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Groundhog Day Craft Kits That Actually Made My Students Laugh Out Loud
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items February rolls around and you need something between Valentine's Day prep that isn't just another coloring sheet. If you teach elementary and dread the ‘what are we doing today’ look on thirty tiny faces, these Groundhog Day activities kept my class ...
Sections
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Groundhog Day Craft Kits for the Whole Class
Groundhog Day Stickers and Decorating Supplies
Shadow Science Activities for Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day Books to Read Before Crafting
Puppet and Pretend Play Groundhog Supplies
Classroom Decor for Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day Craft Kits for the Whole Class
Finding a craft kit that works for 25+ kids without losing your mind is harder than it sounds. These actually came with enough pieces and clear enough instructions that I wasn't re-explaining every 40 seconds.
Grab this if you need a no-prep activity that fills a solid 30 minutes. My second graders were so proud of their little groundhogs that three kids asked to make extras for siblings.
Fun Express Halloween Color Your Own Jack-O
Use this for the kids who finish everything early. The pop-up mechanism blew their minds and one student showed every single adult in the building. Stock up before late January because they sell out fast.
Craft Kits for Kids in Shop Craft Kits by Age
Perfect for the teacher who wants something that actually goes home in one piece. Foam pieces stick together easily, no glue disasters, and parents actually stuck these on their fridges.
Cool Groundhog Magnet Craft Kit
Try this with Pre-K or kindergarten groups. The handprint element made each one unique and the kids got weirdly competitive about whose groundhog had the best fingers.
Handprint Animal Craft Kit for Kids Ages 2-8
Snag a few packs if you run an after-school program. Paper plates are forgiving for messy crafters and even my least-artsy student walked away grinning.
Paper Plate Sun & Rainbow Craft Kit - Makes 12
Groundhog Day Stickers and Decorating Supplies
Stickers sound basic until you watch a room full of six-year-olds go completely silent for ten minutes because they're arranging tiny groundhog faces. That silence alone is worth every penny.
Toss a sheet on each desk as a warm-up activity. My kids stuck them on their water bottles, folders, and foreheads. Cheap enough to buy extras without feeling guilty.
StickerTalk Shadow Happy Groundhog Day Vinyl Sticker
Keep a roll in your desk drawer for reward stickers through February. Way more fun than generic stars and one kid told me it was the best sticker he'd ever received. That's a direct quote.
FUN EXPRESS
Pair these with any groundhog template and suddenly every craft looks hilarious. The oversized ones made my students laugh so hard one kid actually fell off his chair.
Wiggle Eyes Assortment, Assorted Sizes, Black, 100/pack
Use the brown and tan ones for groundhog noses and bellies. Bought the variety pack and now I have pom poms for every holiday through June. No regrets.
Creativity Street Pom Pons, .5", Assorted Glitter Colors 80
Swap out printer paper for construction paper and every groundhog craft instantly looks three times better. The brown and green shades are perfect and this pack lasts months.
Crayola, Construction Paper, 240 Pages
Shadow Science Activities for Groundhog Day
My students thought Groundhog Day was just about a cute animal until we did shadow experiments. Watching them figure out why shadows change size was the kind of moment that reminds you why you teach.
Bring this out during your groundhog science block and watch curiosity take over. One student asked if we could see a groundhog's shadow under the microscope. Precious and wrong, but the enthusiasm was real.
Educational Insights Geosafari Jr. Talking Microscope
Use this in a dark corner to demonstrate shadow length. My kids gasped when they moved the flashlight closer and the shadow grew. Simple tool, huge payoff for the lesson.
Learning Resources Primary Science Deluxe Lab Set
Pair these with a flashlight for a shadow shapes experiment. Not obviously Groundhog Day related, but when I told them groundhogs measure shadows with math, they bought it completely.
Rainbow Fraction® Circles Classroom Kit, Set of 30
Try shadow painting where kids trace their groundhog cutout shadows onto paper. Washable is non-negotiable unless you want to explain paint stains to 25 sets of parents.
Crayola Washable Kids Paint Set, 10 Ct, Kids Arts & Crafts
Get these for the station where kids examine shadow details up close. Durable enough for rough hands and one kid used his to read the lunch menu from across the room.
Learning Resources Jumbo Magnifier Countertop 12/Set
Groundhog Day Books to Read Before Crafting
Reading a story first makes the craft ten times more meaningful. Kids actually care about their groundhog puppet when they just heard a whole story about one. Every single time, the craft quality jumps after storytime.
Grab this if your students are the type who ask ‘but why do we care about groundhogs?’ Funny enough to hold attention and packed with real facts they'll repeat at dinner.
