Groundhog Day Movement Story and Activity

What you need:

A large open space for movement
Flashlights (to represent sunlight or shadows)
Optional: Groundhog props, puppets, or a felt groundhog figure
Blankets
Small bell
Optional: Instruments

 

 

---

Learning Goals and Standards:

Listening Skills – Children practice following directions and responding to prompts during the story.
Gross Motor Skills – Movement activities like stretching, hopping, and crouching improve coordination and body awareness.
Imaginative Play – Engaging in role-play as a groundhog fosters creativity and storytelling.
Scientific Awareness – Introduces basic concepts of shadows, seasons, and animal behavior.
Social Interaction – Group participation promotes cooperation and turn-taking.
Language Development – Expands vocabulary related to seasons, shadows, and Groundhog Day traditions.

---

What you do:

Overview:
Celebrate Groundhog Day with a lively combination of storytelling and movement! Children will act out the groundhog’s journey, from waking up in its cozy burrow to deciding whether to stay outside or go back to sleep. This activity encourages listening, gross motor skills, and imaginative play while introducing the concept of shadows and seasons.

Story and Movements:

Introduction:

• Start by explaining the significance of Groundhog Day:
  “Today is Groundhog Day! On this day, the groundhog wakes up to check if it can see its shadow. If it sees a shadow, the groundhog goes back into its burrow, and winter continues. But if there’s no shadow, the groundhog stays outside, and spring is on its way!”

Movement Story:

Set the Scene:

Introduce the story.
Explain that the children will act out the story and add sounds with instruments.

Use Movement Prompts:

Read the story slowly and emphasize action words (e.g., "stretch," "jump," "crawl").
Pause to guide the children in mimicking the movements.

Option: Add Sounds with Instruments:

Provide simple instruments like tambourines, maracas, drums, or bells.
Assign sounds to specific actions or characters (e.g., a drum for stomping, bells for flying, maracas for rustling leaves).
Encourage children to play the instruments when they hear a cue in the story.

Groundhog Day Movement Story

1. Wake Up the Groundhog

• Say: “The groundhog is hibernating in its warm, cozy burrow. Let’s curl up like groundhogs and pretend to sleep.”
• Children curl up on the floor or under a blanket.
• Say: “The sun is rising, and the groundhog is waking up. Stretch your legs, stretch your arms, and wiggle out of your burrow!”
• Children stretch and slowly stand up.

Peek Outside the Burrow

• Say: “The groundhog peeks its head outside. Look left, look right—what do you see?”
• Children crouch down and pretend to peek around.
• Say: “It’s bright outside, and the groundhog is checking for its shadow.”

Spot the Shadow

• Say: “If there’s a shadow, the groundhog gets scared and hops back into its burrow. But if there’s no shadow, it feels safe and steps forward to explore!”
• Optional: Shine a flashlight to create shadows for children to observe.
• Children either jump back (shadow) or step forward (no shadow).

Explore the Outside World

• Say: “If the groundhog stays outside, it begins to explore. Let’s hop like a groundhog, sniff the fresh air, and search for food!”
• Children hop, pretend to sniff, and look around for imaginary food.
• Say: “Oh no, is that a big gust of wind? Let’s sway like trees and brace ourselves!”
• Children sway side to side like trees in the wind.

The Groundhog’s Choice

• Say: “The groundhog must decide: Will it stay outside and enjoy the day, or go back to its burrow and sleep a little longer?”
• Children can choose to lie down and pretend to sleep or continue exploring.
• Ring a small bell for children to gather back in the circle.

Wrap-Up:

Gather the children and discuss:

• “What did your groundhog decide to do?”
• “Do you think spring is coming soon?”
• Encourage children to share their favorite part of the story.

Extensions:
Groundhog Craft:

Create a simple groundhog puppet. Use it to retell the story at home or in class.

Shadow Play:

Explore shadows by letting children create shapes on the wall with a flashlight. Discuss why shadows appear and how they change.

Drawing Activity:

Have the children draw their groundhog’s adventure and include whether it saw its shadow or not.

This combination of storytelling and movement makes Groundhog Day fun, interactive, and educational, while encouraging children to learn about shadows, weather, and seasons through play!