Groundhog Day– February 2nd
(Tune: “Say, Say, My Playmate” – HAPPY EVERYTHINGCD DISK 1)
February 2nd, (Holdup 2 fingers.)
Is Groundhog Day.
Gather round hishole (Makecircular motion.)
To hear what he’llsay. (Placehand by ear.)
Will spring beearly
Or late this year?
Watch and listen
To what you’llhear.
If he sticks hishead out (Makea hole with one hand.)
On a sunny day (Stickthe index finger from the other hand
His shadow willfrighten him up through the hole and wiggle.)
And he will say,
“I’ll go back inmy hole (Tuckfinger in your fist.)
And go back tosleep.
You’ll have winter
For six moreweeks.”
If he sticks hishead out (Makea hole with fist and stick up finger.)
On a cloudy day
He’s notfrightened
So he will say, (Wigglefinger.)
“I think I’ll stayout
And the weathershould clear.
Spring will behere
Early this year.”
Download this book at drjean.org/monthly activities/February, 2007.
Cup Puppet– Let children draw agroundhog or download an image off the internet. Staple to a straw. Punch a hole in the bottom of a paper cup and insert the straw in thecup. Raise and lower the groundhogas appropriate in the song.
SidewalkShadows – Go outside on a sunny day and have children stand with theirbacks to the sun. Let them makesilly motions and play “Guess what I am?” Give them chalk and let them trace around each other’s shadows.
Draw shadows at10, 12, and 2 and compare.
Where’s theGroundhog? – Cut twenty 4” squares out of heavy paper. Write high frequency words, math facts,letters, etc. on the cards. Glue apicture of a groundhog on one square. Have the children sit on the floor in a circle. Mix up the cards and place them face upon the floor. Identify the word(etc.) on each card as you place it down on the floor. Tell the children to turn around. Hide the groundhog under one of thesquares. Children turn back aroundand try and guess where the groundhog is hiding. One at a time children call out a word and then “peek” tosee if the groundhog is under it. The first child to find the groundhog gets to have a turn hidingit. The game continues as childrenhide the groundhog and then try to discover his whereabouts.
