Groundhog Day is a fun and quirky holiday that falls on February 2nd each year.
While the actual holiday is a bit unusual, it’s a great opportunity to engage young children in learning about seasons, weather patterns, and animal behavior.
Plus, it’s a chance to have some fun! In this blog post, we’ll explore exciting Groundhog Day activities for preschoolers that are both educational and entertaining.
From crafts to science experiments to games, these activities will keep your little ones engaged and excited about Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Shadow Play:
One of the most well-known traditions of Groundhog Day is predicting the weather based on whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow. To help preschoolers understand this concept, create a shadow play activity. Use a flashlight to create shadows of different objects on a wall or sheet. Have the children try to predict which objects will create a shadow and which won’t be based on the position of the light. Then, introduce a groundhog puppet and have the children predict whether or not he will see his shadow based on the shadows they see.
Groundhog Snack:
Preschoolers love snacks, so why not turn snack time into a learning experience? Make a groundhog snack by cutting a banana in half and using raisins for the eyes and nose. Have the children help make the snack and talk about the features of a groundhog. This is a great opportunity to discuss how groundhogs hibernate during the winter and come out in the spring.
Related: 25 Fun Morning Meeting Activities for Kindergarten
Groundhog Day Craft:
Making crafts is always a hit with preschoolers, so why not create a Groundhog Day craft? Cut out a groundhog shape from brown construction paper and have the children decorate it with crayons, markers, or paint. Then, create a backdrop with a blue sky and green grass. The children can glue their groundhog to the backdrop and create a scene.
Groundhog Day Storytime:
Reading is a great way to introduce children to new concepts and help them learn. Read a book about Groundhog Day to your preschoolers and discuss the story with them. Some great options include “Groundhog Weather School” by Joan Holub or “Punxsutawney Phyllis” by Susanna Leonard Hill.
Related: 25 Social Studies Activities for Preschoolers
Groundhog Science Experiment:
For a fun and educational activity, conduct a science experiment with your preschoolers. Fill a clear jar with soil and place a toy groundhog in the jar. Have the children predict what will happen to the groundhog if it’s buried in the soil. Then, water the soil and observe what happens. This experiment will help children understand how groundhogs burrow in the ground and stay warm during the winter.
Groundhog Day Dance Party:
Turn up the fun with a Groundhog Day dance party. Play music that is associated with the holiday, such as “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher or “Groundhog Day” by Sarah Spencer. Encourage the children to dance and move like groundhogs, burrowing and popping out of the ground.
Related: 25 Palm Sunday Activities for Preschoolers
Groundhog Day Writing Activity:
Give preschoolers a chance to practice their writing skills with a Groundhog Day writing activity. Provide them with a worksheet or paper with a picture of a groundhog on it and ask them to write a sentence or two about the holiday. For example, “On Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil looks for his shadow to predict the weather.”
Groundhog Day Sensory Bin:
Sensory bins are always a hit with preschoolers, so create a Groundhog Day-themed bin. Fill a container with brown rice, dried beans, or sand, and add plastic groundhogs, pine cones, and twigs to create a miniature winter scene. Encourage children to use their imagination and create stories about the groundhogs living in the bin.
Groundhog Day Scavenger Hunt:
Set up a Groundhog Day scavenger hunt to get preschoolers moving and learning. Hide pictures of groundhogs around the room and give the children a list of clues to find them. For example, “Look for a groundhog hiding behind a book” or “Find a groundhog hiding in a shoe.” This activity will teach children about the behavior of groundhogs while also improving their problem-solving skills.
Groundhog Day Sorting Activity:
Create a sorting activity for preschoolers to learn about the different seasons and weather patterns. Cut out pictures of weather conditions like sunny, rainy, snowy, and cloudy. Also, cut out pictures of activities that are associated with each season like swimming, sledding, and gardening. Have the children sort the pictures into different piles based on the season and weather conditions.
Groundhog Day Bingo:
Turn Groundhog Day into a game of bingo. Create bingo cards with groundhog-themed pictures like groundhogs, burrows, shadows, and signs of spring. Use candy or small toys as markers. Call out the pictures on the cards and have the children mark them off as they are called. The first person to get a full row or column of markers wins.
Groundhog Day Dramatic Play:
Encourage children to use their imagination with a Groundhog Day dramatic play activity. Set up a play area with props such as a burrow, costumes, and food. Encourage the children to act out different scenarios, such as searching for their shadows or hibernating for the winter.
Groundhog Day Graphing Activity:
Teach children about graphs with a Groundhog Day graphing activity. Create a large graph with pictures of sunny and cloudy weather patterns. Have the children place a sticker or marker on the graph to show their prediction of whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow or not. At the end of the day, count the number of stickers in each category and discuss the results.
Groundhog Day Science Observation:
Teach children about the science behind the Groundhog Day prediction with a science observation activity. Create a chart with the weather patterns for the past few weeks leading up to Groundhog Day. Each day, have the children observe the weather and mark it on the chart. Then, on Groundhog Day, compare the actual weather to Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction. This activity will teach children about how weather patterns can be used to make predictions.
Groundhog Day Playdough Activity:
Set up a playdough station and add groundhog-themed cookie cutters and tools. Encourage children to use their creativity and imagination to create their own groundhog burrows or scenes. This activity will help develop fine motor skills and spark their imagination.
Groundhog Day Puppets:
Provide preschoolers with paper bag puppets or stick puppets of groundhogs and have them put on a puppet show. Encourage them to create their own stories or act out the Groundhog Day prediction. This activity will encourage their creativity and storytelling skills.
Groundhog Day Shadow Play:
Turn off the lights and shine a flashlight on a wall. Have the children create shadow puppets using their hands or cutouts of groundhogs. Encourage them to move the puppets to create their own story or to act out the Groundhog Day prediction.
Groundhog Day Collage:
Provide children with a variety of materials like construction paper, tissue paper, and craft sticks to create their own Groundhog Day collages. Encourage them to create their own groundhog scenes or use templates to create their own groundhog images. This activity will help develop their fine motor skills and creativity.
Groundhog Day Cooking Activity:
Make a Groundhog Day snack with preschoolers. Use chocolate pudding and crushed Oreos to create a groundhog burrow and add a groundhog cookie or candy to complete the scene. This activity will allow children to explore their senses and develop their cooking skills.
