IT'S COMING! IT'S COMING!

Oh, my!  I just looked at the calendar and I realized Groundhog Day is just a week away.  I better “pause” my brain break blogs and give you some ideas for next week.  Although Groundhog Day will actually fall on a Saturday this year, I’m sure you’ll want to incorporate some of these activities in your plans.

Groundhog Day – February 2nd

(Tune:  “Say, Say, My Playmate”)

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.”

*You can download this book at drjean.org/ February, 2007.

Cup Puppet – Let children draw a groundhog or download one 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.  Make a copy of the attached groundhog.  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.

Dramatize - Invite children to dramatize the groundhog peeping out of his hole.   What if it's sunny?  What if it's cloudy?

Note!  Visit groundhog.org for some great ideas!