Preschool Groundhog Day Ideas + Free Printables (2024)

FAQs

How do you teach preschoolers about Groundhog Day? ›

Discuss with your preschoolers that according to tradition, if the groundhog sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, spring will come early. It's a playful way to engage children in learning about seasons and weather prediction.

It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. In 2024, an early spring was predicted.

The rodents enter their burrows to hibernate in the winter and come back out around the same time every year. Males poke their heads out in early February—not to forecast more winter weather, but to claim their territory. In the spring, females give birth in their dens to about three to five pups.

On this day, according to tradition, people watch the behavior of a groundhog (also called a woodchuck) to find out what the weather will be like for the next six weeks. If the animal sees its shadow as it comes out of its burrow, there will be six more weeks of wintery weather.

The average groundhog weighs as much as 11lbs. Despite their stocky build, they are surprisingly quick. Groundhogs are also good swimmers and tree climbers. They have two layers of fur: a dense grey undercoat and a longer coat of banded guard hairs that gives the groundhog a “frosted” appearance.

Flood the tunnel with water.

Put the end of your garden hose into one of the entrance holes for the tunnel, and turn your water on. As water fills the tunnel, the groundhogs will leave the burrow so they don't drown.

Punxsutawney Phil (/ˌpʌŋksəˈtɔːni/) is a groundhog residing in Young Township near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who is the central figure in Punxsutawney's annual Groundhog Day celebration.

So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br'er Groundhog. Does Phil have any children? No, Phil has never had any children.

The groundhog is a large rodent that belongs to the squirrel family. It is also called the woodchuck. The groundhog's scientific name is Marmota monax. The groundhog lives in the United States and Canada.

What lesson does Groundhog Day teach? ›

Aside from plenty of laughs, “Groundhog Day” delivers powerful messages about change, love and being a good person. Phil is unable to break the time loop until he totally changes who he is.

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. On this day the behavior of a groundhog (or woodchuck) is said to predict the weather for the next six weeks. If the groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, the weather supposedly will be cold and wintry.

According to tradition, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, it's supposed to be an early spring. The groundhog who predicts the weather is called a “prognosticator,” a word that means someone who foretells a future event.

Begin by bringing in a stuffed animal to stand in as the "groundhog." Have students select a name–something catchy–such as "Fairview Fred" or "Springfield Sal." Then plan a Groundhog Day celebration by choosing a location on school grounds and inviting other classes to attend the event.