Groundhog Day is one of those holidays that totally sneaks up on you as an elementary teacher. By the time you turn the calendar to February… BAM! It’s already here. This post will share some read aloud and resource recommendations to help you plan ahead to celebrate the little guy (and more importantly, the start of spring). There are some really great Groundhog Day activities for elementary students on this list! Read below to learn more!
When is Groundhog Day?
Groundhog Day is on February 2nd each year.
Where is Groundhog Day Celebrated?
Groundhog Day is celebrated in the United States and Canada.
What is the Purpose of Groundhog Day?
The purpose of Groundhog Day is to find out if the groundhog sees his shadow after it emerges from its burrow. The idea is that if the groundhog sees his shadow, then that means that there are six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see his shadow, then spring will arrive early. It’s important to note that this is a cultural celebration, a superstition really, and oftentimes the groundhog is not correct.
11 Groundhog Day Activities
Below are our favorite Groundhog Day actvities.
1. Groundhog Day Activity Packet
This Groundhog Day Activity Packet is filled with fun and engaging activities students love like a directed drawing writing activity, word search, and crossword puzzle! These activities can be used as center activities, homework, fast finisher tasks, filler activities, or indoor recess activities. Learn more about this print-and-go resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
2. Groundhog Day Book Companions
This Groundhog Day Book Companion Bundle includes 4 of our Starts With a Story resources: Groundhug Day, Groundhog Weather School, Groundhog’s Day Off, Groundhog Gets a Say. Each of them includes printable and digital resources, so they can be used in school or at home. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
3. Groundhog Day Non-Fiction Reading Unit
This Groundhog Day Nonfiction Reading Unit includes 3 leveled reading passages, vocabulary cards, reading and writing activities, and more. It pairs really nicely with our fictional book companions like Groundhug Day, Groundhog Weather School, Groundhog’s Day Off, Groundhog Gets a Say. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
4. Groundhog Day Parts of Speech Color by Code Activity
This Groundhog Day Color by Code Activity is a fun and engaging task that invites students to practice identifying the parts of speech of thematic words like (scurry, predict, and winter). It’s a quick print and go activity you can have printed on your desk whenever you have 15-20 minutes to fill. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
5. Groundhog Day Reading Comprehension Activities
These Groundhog Reading Comprehension Activities are perfect for Groundhog Day. They require no prep and can be used over and over again. They can be used with any book about groundhogs. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
6. Groundhog Day Would You Rather Activities
These Groundhog Day Would You Rather Activities include prompts where students are given two options to choose from. They are a great way to increase engagement in your classroom whether it’s during your morning meeting or literacy centers. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
7. Groundhog Day Word Search
This Groundhog Day Word Search is a fun way for students to celebrate Groundhog Day while reinforcing spelling, vocabulary, reading, visual scanning, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
8. Groundhog Day Directed Drawing Activities
These Groundhog Day Directed Drawing Activities are a fun and engaging way for elementary students to practice a variety of important skills: writing, vocabulary, focus, fine motor, social-emotional, and more. Both teachers and students love them! Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
9. Groundhog Day Bookmarks
These printable Groundhog Day Bookmarks pair perfectly with other Groundhog Day activities. Students will enjoy these Groundhog Day coloring activities that spark creativity while giving them a purposeful finished product to use during independent reading. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
10. Groundhog Day Acrostic Poem Activities
These Groundhog Day Acrostic Poem Activities are include five unique acrostic poem templates, each offering a different blend of structure, creativity, and seasonal-themed fun. Each printable worksheet was designed to spark creativity, reinforce writing skills, improve vocabulary, and give students meaningful ways to engage with seasonal themes – all in a super quick and easy format teachers can use with no prep. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
11. Groundhog Day Bingo Activities
Use these Groundhog Day Bingo Activities as coloring pages for a calming activity and then play the game. Learn more about this resource in our Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store!
Get All of the Groundhog Day Activities
Check out all of the Groundhog Day activities for elementary students below!
In closing, we hope you found this post about Groundhog Day activities for elementary students helpful! If you did, you might also be interested in this full list of Groundhog Day books. These make great interactive read alouds in elementary classrooms!
