You'll find activities listed by subject for elementary students. Each suggested lesson plan or curriculum idea can be downloaded and printed.
Shadow Play
Groundhog Day is the perfect time to study shadows. Studying shadows is not only fun, but also will get the creativity flowing.- Allow students to make shadows on the overhead screen or a piece of white paper.
- While one student is making a shadow on a piece of white paper have another student trace it. Add lines, colors and backgrounds to create a “Shadow Creature.” Have students write a descriptive paragraph or a narrative about their creature.
- Divide students into groups of three or four and have them write and perform a shadow play.
- Use a projector light to draw a silhouette of each student. Use them as a bulletin board display and then have students take them home as a Valentine gift for the family.
- Have students display a shadow on the classroom floor. Students can take turns measuring each other’s shadow in inches and centimeters.
Color Phil!
Phil is just waiting to have some color added to his life!Help Phil by giving him some color; Phil is always much happier when he is brightly colored! Click here for a version you can print!
Groundhog Cut-outs
We made Phil ornaments to hang on the chandelier for Groundhog Day (but they could hang anywhere). They were just construction paper cut-outs hanging from paper clips, but half were groundhog faces (in brown) and the other half were shadows (in black). (Submitted by Jeanie Petersen, Upstate New York) Click here to download the template. Groundhog Cookies Recipe
2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg yolk
1 egg, slightly beaten
Currants or raisins
- Sift together first seven ingredients. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Blend in molasses and yolk. Stir in flour mixture and mix well. Form into a ball.
- Wrap in plastic wrap. Chill overnight, several nights or freeze.
- Place small amounts of dough on a sheet of plastic wrap, and cover with plastic wrap. Roll 1/8 inch thick. Cut out cookies with lightly floured cutter.
- Place cookies on greased baking sheet. Brush with slightly beaten egg. Decorate with currants or raisin eyes. Repeat until all dough is used.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. Makes 72 or more medium-sized groundhogs.
