🦫 Groundhog Day
February 2 Grades K–5
On Groundhog Day, February 2, people watch a groundhog to "predict" whether spring will come early.
📅 Next dates
- Monday, February 2, 2026
- Tuesday, February 2, 2027
- Wednesday, February 2, 2028
📖 The story
The tradition came from German immigrants in Pennsylvania, who once watched badgers and hedgehogs. The legend says: if the groundhog sees its shadow, it gets scared back into its burrow, and there will be six more weeks of winter. No shadow means an early spring!
The most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, has made "predictions" in Pennsylvania since 1887. Scientists say he is not very accurate — it is just for fun.
✨ Traditions
- Watching Punxsutawney Phil
- Shadow experiments
- Weather predictions
✂️ Activities
Shadow Tracing
- On a sunny day, stand outside in the morning and have a friend trace your shadow with chalk.
- Trace it again at noon and in the afternoon.
- How did it change? Why?
Groundhog Day quiz
What date is Groundhog Day?
If the groundhog sees its shadow…
What is the famous groundhog’s name?
Are groundhog predictions scientific?
💭 Let’s write
How would you predict the weather without a phone?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________