Groundhog Day Activities for the Classroom

Groundhog Day is just days away! It is such a fun holiday to celebrate in the classroom and a great way for students to practice the concept of predicting. “Will the groundhog see its shadow?” and “Is spring ever going to be here?” Other questions arise as well like, “What exactly IS a groundhog?” I have put together a selection of activities that answer or allow your students to answer theses questions and have fun celebrating Groundhog Day at the same time!

Let’s start off with a book recommendation! Here is my FAVORITE Groundhog Day book.

Groundhog’s Dilemma

by Kristin Remenar

“After Groundhog announces six more weeks of winter, half his animal friends are disappointed, while the other half are excited. Each animal asks Groundhog to make his prediction in their favor the following year. Rather than being truthful about the fact that he just “calls it like he sees it,” he leads them to believe he can control the weather, accepting their gifts of food and favor. On the next Groundhog Day, he finally admits he made promises he couldn’t keep because he was trying to please everyone and makes amends.”

I love this book because it addresses so many age appropriate issues about friendship, honesty and making and keeping promises. It also give students a bit of the “science” behind Groundhog Day and talks about making predictions. So much learning all in one book!

Groundhog Day Activities for the Classroom

Speaking of making predictions, here are a few activities to use BEFORE and during Groundhog Day.

GROUNDHOG DAY ACTIVITIES: MAKING PREDICTING, SORTING, GRAPHING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES

Students make predictions about what the groundhog will or will not see, collect data from their classmates and graph the results. They also write a letter to the groundhog tell him what they HOPE he will see and why. Finally, they write about what the groundhog actually sees and how it makes them feel.

GROUNDHOG DAY ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS: PREDICTING, SORTING AND WRITING ACTIVITIES

Similar to the activity above, but meant for younger students. I created this product for the very best preschool teacher in the world to use with her 4 year olds. These products are perfect for Kindergarten as well. In this product, student predict what the groundhog will or will not see, gather data from the class and count the results. They also write about what they hope to happen and how they feel about the results.

ALL ABOUT GROUNDHOGS STUDENT READER

Want to teach your students about groundhogs in general? Where they live, what they eat or who are their predators? This product, All About Groundhogs Student Reader, will help you do just that. Just print and assemble the book and you are ready to learn with your students!

GROUNDHOG DAY MATH ACTIVITIES

These product allow students to practice addition, subtraction and number bonds with groundhog themed practice pages.

GROUNDHOG DAY PREDICTION FORMS

And what post is complete without a FREEBIE? Use these prediction forms with your students to see what they think will happen on Groundhog Day then go from there!

Looking for More?

If you are familiar with the amazing writing approach called The Writing Revolution, here are a few Groundhog Day products for you! These products help students practice sentence level skills including:

Sentence Types: Questions, Statements, Commands and Exclamations

Sentences and Fragments: Identifying Sentences and Fragments

Using Question Words: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How

Expanding Written Responses: Using Because, But and So

Combining Sentences: Using And, But & So

Scrambled Sentences: Unscrambling Scrambled Sentences

Using Subrodinating Conjunctions: When/If and Before/After