Groundhog Day may seem like a lighthearted holiday, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to mix folklore, science, and a little fun into your February lessons! These Groundhog Day activities for the classroom make it easy to bring the tradition to life. Below you’ll find five classroom‑tested Groundhog Day activities for the classroom that blend reading, writing, and hands‑on exploration. From learning about its historical roots to baking adorable groundhog cookies, these lessons help students connect folklore with real‑world science.
Lesson Handout
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5 Groundhog Day Classroom Activities
Activity #1 – The History of Groundhog Day
Kick off your lesson with a mini history exploration!
Explain the tradition: if the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2, there will be six more weeks of winter. No shadow means spring is on the way!
Students can read about the holiday’s origins in Europe, when Candlemas Day marked the midpoint between winter and spring. The weather on this day was believed to predict the rest of the season.
Add a quick text connection activity:
Have students read the two short poems below, one from England and one from Germany, and highlight phrases that show cause and effect. Discuss how early weather predictions were based on observation and superstition rather than science.
English Version:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, winter, have another flight.
If Candlemas brings cold and rain,
Go, winter, and come not again.
German Version:
If Candlemas brings wind and snow,
Then spring will very soon show.
But if it’s clear and bright,
Then spring won’t come so right.
Then, introduce Punxsutawney Phil, America’s most famous groundhog! Students will enjoy discovering how German settlers brought this tradition to Pennsylvania and adapted it to use a local animal.
💡 Extension Idea: Create a short class debate. “Is Punxsutawney Phil a reliable weather forecaster?” Students can use evidence from the NOAA data to defend their answers.
Activity #2 – Compare and Contrast Two Texts
Bring in Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons for a paired-text comparison.
Use the included Venn diagram or digital organizer to help students:
- Compare how the book and the nonfiction article explain the holiday’s history.
- Contrast the tone, text structure, and types of facts presented.
If you don’t have the book, several read-aloud versions are available on YouTube.
💡 Teacher Tip:
These Groundhog Day activities for the classroom also support key informational reading standards (RI.4.9 / RI.5.9 – integrating information from two texts on the same topic), making them perfect for February literacy lessons. Encourage students to find which text is more informative and which one is easier to understand.
Activity #3 – Analyze Real Data
Help students see the connection between tradition and real-world science!
Visit the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information to look at 26 years of data comparing Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions to actual weather outcomes.
Students can record:
- how often Phil was correct
- how his predictions compare to local forecasts
- what this teaches us about the difference between myth and meteorology
💡 STEM Extension: Challenge students to make their own local weather predictions for the week, chart the results, and compare their “accuracy rate” to Phil’s 39%.
Activity #4 – Groundhog Day Cookies
End your celebration with a sweet twist!
These adorable Groundhog Day cookies are easy to make using a basic chocolate oatmeal cookie recipe with an added Tootsie Roll crafted to look like a groundhog.
You can find a simple step-by-step tutorial linked in the handout. Students can decorate their own “Phil” while you review vocabulary from the week. Try hibernation, folklore, prediction, and tradition.
💡 Classroom Tip:
If food projects aren’t an option, have students design their own “cookie” on paper by drawing and labeling the parts with creative puns (“forecast frosting,” “shadow sprinkles,” etc.).
Activity #5 – The Life Cycle of a Groundhog
After reading Groundhog Day! or watching a short educational video, students can explore the life cycle of a real groundhog.
On the printable or digital version, students label and describe each stage from birth and hibernation to emergence and preparation for the next winter.
💡 Integration Idea:
Turn this into a writing extension!
Have students write a short narrative from the groundhog’s point of view titled “A Year in My Burrow.” They can include facts they’ve learned about the life cycle to blend science and creative writing.
Bonus Video
This short, kid-friendly video introduces the history of Groundhog Day and fun facts about groundhogs. It’s perfect for setting the stage or reviewing what students learned. (Link included in the handout.)
Grab Your Free Groundhog Day Resources
If you’re looking for ready‑to‑use Groundhog Day activities for the classroom, the free handouts, free download includes:
- Article: The History of Groundhog Day (with comprehension questions)
- Venn Diagram: Compare the article and the book Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons
- Life Cycle Organizer: Learn about real groundhogs
- All printables come with answer keys and a link to the digital (Google Slides) version.
Unlock Exclusive Winter Resources
Click the button below to sign up for my Winter Vault. You’ll get exclusive access to various seasonal activities, including the Groundhog Day handouts and other engaging winter resources. Don’t miss out on these resources for your classroom!
Whether Phil sees his shadow or not, your students will be too busy learning (and laughing) to worry about six more weeks of winter.
1 comment
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