Engage with Nature: Groundhog Day Science Activities (2024)

FAQs

How does Groundhog Day relate to science? ›

Groundhog Day is a “cross-quarter day” on the celestial calendar. Cross quarter days are mid-way points between the Solstices and Equinoxes. These days are associated with many familiar holidays whose astronomical roots have largely been forgotten.

Premise of Groundhog Day STEM Challenge

In groups, students will create groundhog shadows, searching for the perfect combinations of light source angles, distances, and even groundhog accessories to meet the specified shadow criteria & constraints. Shadows will be traced and and turned into street art/graffiti.

Begin by bringing in a stuffed animal to stand in as the "groundhog." Have students select a name–something catchy–such as "Fairview Fred" or "Springfield Sal." Then plan a Groundhog Day celebration by choosing a location on school grounds and inviting other classes to attend the event.

We now know that this is caused by high pressure systems. Areas of high pressure pull cold air down from the north. They also sweep away any clouds that might have provided insulation. Consequently, a bright winter day (one on which a groundhog may see a shadow) may be an indication of more cold days to come.

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From 1969 on, Phil's overall accuracy rate is about 36%. The groundhog's powers of prognostication are slightly better when he doesn't cast a shadow, though. "When Phil predicted a short winter, he was much more likely to be right," Roche previously told Live Science.

Researchers have found that groundhogs do in fact emerge from their dens in early February, but not to determine whether they'll see their shadow, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

Groundhog Day is based on the Catholic Candlemas tradition that falls directly between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Local priests said their parishes are holding special services to celebrate Candlemas on Feb. 2.

The town of Punxsutawney is fun and festive throughout the days of Groundhog Day. You will find additional entertainment everywhere you look and turn. “Groundhog Days in the Park” in Barclay Square and the Community Center, will be some of the places to be when not at Gobbler's Knob, on February 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd.

Fine Motor Activities - Groundhog's Day Themed

These include activities like line cutting, ABC tracing, playdoh mats, coloring pages, dot pages, and rip and tear pages.

If the groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, the weather supposedly will be cold and wintry. If the groundhog emerges and does not see his shadow because the day is cloudy, warmer weather is supposed to be on the way.

What are some fun facts about Groundhogs day for kids? ›

Flood the tunnel with water.

Put the end of your garden hose into one of the entrance holes for the tunnel, and turn your water on. As water fills the tunnel, the groundhogs will leave the burrow so they don't drown.

Yet these nearsighted mammals play an essential role in the ecosystem by providing food for larger predators. Their burrows also offer shelter to foxes, reptiles, amphibians and others. Groundhogs need their beauty sleep. From late fall through early spring, groundhogs hibernate in their burrows.

The groundhog's scientific name is Marmota monax, making it one of 14 types of marmot that can be found in the Northern Hemisphere. Marmots are members of the Sciuridae family, which makes the groundhog just a really big ground squirrel.

According to German lore, when the hedgehog saw his shadow on Candlemas Day there would be a “second winter” or six more weeks of bad weather. With the absence of hedgehogs in the United States, a similar hibernating animal was chosen, the groundhog.