Preschool Groundhog Day Activities Books + Free Printables

Preschool Groundhog Day Activities Books + Free Printables

Groundhog Day is a fun holiday observed every year on February 2nd. It centers around the tradition of a groundhog emerging from its burrow to predict the coming of spring. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it means six more weeks of winter and no shadow means an early spring. This fun holiday sparks excitement in both classrooms and homes. It’s a chance for preschoolers to learn about shadows, hibernation, and the changing seasons through hands-on activities, stories, and songs. The fun traditions of Groundhog Day provide a wonderful blend of education and celebration.

Groundhog Day Free Activity Pack:

Everyone is buzzing with excitement, waiting to see if the groundhog will spot its shadow this year! To make the celebration even more exciting,  FREE Groundhog Day Preschool Activity pack with engaging related activities. This pack offers a variety of engaging activities, games, and puzzles featuring the groundhog. 

​The Groundhog Day pack is a wonderful resource for teachers, parents, and caregivers to enhance the festivities and create lasting memories for the preschoolers, fostering a love for learning through play.

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Groundhog Day Fun and Facts

Groundhog Day is full of fascinating facts that preschoolers will love! This holiday, rooted in folklore, is all about the groundhog’s prediction of spring based on whether it sees its shadow.

For preschoolers, you can explain it simply: if the groundhog sees its shadow, it means winter will stick around a little longer, but no shadow means spring is on the way. Using colorful visuals like pictures of groundhogs, shadows, and the sun can help make these ideas easy to understand and more engaging. These fun facts are not only exciting but also provide a playful way to introduce young learners to weather patterns and the changing seasons.

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Groundhog Day Craft Idea

Invite your preschoolers to make their own groundhog with this simple step by step idea:

Materials: Gather brown construction paper, googly eyes, markers or crayons, scissors, glue, and popsicle sticks.

Steps: 

• Trace and cut out a big circle from the brown paper for the groundhog's body.
• Cut out a smaller circle for the head.
• Attach the head to the body using glue.
• Stick on googly eyes and draw a cute nose and smile with markers or crayons.
• Glue the groundhog onto a popsicle stick to make a puppet or stick it on paper for display.

We love the simplicity of this craft and the opportunity for preschoolers to personalize and decorate their groundhog as they'd like!

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Groundhog Day Songs and Rhymes 

Checkout this list of Groundhog Day songs, rhymes, and chants that you can use with your preschoolers to celebrate Groundhog Day.

Groundhog Day by: Jack Hartmann

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Groundhog Day by: The Kiboomers 

I'm A Little Groundhog by: The Kiboomers

Silly Groundhog Dance

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Groundhog Day Printables and Activities 

Take a look at a few of the activities included in the free printable pack.

Shape Clip Cards

Preschoolers identify the shape on the tummy of each little groundhog and then clip the matching shape at the bottom for an engaging way to practice shape recognition. You can find this activity inside of the Free Groundhog Day Printable Pack.

Free Groundhog Day Printable Activities

Groundhog Shadow Matching Activity

This activity is a fun way for preschoolers to practice shape discrimination. Match the groundhog with it's shadow!

Free Printable Groundhog Day Activities

Group Survey

After learning about groundhogs take a survey! This activity can be done as a small or whole group activity.

Free Groundhog Day Activities

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Outdoor Exploration

. Take a Nature Walk:

• Take a walk in a nearby park or nature reserve.
• Look for signs of animal activity, like tracks or burrows.
• Encourage kids to observe changes in the environment, such as budding flowers or remaining snow.

Observing Animals and Their Behaviors:

• Set up a bird feeder and watch different bird species. Discuss how animals prepare for different seasons.
• Observe squirrels or other small animals, noting their movements and behaviors.
• Look for animal tracks in mud or snow and try to identify them together.

Encouragement for nature-based learning can include:

• ​Share the excitement of discovering nature with your preschooler and ask open-ended questions about what they observe.
• Integrate Groundhog Day by discussing hibernation and how animals adapt to changing seasons.
• Use nature as a learning resource to explore concepts related to Groundhog Day, such as shadows and weather changes.
• Emphasize the value of outdoor exploration for physical activity, curiosity, and connecting with nature.

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Groundhog Day Storytime

Groundhog Day

Celebrate Groundhogs Day with this fun book teaching preschoolers all about this fun tradition.

                         ​Groundhogs

Learn all about the habitat of a groundhog through this educational picture book.

               Groundhogs Day Off

​Groundhog takes a much needed vacation...who is going to fill his spot? This is such a fun and silly book that celebrates groundhogs day.

If you're looking for more ideas that include animals, hibernation, and winter head to our selection of Winter Preschool Book Ideas. 

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​Simple and Child-Friendly Groundhog Day Snack Recipes

Cooking with kids is a fantastic way to engage them in a sensory and educational activity. 

Fruit and Cheese Groundhog Snacks:

• Cut out circles of cheese and place them on a plate.
• Use grapes or blueberries for eyes, a small carrot slice for a nose, and pretzel sticks for ears to create a groundhog face.

Groundhog Cookies:

• Make cookie dough (store-bought or homemade).
• Roll out the dough and use a groundhog-shaped cookie cutter.
• Bake according to the recipe and let cool.
• Decorate with icing and edible eyes.

Groundhog Cupcakes:

• Bake chocolate cupcakes and let them cool.
• Frost with chocolate icing.
• Use candies and edible markers to create groundhog faces.

Ground Hog Snack Cups:

• Fill small cups with graham cracker crumbs to represent dirt. Add a small treat, like a chocolate-covered pretzel or a mini donut, on top as the "groundhog." You can even add a small piece of fruit, like a raisin, to make it look like the groundhog is peeking out.

Cooking with preschoolers can be a fun and educational experience. These Groundhog Day treats not only provide a yummy snack but also offer a chance for little ones to engage in the kitchen while learning about Groundhogs Day in a hands-on way. 

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Wrapping Up Our Groundhog Day Celebration

Groundhog Day is a fun way for preschoolers to learn about hibernation, shadows, and the changing seasons. It helps them understand why animals like groundhogs sleep through the winter and how weather changes tell us about the seasons. This hands-on learning makes exploring nature exciting for young kids.

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You might like:

Club Members can print this resource for free using the special link found in our shop listings (or you can find it inside the member download area)!
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Animal Winter Homes

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Do you have a favorite activity for celebrating Groundhogs Day?
Let us know in the comments!