A Full Day Lesson Plan for Groundhog Day

I’m coming to you today with a full day lesson plan for Groundhog Day! I know how tight time is and how stressful it can be to try to add in additional lesson plans for celebrations throughout the year.. And I also know how exhausting it is trying to think of new activities each time too. My hope is that this blog post will help give you some ideas for planning day to celebrate Groundhog Day in your classroom.

Groundhog Day is an exciting opportunity to create a day of fun, engaging, and educational activities in your classroom. From exploring weather predictions to learning about the history of this tradition, your students will love celebrating this special day. To make your life easier, I’ve included below a full-day lesson plan with activities tailored for Groundhog Day.

Where possible, I’ve included links for you to instantly download resources to make it even easier for you too!

Morning: Groundhog Day Reading and Discussion

1. Morning Reading: What is Groundhog Day?

Start your day by introducing students to the history and traditions of Groundhog Day. Use my FREE Groundhog Day Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions to guide your discussion.

Objective: Build reading comprehension skills while teaching students about the origins and traditions of Groundhog Day.
Activity: Read the passage as a group or individually, then discuss questions such as:
- What is Groundhog Day?
- Why do people celebrate it?
- What does it mean if the groundhog sees its shadow?

2. Discussion: Weather Predictions

Talk about the connection between Groundhog Day and weather predictions. Discuss the folklore behind the groundhog’s shadow and ask students:

Do they think the groundhog will see its shadow this year? Why or why not?
What are other ways people predict the weather?

3. Reading with Groundhog Day Adapted Books

Engage your students in a meaningful and accessible reading experience with my Groundhog Day Adapted Books for Special Education. These books are perfect for learners who thrive with visual supports, repetition, and interactive elements.

Objective: Build reading comprehension, vocabulary, and engagement while exploring Groundhog Day traditions.
Activity:
- Start with a group reading session using the adapted books, emphasizing key words and phrases.
- Allow students to use interactive pieces (like matching or sentence-building) included in the books to actively participate in the reading process.
- Discuss the story themes, such as the groundhog seeing its shadow, in a way that encourages students to connect with the material.
Extension Idea: Pair the adapted books with a creative activity, such as acting out the story with puppets or creating a visual timeline of events from the book.

Mid-Morning: Hands-On Activities

4. Groundhog Craft

Engage your students with a creative craft activity. We love to make Groundhog puppets, and Groundhog sun catchers for our classroom windows too.

Objective: Encourage fine motor skills and creativity.
Activity: Students will color and assemble their own groundhog craft, which they can use as a puppet to act out Groundhog Day scenarios.

5. Shadow Science Experiment

Bring the concept of shadows to life with a simple science experiment.

Objective: Teach students about how shadows are formed and their connection to light.
Materials: Flashlights, small toy animals, and a blank wall or table.
Activity: Have students use the flashlights to create shadows of the toy animals. Let them experiment by moving the flashlight closer or farther away. Ask:
- What happens when the light is very close?
- How does the shadow change when the light is farther away?

This hands-on experiment ties beautifully into the groundhog’s shadow prediction tradition.

6. Groundhog Life Cycle Exploration

Groundhog Day is the perfect time to dive deeper into the lives of these fascinating creatures. Use my Groundhog Life Cycle Activities to teach your students about the life stages of a groundhog in an interactive and hands-on way.

Objective: Help students learn about the groundhog’s life cycle, from birth to adulthood, and its role in the ecosystem.
Activity:
- Start by showing visual aids or diagrams from the resource to explain each stage of the groundhog’s life cycle.
- Have students complete the cut-and-paste activity, matching life cycle stages to their descriptions.
- Use the coloring pages to reinforce the concept in a fun and creative way.
Extension Idea: After learning about the life cycle, encourage students to compare the life cycle of a groundhog to another animal, such as a rabbit or a squirrel. This will help them understand similarities and differences between species.

Lunch Break: Groundhog Day Trivia

During lunch, keep the Groundhog Day theme going with trivia! Use fun facts to quiz students on their knowledge.

Afternoon: Math and Writing

7. Groundhog-Themed Math

Incorporate math into the Groundhog Day fun with my Groundhog Day Count and Clip Cards.

Objective: Reinforce counting and number recognition skills.
Activity: Students will count the images on the cards and clip the correct answer with a clothespin. For older students, you can extend this activity by asking them to add or subtract the images.

8. Creative Writing: Groundhog Predictions

Encourage students to write their own Groundhog Day predictions.

Objective: Develop writing and critical thinking skills.
Activity: Ask students to imagine they are a groundhog. Will they see their shadow? What would they tell the world about the upcoming weather? Let their imaginations run wild as they write!

End of the Day: Wrap-Up and Reflection

9. Watch a Groundhog Day Video

Wind down with a short educational video about Groundhog Day. Many kid-friendly options are available on YouTube, showcasing Punxsutawney Phil and the history of the tradition.

10. Reflection and Sharing

Finish the day by reflecting on what the students learned. Ask:

What was their favorite activity?
What new fact did they learn about Groundhog Day?

Encourage students to share their crafts, writing, or predictions with the class.

Grab Your Resources Today!

Below are a list of resources and activities that you may find helpful when planning your Groundhog Day;

Let me know how these activities work in your classroom, and have a fantastic Groundhog Day! 😊🦫

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Nikki