Fremont kindergartners have high hopes with leprechaun traps

Kindergartner Sophia Watson was excited Thursday as she described her elaborate leprechaun trap at Fremont Elementary School near Mundelein.

"It's kind of hard but kind of easy also to make a trap," Sophia said while demonstrating the green-covered cardboard box she fashioned into a leprechaun trap.

"When the leprechaun runs in, he's going to make the trap unstable, and then the trap is going to tip over," she said. "I have Hershey's kisses in there in case he gets hungry."

Sophia was one of more than 200 Fremont kindergartners who spent the last few weeks designing and building intricate traps in hopes of catching a leprechaun on St. Patrick's Day.

"In mid-March, we do a big spring unit learning about rainbows, color words and leprechauns," said kindergarten teacher Tracy Goldman. "The kids at home build the leprechaun traps with their families and bring it to school before St. Patrick's Day. They are very excited and proud of their work. They love explaining it to their friends."

No leprechauns were captured at Fremont on Thursday, but evidence of the mischievous characters' presence - footprints, green toilet water and overturned chairs - was spotted around school.