grab several large bags of Skittles. Find a large mason jar or container, fill it to the brim with Skittles, and seal it. Count out the number of Skittles you put into the jar and write the total down in a place you won’t forget.
Charge $1 per guess or 6 guesses for $5. Have each player write their guess down along with their name and phone number on a piece of paper that you keep in a Ziploc bag. Let them know you will sort through the guesses at the end of the week and find the guess closest to the actual total without going over. In the event of a tie, hold a drawing for the winner!
Contact the winner to let them know their prize is the jar of Skittles!
Option 2: Pot o’ Gold!
What you will need:
Chocolate Gold Coins
M&M’S
Mason Jar or Secured See-Through Container
Ziploc Bag
Head to your local dollar store or grocery store and grab several bags of chocolate gold coins and a couple bags of M&M’s. Find a large mason jar or container, fill it to the brim with gold coins and M&M’s, and seal it. Write down the number of gold coins, and stash the paper in a place you won’t lose it.
Tip: Adding loose candy like M&M’s makes it harder for people to try to count up the gold coins.
Charge $1 per guess or 6 guesses for $5. Have the people guessing write their name, phone number and guess down on a piece of paper that you keep in your Ziploc bag. Let them know that the guess closest to the total without going over will win the jar of gold coins and M&M’s! Be sure to contact your winner at the end of the week.
Option 3: Four-Leaf Clover Hunt!
What you will need:
Green construction paper
Scissors
A shoe box or something similar
Small candy prizes (M&Ms, Skittles, gold coins, etc.)
Cut several three-leaf clovers out of your green construction paper and only a few four-leaf clovers. Set your lose:win ratio so that you aren’t spending too much money on prizes. We suggest a 5:1 ratio. Cut a hand-sized hole into the top of the box, crumple up your clovers, and place them inside. Purchase small prizes such as fun-sized bags of M&Ms or Skittles, or bags of gold coins.
Tip: Decorate the outside of your shoe box to match your St. Patrick’s Day theme!
Charge $1 per grab or 6 grabs for $5. Be sure to have the prizes on hand so those who draw four-leaf clovers can enjoy their treats right away.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Step up your fundraising effort! If your principal agrees to let you share this fundraiser at school, dress to impress. Grab some St. Patrick’s Day baubles from your local dollar store to spruce up your outfit during your fundraising lunches. This is a great way to grab the attention of your friends and classmates and get them into the guessing spirit.
By Meghan Kendle
Meghan, an educator from Oregon, has been an active member of Ambassador Leaders for years and has traveled the world with students. The best part of her year is participating in the Summits, and she can’t wait to see you there!