Groundhog Day Activities for Preschool and Elementary Kids
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February 2nd is always Groundhog Day in the United States. On this day Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog in Pennsylvania, is roused from his burrow to predict the arrival of spring. If it is a sunny day and he sees his shadow he predicts six more weeks of winter weather. If it is a cloudy day and he does not see his shadow then he predicts an early spring.
These books and crafts are a fun way to celebrate Groundhog’s Day. It is a bit of a silly holiday, but kids love celebrating. Sometimes a fun holiday is a great opportunity to sneak in some learning. The sillier the better!
Read through this list of easy Groundhog Day activities and add these fun ideas to your lesson plans.
Groundhog Day Activities for Preschool and Elementary Kids
Groundhog Day Books
What would Groundhog Day for kids be without books? Fun books are a great addition to any book basket. Pop these Groundhog Day books in a basket near your couch and then you will always be ready for cozy reading time.
After reading a few of these books, kids can make their own groundhog predictions.
Groundhog’s Dilemma by Kristin Remenar
- Hardcover Book
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Some of Groundhog’s friends are unhappy when he announces six more weeks of winter. Each of the animal friends asks him to announce the type of weather they prefer next year. They gift him treats throughout the year because they believe that Groundhog actually controls the weather. Groundhog comes to realize that he needs to tell the truth on February 2nd, even if it upsets some of his friends.
The Night Before Groundhog Day by Natasha Wing
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is the perfect Groundhog Day book to read to kids in anticipation of Groundhogs Day.
The children in this story are ready for Groundhog Day. They have learned about the tradition, studied the weather, and created lots of crafts. All that is left is to see Punxsutawney Phil.
I am a big fan of Natasha Wing’s books because they are full of rhyming text. They are a great addition to any tea with poetry.
Groundhog Weather School: Fun Facts About Weather and Groundhogs by Joan Holub
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This cute Groundhog Day book combines elements of nonfiction and fiction in a way that kids will enjoy. It is full of facts but told and illustrated through personified animals.
Groundhog Secrets: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Woodchucks by Lieve Snellings
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Some kids prefer reading nonfiction books. This book answers many common questions about groundhogs (also known as woodchucks).
Including factual books in seasonal book baskets is a great way to naturally include science in the day.
It’s Groundhog Day by Steven Kroll
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Roland Raccoon needs six more weeks of winter to help his ski lodge so he comes up with a sneaky plan to prevent Godfrey Groundhog from seeing his shadow.
Gregory’s Shadow by Don Freeman
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Gregory lost his shadow! This is a problem because Gregory feels his bravest when his friend Shadow is with him.
Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Groundhog gets lots of attention on February 2nd, but he has more than just weather predictions to discuss. He wants everyone to know more about his life. This cute groundhog book for kids explains the facts in a kid-friendly way.
Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Groundhog is sick with the flu, but Groundhog Day is tomorrow! He interviews his animal friends to find the perfect substitute for the job.
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This book teaches kids about the history of Groundhog Day. Kids will enjoy getting background information about this special day. Kids will also learn facts about this animal. It is the perfect resource for kids who want to know all about Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day Crafts
One way to plan a fun Groundhog Day for kids is to prepare a few simple crafts. A simple lesson plan idea is to pair one of these easy Groundhog Day crafts with one or more of the books listed above. You can never go wrong pairing fun activities with books.
These Groundhog Day adorable crafts require pretty common and inexpensive materials.
A toilet paper tube and a popsicle stick are the foundation of this fun activity.
Print out the provided template and make him pop in and out of his burrow.
If you are hoping for an early spring, this might be the perfect Groundhog Day craft!
These directions will help your little ones create a small planter to grow a small batch of flowers. The planter is decorated with a cute little groundhog.
This groundhog mask craft is a great addition to your Groundhog Day for Kids plans. Kids can make this simple mask using a paper plate and then act out one of the above books.
Retelling stories is one of the traditional kindergarten skills, and this is a great way to practice.
Sometimes you just need a super simple Groundhog Day craft. This definitely fits the bill!
Print out this coloring page as part of your Groundhog Day activities for kids plans, and set out crayons, colored pencils, or markers, and the prep work is done!
Check out TeachersPayTeachers for more Groundhog Day worksheets. Sometimes printable Groundhog Day activities are exactly what you need.
This free printable uses a cute picture book to get kids interested in math. Preschoolers and kindergarten students can practice their math skills with these 10-frame activities.
Paper bag puppets are always a great craft activity for little ones. They get practice cutting, gluing, and coloring. They will have so much fun they won’t even realize they are practicing their fine motor skills.
I had my kindergarten students make brown paper bag puppets pretty often in my classroom. It was always a hit. The kids frequently used them to act out some of the stories we had read.
Happy Groundhog Day!
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