Groundhog Day Pack for Preschoolers

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Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2^nd when people look at the groundhog. Folklore says that if the sun is shining when the groundhog comes out of its burrow and he sees its shadow, it will go back into its burrow, and we will have winter for six more weeks. However, if it is cloudy, spring will come early that year.

I’ve included a FREE 23-page Groundhog Day pack with literacy, math, science, and fine motor activities that you can download at the end of this post.

History of Groundhog Day

The origins of Groundhog Day can be traced to German settlers in Pennsylvania. These settlers celebrated February 2nd as Candlemas Day. If the sun came out on this day, there would be six more weeks of wintry weather.

At some point, people began to look to the groundhog to make this prediction. The earliest reference to the groundhog is in an 1841 journal entry. In 1886, the Punxsutawney newspaper declared February 2nd Groundhog Day and named the local groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Since then, the day and tradition have spread throughout the United States. There are some celebrations throughout the United States. The largest celebration occurs in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where the famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil has predicted the weather yearly since 1886. Large crowds of well over 10,000 people gather here to see Phil come out of his burrow at around 7:30 am.

Other celebrations occur in towns such as Lilburn, Georgia, with their groundhog, General Beauregard Lee; Staten Island, New York, with Staten Island Chuck; and Marion, Ohio, with Buckeye Chuck. There are even celebrations in Canada.

Groundhogs-related Book

You can take advantage of this theme to bring different types of books to your library, centers, and book baskets. You can include books about groundhogs, shadows, winter, and hibernation. These are some examples of books you can use. You can find them at your local library, used bookstores, and on Amazon. I’ve included my affiliate link in each title for a faster checkout.

Light: Shadows, Mirrors, and Rainbows by Natalie Myra Rosinsky. Learn about the importance of light in our everyday lives. Discover how to make reflections, shadows, and rainbows. This is an outstanding nonfiction read-aloud book with places to stop and do activities together. This is a perfect start if you are looking for clear, concise science books for kids!

Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor. In this cozy bedtime story, follow a child and his grandma through a winter landscape to explore how the Earth goes to sleep for winter. Spot the sleeping animals as the tale unfolds, then learn about their hibernation habits from the information pages at the end.

Groundhog’s Runway Shadow by David Biedrzychi. Phil and his shadow do everything together. But where Phil is steady, predictable, and a little boring, Shadow is adventurous, freewheeling—even rude. So they don’t get along so well anymore. Fed up, the two have a falling out, and Shadow runs off to see the world.

Groundhog’s Day Off by Rob Pearlman. This hilarious story talks about how the groundhog is on strike that year and decides to leave without informing the town if Spring is coming, so the city tries to convince other animals to take the job.

Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons. This is a non-fiction book where the author talks about the traditions and history of Groundhog’s Day, as well as the habits and activities of groundhogs.

The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing. The anticipation is building: Will the groundhog see his shadow? Will there be six more weeks of winter? Get ready for this festive occasion with the countdown to Groundhog Day in this fun, rhyming story.

Groundhog Day by Lisa M. Herrington. This fact-filled book introduces the youngest readers to an in-depth look at this uniquely American holiday and the history of Groundhog Day.

My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson. Your shadow may follow you inside, outside, climbing up the stairs, or jumping into bed! He may even be one step ahead as you run down the street! Kids will learn new ways to play with their shadows with this book.

Shadows and Reflections by Daniel Nunn. This book looks at shadows and reflections, introducing young readers to the concept of light and explaining key scientific concepts through a combination of simple, leveled text and stunning photographs.

Pin It For Later

If you are in a rush and don’t have time to read the post and download the printable but want to save it, pin this to your Groundhog Day or Science Pinterest board for later.

I hope your kids enjoy these activities and that they have fun and learn during Groundhog Day. Don’t forget to grab your FREE pack. Just click the link below and enter your information for an immediate download.

Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.

Love,

P.D. Please let me know if you like this game worked for you. My goal is to help you in any way I can, and I don’t like anything better than to post something that you might find useful.