Curriculum | February
Groundhog Day is one of those holidays that sneaks up out of nowhere. The winter months are busy and sometimes fitting in Groundhog Day and the 100th Day of School can be tricky. If you're feeling a little behind, have no fear because I've got you covered with kindergarten Groundhog Day activities, read alouds, freebies, and more!
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Groundhog Day Read Alouds
One of the best (and easiest) ways to incorporate Groundhog Day into your lessons is with Groundhog Day read alouds.
Here are some of my favorite Groundhog Day read alouds that you can add to your reading list in the days leading up to and following the holiday. I truly believe you can't have too many read aloud books on hand!
- Groundhug Day byAnne Marie Pace
- Grumpy Groundhog byMaureen Wright
- Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub
- Groundhog's Dilemma byKristen Remenar
- Groundhog Gets a Say byPamela Curtis Swallow
- Substitute Groundhog byPat Miller
- Groundhog's Runaway Shadow byDavid Biedrzycki
- Groundhog Day! byGail Gibbons
- Groundhog's Day Off byRobb Pearlman
- Who Will See Their Shadows This Year? byJerry Pallotta
- Go to Sleep, Groundhog! byJudy Cox
- Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! byAbby Levine
- The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun byWendie C. Old
- Ten Grouchy Groundhogs byKathryn Heling
- Wake Up, Groundhog! bySusanna Leonard Hill
- Punxsutawney Phyllis bySusanna Leonard Hill
Groundhog Day Math and Literacy Centers
If there's one thing I know about teaching kindergarten, it's that the schedule is always jam-packed. There are so many skills to teach and concepts to cover. It can be difficult to incorporate fun activities and themes into the already busy schedule.
However, one of the best ways to do this is by using themed math and literacy centers, like Groundhog Day centers, so you can have the best of both worlds!
Students can practice key math and literacy skills that you're already working on this month while celebrating all the fun that comes with Groundhog Day.
These centers make differentiation a breeze. Plus, all you need are basic supplies and manipulatives.
DIY Shadow Activity
If you're looking for a quick and easy DIY Groundhog Day activity, this shadow activity is perfect! Plus, it is great for practicing direction following skills.
To play, the teacher makes a move without talking. The students must focus on the teacher and copy the movement. This is like a Groundhog Day version of “Simon Says.”
You can switch it up by saying “Groundhog Says” before each movement. This game is perfect for carpet time, a brain break, or a quick time-filler game.
Groundhog Day Writing Centers
Groundhog Day brings a ton of great opportunities for practicing beginning writing skills in kindergarten with Groundhog Day-themed writing centers.
These centers are also a great way for students to learn about new vocabulary words and use them in context, such as groundhog, shadow, underground, spring, winter, and more.
Students can write about their predictions of whether or not the groundhog will see his shadow.
They can also practice opinion-writing with activities that allow students to share whether or not they'd like the Groundhog to see his shadow and why.
If you're looking for tips on getting started with writing centers in kindergarten, check out this blog post.
DIY Writing Activity
For a quick and easy writing lesson, try this DIY kindergarten Groundhog Day writing activity.
To begin, write this predictable sentence on the whiteboard:
I think the groundhog will _________.
Hold a class discussion to talk about the possible outcomes and predictions. Discuss what might happen if the groundhog does or does not see his shadow. You can also tie this into a conversation about weather and seasons.
Have students write the predictable sentence on a piece of lined writing paper or on their own individual whiteboard.
Ask students to finish the sentence with their prediction and illustrate.
Free Groundhog Day Prediction Activity
It's not Groundhog Day until you've predicted whether or not you think the groundhog will see his shadow.Predicting and gathering data is one of those staple kindergarten Groundhog Day activities!
If you're like me, you're always hoping for a cloudy day so that the groundhog doesn't see his shadow. Spring can never come soon enough!
Since I know you have so many skills to teach, I wanted to share a fun Groundhog Day Prediction activity that is a total cross-curricular hit!
This activity combines a hands-on picture sort, prediction graphing activity that incorporates math skills, and a Groundhog Day writing activity.
Just fill out the form below to have this Groundhog Day Prediction Freebie sent straight to your inbox!
I hope you and your students enjoy these kindergarten Groundhog Day activities and that they make your teacher life even easier this winter!
If you're looking for even more Groundhog Day activities and centers for all the fun holidays in February, check out these February Math and Literacy Centers, which include centers for Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day, and Dental Health!
