What is Groundhog Day? Can a rodent really predict the answer to winter’s most pressing question? (For the record, my vote is for NO shadow. Honestly, that’s my vote every year.)
No surprise, but Phil’s activity on the morning of February 2nd is the most watched weather forecast of the year. Hilariously, his predictions are more often incorrect than correct, but the tradition lives on, making it a fun holiday to celebrate with kids.
PLANNING FOR GROUNDHOG DAY
Gather up your favorite books. Most of the books I found in the library are fun fictional tales of groundhogs, but there are good nonfiction choices too. GROUNDHOG DAY by Lisa Herrington (Scholastic) is a good informational book for K-1 kids.
PICTURE BOOKS TO CHECK OUT👇
- Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons
- Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Swallow
- Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub
- Groundhog’s Runaway Shadow by David Biedrzycki
- GroundHUG Day by Anne Marie Pace
- Grumpy Groundhog by Maureen Wright
- Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller
- The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing
GROUNDHOG VIDEOS
Videos also work for sharing factual information. These are two of my favorites to get your search started: FUN FACTS ABOUT GROUNDHOGS and GROUNDHOG VIDEO for KIDS. I’m guessing the second video was made by someone in Missouri because they mention the state twice, but it doesn’t change its usability and it includes great photos. No matter where you live, this video will work.
EASY SNACKS & ART
Cara, from Fork and Beans, has the cutest NO-BAKE GROUNDHOG DAY COOKIES & MUFFINS on her website, complete with how-to pictures for kids to follow. They are simple, adorable, and the perfect snack for children to make on their own. You’ll just need a few easy-to-find ingredients.
And Elyse, from Proud to Be Primary, shares step-by-step photos showing kids HOW TO DRAW A GROUNDHOG. They turn out cute every time … even if you are artistically challenged.
For more ideas, head over to GROUNDHOG DAY IDEAS on PINTEREST. Pinterest is a treasure trove of ideas. I always head there when I need to fill in the last few holes in my plans. A quick search will show you math graphs, puppet projects, large motor games, and more.
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Even with the books and videos available to me, I still like to have reading materials my students can hold, highlight, annotate, and take home at the end of the day. This INFORMATIONAL READING PASSAGE meets that instructional goal and includes pre-reading and comprehension activities to help take care of a few standards along the way.
For children who might not be ready for the length and difficulty of the article, this book offers a differentiated option.👇 It has traceable sight words, bold key words, captions, and labels, so it gives me a chance to review nonfiction text features while we’re learning more about the topic. You can PREVIEW THE BOOK HERE. It’s available in color and black-and-white.
We love flip books, so Flipping Over Groundhogs is a little project we do each year. It gives kids the chance to learn more facts about groundhogs, including information about their body parts and diet.
To tie in phonics, find out how many words your students can make using the letters in the word groundhog. You don’t need any special materials to do this activity, but if you’d like a guided version that includes letter tiles, word cards, and sorting sheets, TRY THIS LESSON. It’s ready to print, cut, and use.
For more February fun, check out Valentine Science!
Happy teaching!
