GROUNDHOG DAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Be sure and visit groundhog.org for some great ideas for your lesson plans next week.  You'll be amazed at all the resources, cutouts, games, etc.

Groundhog Day – February 2nd

(Tune:  “Say, Say, My Playmate” – HAPPY EVERYTHING CD DISK 1)

February 2^nd,                           (Hold up 2 fingers.)

Is Groundhog Day.

Gather round his hole                    (Make circular motion.)

To hear what he’ll say.                  (Place hand by ear.)

Will spring be early

Or late this year?

Watch and listen

To what you’ll hear.

If he sticks his head out                  (Make a hole with one hand.)

On a sunny day                           (Stick the index finger from the other hand

His shadow will frighten him           up through the hole and wiggle.)

And he will say,

“I’ll go back in my hole                  (Tuck finger in your fist.)

And go back to sleep.

You’ll have winter

For six more weeks.”

If he sticks his head out         (Make a hole with fist and stick up finger.)

On a cloudy day                         

He’s not frightened

So he will say,                           (Wiggle finger.)

“I think I’ll stay out

And the weather should clear.

Spring will be here

Early this year.”

Download this book at drjean.org/monthly activities/February, 2007.

Cup Puppet – Let children draw a groundhog or download an image off the internet.  Staple to a straw.  Punch a hole in the bottom of a paper cup and insert the straw in the cup.  Raise and lower the groundhog as appropriate in the song.

Sidewalk Shadows – Go outside on a sunny day and have children stand with their backs to the sun.  Let them make silly motions and play “Guess what I am?”  Give them chalk and let them trace around each other’s shadows.

Draw shadows at 10, 12, and 2 and compare.

Where’s the Groundhog? – Cut twenty 4” squares out of heavy paper.  Write high frequency words, math facts, letters, etc. on the cards.  Glue a picture of a groundhog on one square.  Have the children sit on the floor in a circle.  Mix up the cards and place them face up on the floor.  Identify the word (etc.) on each card as you place it down on the floor.  Tell the children to turn around.  Hide the groundhog under one of the squares.  Children turn back around and try and guess where the groundhog is hiding.  One at a time children call out a word and then “peek” to see if the groundhog is under it.  The first child to find the groundhog gets to have a turn hiding it.  The game continues as children hide the groundhog and then try to discover his whereabouts.