Does he see his shadow or not? Are there only six more weeks of winter? Winter can be a long, cold, and dark season! One fun day everyone looks forward to is Groundhog Day. Will he or won’t he? Of course, it doesn’t matter either way, but it’s a fun way to break up the season. Why not bring these simple Groundhog Day STEM activities to the table to brighten the day?
PinPUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL
Whether you believe in the myth and lore behind Groundhog day or not, kids have great fun with the special day. Every year on February 2nd, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the story goes that the groundhog named Phil comes out of his burrow.
If the sun is shining and he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winteryweather. If he does not see his shadow, we can all hope for an early spring!
Either way, the amount of weeks is about the same! It’s also one of those neat days where we can enjoy a few groundhog-themed activities, including science and STEM projects. Of course, shadows and light are all about physics!
QUICK HISTORY OF GROUNDHOG DAY
Groundhog Day falls on February 2nd, otherwise known as Candlemas Day. This fury rodent made his grand debut in 1887 in Gobbler’s Knob (Punxsutawney, PA). Candlemas falls halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
The folklore goes that if he does not see his shadow, it is like two winters (easier times), and if he does see his shadow, it’s one long winter (harsher).
Get a complete Groundhog Day Lesson Plan!
Our complete Groundhog Day STEM pack is designed for kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade kids but can also be used for various learning abilities and ages with more or less adult support! Filled with fantastic printables to explore a whole week of light science that doesn’t even have to be Groundhog-themed!
THE COMPLETE GROUNDHOG DAY PDF FILE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
- 8+ Groundhog Day activities and projects for kidsthat are easy to set up and fit into your available time, even if it’s limited!
- Printable Groundhog theme STEM challengesthat are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond and adaptable to many skill levels.
- Simple light theme science explanations and activitiesinclude fun experiments, projects, and simple vocabulary cards. Print and make animal shadow puppets to explore silhouettes and shadows! Kids love using a flashlight!
- Easy to gather suppliesmakes these STEM activities ideal when you have limited resources available. Perfect for kids in the classroom or for family time at home.
- Build a burrow STEM activitiesare a fun way to explore the groundhog’s den and create one of your own.
- Groundhog Day writing prompts and graphing activities to explore writing about predictions, graphing predictions, and more!
Groundhog Day Activities
Preschool, kindergarten, and elementary-age kids love special occasions like Groundhog Day to try out excellent theme science and STEM activities. Use these projects with your kids at home or in the classroom.
These printable Groundhog Day STEM Activity Cards accompany our exploring light and shadows activity (free printable pack, too!) All you need to do is print, cut, and enjoy!
Check Out: Groundhog Puppet for STEAM
Thefree printable STEM activities below are open for interpretation, imagination, and creativity. That’s a big part of what STEM is all about! Ask a question, develop solutions, design, test, and retest!
Here are a few STEM resources to check out to help you get started!
- Understanding the Design Process
- Questions for Reflection
- Engineering Vocabulary
Learn about hibernating animals with a free mini pack!
Fun Groundhog Day Lessons!
Explore the changing seasons with STEM. These free monthly theme STEM activities are perfect for engaging kids in science, technology, engineering, and math as they complete fun challenges!
TRY IT: Shadow Science with Printable Animal Silhouettes
What do STEM challenges look like?
I want these printable Groundhog Day STEM activity cards to be a simple way to have fun with your kids. They can be used in the classroom as easily as they can be used at home. Print, cut, and laminate to use over and over again.
STEM challenges are usually open-ended suggestions to solve a problem or challenge meant to get your kids thinking about and using the design process, a series of steps an engineer, inventor, or scientist would go through to solve a problem.
STEM challenges are also a great way to encourage your kiddos or students to communicate effectively about their work. Look at these Questions for Reflection and grab the free printable.
STEM Challenges Set Up
Mostly, you can use what you have and let your kids get creative with simple materials. If possible, send a simple list home to kids or add a P.S. to a classroom email requesting dollar store supplies and list a few!
PRO TIP: Grab a large, clean plastic tote or bin to collect items. Whenever you come across an item you would normally toss into recycling, toss it in the bin instead. This goes for packaging materials and items you may otherwise throw away.
Standard STEM materials to save include:
- paper towel tubes
- toilet roll tubes
- plastic bottles
- tin cans (clean, smooth edges)
- old CDs
- cereal boxes, oatmeal containers
- bubble wrap
- packing peanuts
Make sure you have the following:
- tape
- glue and tape
- scissors
- markers andpencils
- paper
- rulers and measuring tape
- recycled goods bin
- non-recycled goods bin
CLICK HERE FOR FREE GROUNDHOG DAY STEM CARDS
More Fun Ways To Explore Shadows
- Make these fun LEGO shadow drawings.
- Can you make shadows with your body?
- Explore shadows with groundhog puppets.
Pin
PinPrintable Groundhog Day Activities Pack
Perfect for grades K-3 or as needed! Easy to use in the classroom or at home with inexpensive, hands-on, doable projects!
- 8+ Groundhog Day activities and projects for kidsthat are easy to set up and fit into your available time, even if it’s limited! A fun theme for mid-winter science and STEM exploration that kids love!
- Printable Groundhog theme STEM challengesthat are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond and adaptable to many skill levels.
- Simple light theme science explanations and activitiesinclude fun activities, experiments, projects, and simple vocabulary cards. Print and make animal silhouette puppets to explore shadows!
- Easy to gather suppliesmakes these STEM activities ideal when you have limited resources available. Perfect for kids in the classroom or for family time at home.
- Build a burrow STEM packis a fun way to explore the groundhog’s den and create one of your own.
- BONUS:Fun pack with How To Draw a Groundhog, word search, quick facts, and more fun activities.
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Now, let's discuss the concepts mentioned in this article:
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day is a traditional holiday celebrated on February 2nd in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. According to folklore, if a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow when he emerges from his burrow, it is believed that there will be six more weeks of winter weather. On the other hand, if he does not see his shadow, it is believed that spring will arrive early. The tradition of Groundhog Day has been celebrated for over a century and is a fun way to break up the winter season.
STEM Activities for Groundhog Day
The article suggests engaging in Groundhog Day-themed STEM activities to make the day more enjoyable. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These activities can help children learn about various scientific concepts related to shadows and light, which are fundamental principles of physics. Some of the suggested activities include exploring shadows, creating animal shadow puppets, and building a groundhog's burrow. These activities are designed to be engaging and educational for children in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade .
History of Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day falls on February 2nd, which is also known as Candlemas Day. The tradition of using a groundhog to predict the weather dates back to 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Candlemas falls halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees his shadow, it signifies a longer winter, while if he does not see his shadow, it signifies an early spring. This tradition is based on the belief that the behavior of animals can predict the weather.
In summary, Groundhog Day is a traditional holiday celebrated on February 2nd in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It involves the prediction of weather based on whether a groundhog sees its shadow or not. Engaging in STEM activities related to shadows and light can be a fun way to celebrate Groundhog Day and learn about scientific concepts.
