Groundhog Day

Cute Groundhog

The Groundhog

The groundhog emerges on February two
To see if the sky is sunny and blue.
It seems rather funny
That if it is sunny
The groundhog goes back in his hole
For six weeks of winter.

Songs

I'm a Little Groundhog
Tune: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little groundhog short and stout,
February second I will come out.
If I see my shadow they will shout,
Six weeks more winter without doubt!

Groundhog, Groundhog
Tune: "Baa Baa Black Sheep"

Groundhog, Groundhog, popping up today.
Groundhog, Groundhog, can you play?
If you see your shadow, hide away.
If there is no shadow, you can stay.
Groundhog, Groundhog, popping up today.
Groundhog, Groundhog, can you play?

Mr. Groundhog

Tune: "London Bridges"

Mr. Groundhog down below,
Pop up through the fluffy snow,
See his shadow watch him go,
Winter's here to stay.

Mr. Groundhog down below,
Pops up through the fluffy snow,
Wide awake he wants to play,
Spring is on it's way.

Video

Art

Sponge Paint Groundhog

Cut a groundhog shape out of a sponge and let the children sponge paint a collage of groundhog shadows, with black sponge painting on white paper

Printable Groundhog Template

Shadow Hunting
Need: paper, markers, black construction paper, scissors.

Children draw sunny pictures and then identify things within them that could have shadows. They can cut shadow forms from the black paper and glue them on. Encourage children to tell or write about their pictures.

Group

Shadow Detectives

Ask children to find unusual shadows in the classroom. Encourage them to hunt for shadows that intrigue them. Model how to lay the paper on a shadow and trace it. Display the tracings and ask children to identify the different objects.

Invite children to talk about why they chose a particular shadow.

Shadows
Need: Various objects and white paper. (would be better to use black paper and white crayons/chalk.)

Ask children to look for shadows around the room and to guess which objects are making them. They can experiment by using their bodies to make shadows in sunny parts of the room.

Trace your fingers around shadows in order to make sure children understand what you are asking them to find.

Show them how to use their hands to create shadow animals. Then ask children to make shadows with their hands or simple objects on white paper while others others trace the shape with a pencil.

Ask them to tell you or show you how they make shadows, and give them time to experiment with shadows until they begin to understand that, shadows are formed when the light is blocked.

Story

Gregory's Shadow
by Don Freeman

Gregory is a shy groundhog, and having his friend Shadow close by makes him feel brave. But one day Gregory and Shadow go outside to look for food, and they get separated. Scared and lonely, they search and search for one another. To make matters worse, tomorrow is Groundhog Day, and everyone will be waiting to see if Gregory and his shadow leave their home together. Will the two friends find each other in time for Groundhog Day?

Video

Games

Shadow Dancing
Need: cd player, cd playing instrumental musical variety.

Gather children in a sunny area and invite them to move to music. In doing so, challenge children to observe their shadows and find ways to use their whole bodies to make the shadows taller or shorter, creating unique "shadow dances."

Shadow Tag (outside game)

Have children find their shadows. On the word "go". the tagger tries to "tag" the "walker" by stepping on his/her shadow and yelling "caught". Last child tagged becomes the next tagger.

Science

Shadow Clocks
Need: Coffee can or sand bucket, stick, 12 rocks.

Explain to children that we can use shadows to make a kind of clock. As children make their clock use the hours of the day in a natural context. At 11 o'clock we eat lunch. What time do you eat supper?

To construct a clock, ask children to fill the coffee can to the top with moist sand. Then press the stick firmly in place. Place the can in direct sunlight with a stone in the sand at the top of the shadow cast by the stick.

Later, let children check to see where the shadow of the stick appears and mark it with a new stone. As the day passes, they will observe how the shadow changes position. Ask children to predict whether they will see a shadow at the end of the day, when the sun goes down.