Activities for Groundhog Day
In European tradition, if the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day, there would be six more weeks of nasty weather. Germans, who immigrated to America, transferred the tradition from the hedgehog to the American groundhog. If the groundhog sees his shadow February 2nd, it means six more weeks of winter. When planning Groundhog Day activities, consider the history and tradition of the day as well as books written for the entertainment of children.
Other People Are Reading
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Read a Book
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Read books about Groundhog Day and talk about the story in the book. Have younger children draw pictures about the books they read and have older ones write short reviews. Read "The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun" by Wendie Old and Paige Billin-Frye together. The book not only contains a story, but also groundhog facts, information about both hibernation and the beginnings of the groundhog festival. Talk about hibernation, even playing "hibernation" when it is time for an afternoon nap.
Write and Act Out a Skit
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Work with the children to write a skit about the groundhog seeing his shadow, allowing them to use imagination to create their own scenario and characters. The story can focus on the basics of the groundhog seeing his shadow or other characters and motivations may add depth to the plot. Props can include a top hat for the groundhog and a blanket covering a card table for a den. A sun and clouds can be created out of cardboard and painted. Let the children practice the skit. Have children act out the skit for other children or family members.
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Illustrate a Poem
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Have the children write a poem about Groundhog Day. Encourage them to pretend they are the groundhog and to write the poem from the perspective of the groundhog, have them write the poem from the perspective of the shadow or the people watching. After they have the poem in final form have them copy it onto the middle of a clean sheet of cardstock. Have them decorate all around the poem to illustrate what they've written.
Groundhog Day Display
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Have children or the whole family work together to create a Groundhog Day display. Let children color and cut out the groundhog, his den, snow, some trees, a groundhog shadow, the sun and the clouds. Take a picture of each child and print out copies. The heading for the Groundhog Day display could be, "Will the Groundhog See His Shadow---We're Watching!" Center the Groundhog Day display in the center of the display with the groundhog peeking out of his den. Fasten the pictures of the children around the edges of the display.
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References
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