Today is Groundhog Day. The celebration derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. The kids love making groundhog puppets for Groundhog Day because it’s a fun, hands-on way to celebrate the holiday while letting their creativity shine through cutting, coloring, and imaginative play. For young children, I cut out the shapes and let the kids paste the paper shapes onto the puppets themselves. Be sure to read the fun children’s books below about groundhogs as well.

You Will Need:

Shades of Brown Card Stock Paper
White, Black, and Brown Construction Paper
Scissors
Black Marker
Glue Stick
Circle Punch
“Ten Grouchy Groundhogs” by Kathryn Heling, “Groundhog Day!” by Gail Gibbons, “The Night Before Groundhog Day” by Natasha Wing, and “How to Catch a Groundhog” by Alice Walstead.

What to Do:

1. Read children’s books about groundhogs and Groundhog Day (see above).

2. Cut out shapes for the groundhog out of the brown cardstock paper.

3. Cut out eyes, snout, and nostrils from white and black paper.

4. Allow the children to paste the white circles and white snout to the groundhog. Then have them paste the black pupils and nostrils to the groundhog puppet.

5. Use a black marker to decorate the details on the puppet.

6. Use circle punch to cut out two holes on the bottom of the groundhog for the child to put their fingers through the puppet.

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Photo by Stephanie Felzenberg