A guide for using our resources

Children will explore groundhogs and what they do.

Vocabulary: burrows, danger, hibernating, nibble, whistle

Science Focus: animal behavior

  1. Watch a Video:

    What Is a Groundhog?

     

  2. Read the Issue:

    Hello, Groundhog!

     

  3. Play a Game:

    Feed the Groundhog

    Skill: short a words

     

  4. Complete Skill Sheets

    Show What You Know

    Skill: comprehension


    Inside a Groundhog Burrow

    Skill: diagrams

     

  5. Lesson Boosters

  • Paired Text:
    Groundhog's Day Off by Robb Pearlman

     

  • Knowledge-Building Dice Game: 

    Groundhogs

     

  • Scavenger Hunt: 
    Pages 2-3

     

  • Hands-on Activity: 

    Did the Groundhog See Its Shadow?

     

  • More Extension Ideas From Our Archives: See the digital issue page to get your packet!

     

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.K.1 key details, RF.K.3.B short/long vowels, RL.K.1 key details (literature), SL.K.1 oral language

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

Paired Text: Groundhog's Day Off by Robb Pearlman

  • Groundhog is tired of being undervalued. All anyone asks him about is the weather!
  •  This hilarious book answers the question, “What would happen if the groundhog quit?”

Knowledge-Building Dice Game: Groundhogs

  • Play this game in small groups. Print out the skill sheet and give children a number cube. Let children take turns rolling the cube and following the directions.
  • This is a great interactive way to build knowledge!

Scavenger Hunt: Pages 2-3

  • Use pages 2-3 of the issue to do this scavenger hunt as a group.

1. Find the picture where the groundhog is sleeping. Put a ✓on it.

2. Find the heading. Underline it.

3. In the brown box, find the word that means “underground homes.” Circle it.

4. Look at the orange box. What is the groundhog eating? Label it.

Hands-on Activity: Did the Groundhog See Its Shadow?

Skill: gross motor, shadows

Materials: flashlight; long table or something else to crawl under

  • Remind children of the legend: On Groundhog Day, a groundhog pops out of its burrow. If it sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, spring is near!
  • Have kids line up behind a long table or something they can wiggle through or under. (This is the “burrow.”) Dim the classroom lights and stand at the other end of the burrow, flashlight at the ready.
  • Have children crawl through the burrow one at a time. As children come out the other end, shine the flashlight on some but not on others. Your little groundhogs can predict the weather depending on whether they saw their shadow or not!
  • TIP: To make a clear shadow, shine the flashlight at an angle directly over the child. It may take a little angling on your part to get it just right!