Groundhog Gets a Say
Perfect for the kid who's nervous about performing or being in the spotlight. Relatable main character and my shy students always perk up during this one.
Gretchen Groundhog, It's Your Day! by Abby Levine
Use this as your nonfiction anchor text. Gail Gibbons never misses and the illustrations are clear enough for a read-aloud where 30 kids are squinting from the carpet.
Groundhog Day (New & Updated) by Gail Gibbons
Try reading this one right before a sub day and watch the kids lose it. The humor lands perfectly with first and second graders and it ties into responsibility themes.
Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller (2010-09-01)
Snag this for your hibernation unit crossover. Covers seasons, sleep cycles, and Groundhog Day all in one. My students quoted it for weeks after.
Go to Sleep, Groundhog! - Cox, Judy: 9780823416455
Puppet and Pretend Play Groundhog Supplies
After crafts and stories, my class always wants to act things out. Puppet play turned a random February Tuesday into the day three kids decided they wanted to be actors when they grow up.
Use these as the base for paper bag groundhog puppets. Dirt cheap, and when a kid rips one you just hand them another without stress. Buy the plain brown ones, not white.
Great Value Self Standing Giant Lunch Bags, 50 Count
Twist these into groundhog arms and whiskers. Bendy enough for little fingers and sturdy enough that they survive the bus ride home. Barely.
Creativity Street Chenille Stems, Regular
Pair with printed groundhog faces for stick puppets. The jumbo size means tiny hands can actually grip them during puppet shows without dropping everything mid-performance.
Hello Hobby Jumbo Wood Craft Sticks, 75-Pack, Brown, Birch
Cut these into groundhog ears, tails, and burrow shapes. Felt doesn't fray like fabric so you skip the mess, and kids love how soft it feels compared to paper.
1.4mm Thick Soft Felt Fabric Sheet 6 Assorted Earth Tone
Keep a cup of these at every table for adding faces to puppets. Broad tips mean fewer dried-out markers from kids pressing too hard, which happens approximately every 90 seconds.
Crayola, Broad Line Markers, 10 Ct, Assorted Colors
Classroom Decor for Groundhog Day
Decorating the room before the kids arrive sets the whole mood. Walking into a groundhog-themed classroom at 8 AM made my students shriek with excitement, which is the best possible way to start a random Wednesday.
Swap your January board for this and you're set through February. Takes maybe 15 minutes to put up and parents actually notice when they walk in for pickup.
Teacher Created Resources Confetti Calendar Bulletin
Use this as the background for a groundhog burrow display. Fadeless means it still looks good in March when you finally get around to taking it down. No judgment.
Pacon Fadeless Bulletin Board Art Paper Roll 48" x 12
Toss this up near your calendar area. Comes with enough pieces that you don't need to print anything extra, which saved me from fighting with the copier at 7 AM.
Scholastic Teaching Solutions Numbers 0-100! Mini
String this across the whiteboard for instant festive energy. My co-teacher saw it and immediately asked where I got it. Takes two minutes and two pieces of tape.
US Banners
Pair with paint for a 3D groundhog display outside your classroom door. Lightweight so it sticks to the wall with tape and dries overnight without cracking.
Crayola, Model Magic Modeling Dough, 4 Oz, White
Party Snacks and Treats for Groundhog Day
No classroom celebration is complete without snacks. I learned years ago that a themed treat turns a regular lesson into a core memory. One cupcake does more for engagement than any worksheet ever could.
Dip pretzel rods and call them groundhog sticks. Kids think you're a genius and it takes five minutes of prep. Melt in the microwave, dip, done. Hero status unlocked.
Wilton Light Cocoa Candy Melts Vanilla-Flavored Wafer
Press two together with frosting and add candy eyes for groundhog faces. Allergy-friendly compared to most treats and every kid knows what an Oreo is. Zero convincing needed.
OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Family Size, 18.12 oz
Stick these on literally anything and it becomes a groundhog. Brownies, cupcakes, rice krispie treats. Bought one jar in 2023 and used them for every holiday through May.
Wilton, Candy Eyeballs, 0.8 oz, Black & White for Cakes
Bake cupcakes, frost them brown, add candy eyes and pretzel ears. The whole class helped decorate and it doubled as a following-directions activity. Sneaky teaching at its finest.
Betty Crocker, Cake Mix, 13.25 oz, Super Moist Chocolate
Flip these upside down on a cookie as groundhog bodies popping out of dirt. Check for allergies first obviously, but the kids who could eat them went absolutely wild.
Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Size