Free Groundhog Day Activities (4th & 5th Grade Reading) (2024)

Free Groundhog Day Activities (4th & 5th Grade Reading) (1)

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During those first few months following the holidays, teachers and students can find themselves stuck in the winter blues. When February 2nd rolls around, I am always excited to implement a few easy-to-use activities for Groundhog Day to spice things up a bit in the classroom. This post will share free Groundhog Day activities for reading skills and comprehension. Students can celebrate and learn more about the holiday while still practicing key reading skills.

Free Groundhog Day Activities (4th & 5th Grade Reading) (2)

About the Free Groundhog Day Reading Activities

This free 4th and 5th grade Groundhog Day reading resource includes 3 Groundhog Day-related reading passages (2 nonfiction and 1 fiction) and related activities for each – comprehension questions and skill activities. This way you can “celebrate” Groundhog Day in your classroom and focus on your reading instruction and practice at the same time!

Below is a preview of each text and the activities it is paired with.

Nonfiction Passage – What is Groundhog Day?

This nonfiction text is about the celebration of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on February 2nd. The text discusses the traditions of using a groundhog and how the tradition came to be. The text also talks about the different traditions that take place during the festival.

After reading the text, students can respond to what they read by completing any or all of the included activities:

  • Comprehension questions – students will answer short comprehension questions related to the text
  • True or False – students will cut and paste statements into columns to identify if each statement is either true or false
  • Main idea – students will summarize the main idea of each paragraph and the entire passage

Nonfiction Passage – All About Punxsutawney Phil

This nonfiction text is focused on Punxsutawney Phil. It describes how locals, tourists, and a group called the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle gather to observe Phil’s emergence from his burrow and how his behavior is used to predict the duration of winter. The text also mentions Phil’s accuracy rate as a weather predictor, the Inner Circle’s interpretation of his behavior, and how the groundhog spends his time when he is not predicting the weather.

This Groundhog Day text includes these activities:

  • Comprehension questions – students will answer short comprehension questions related to the text
  • Context clues – students will determine the definitions of given words using context clues from the passage
  • Main Idea – students will summarize the main idea of each paragraph

Free Groundhog Day Activities (4th & 5th Grade Reading) (3)

Fiction Story – Rex to the Rescue

The story is about Rex, who is the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle, as he prepares for the annual Groundhog Day event. He is worried about many things and is stressed about how he will interpret Phil’s message about how long winter will last. However, the biggest worry is that Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog weather predictor is missing.

This cute Groundhog Day story includes these activities:

  • Comprehension questions – students will answer questions related to the reading
  • Context clues – students will determine the definitions of given words using context clues from the passage
  • Problem and solution – students will identify the problem and solution of the text as well as actions taken to solve the problem
  • Evaluating summaries – students will analyze given summaries of the text and identify errors in each summary

About the Digital Groundhog Day Activities

The free activities are also available digitally via Google Slides. You can assign the passages and activities to students individually and have them use the provided text boxes on each slide (or moveable pieces) to complete each activity.

Another option is to project the digital passages if you plan to use this as a whole group reading activity or read aloud.

Free Groundhog Day Activities (4th & 5th Grade Reading) (4)

Ways to Use the Activity

These reading passages and comprehension activities can be used for:

  • small group reading instruction
  • reading centers or literacy station
  • independent reading practice
  • reading homework
  • early finisher activities

Another idea is to allow for student choice with the passages and activities. You can give students a choice of which passage to read OR assign a specific passage and let them choose which activity they wish to complete.

Get the FREE Groundhog Day Reading Here

To get these free Groundhog Day Reading activities, simply click here or on the image below. In the download, you will find a PDF containing the printable version. Digital access links are on page 4 & 5 of the PDF.

Want More Holiday & Seasonal Reading Comprehension Activities?

If you love the variety of topics and skills included in this free set, you will love this bundle that includes all of the major holidays and seasons.

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Free Groundhog Day Activities (4th & 5th Grade Reading) (6)

Holiday Reading Comprehension Passages and Activities

Holiday Reading Comprehension Passages and Activities for the ENTIRE year! You and your students will love these reading comprehension passages and activities with fun holiday and seasonal themes. Digital + printable versions included!

Free Groundhog Day Activities (4th & 5th Grade Reading) (7)

Free Holiday and Seasonal Math Puzzles!

Students love math logic puzzles. Enter your email to download enough sets to last you through all of the major holidays and seasons!

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Free Groundhog Day Activities (4th & 5th Grade Reading) (2024)

FAQs

What are some fun facts about Groundhogs Day for kids? ›

Fun Facts about Groundhog's Day
  • The groundhog wakes up from hibernation on February 2.
  • If the groundhog sees its shadow when it emerges from its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter.
  • If it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive soon.
  • This tradition started in Europe as Candlemas Day.
Feb 1, 2021

What do schools do for Groundhog Day? ›

Groundhog Day is the perfect time to study shadows. Studying shadows is not only fun, but it also gets the creativity flowing. Allow students to make shadows on the overhead screen or a piece of white paper. While one student is making a shadow on a piece of white paper have another student trace it.

How do you explain Groundhog Day to students? ›

If the groundhog comes out of his burrow and sees his shadow, the weather supposedly will be cold and wintry. If the groundhog emerges and does not see his shadow because the day is cloudy, warmer weather is supposed to be on the way.

What is Groundhog Day game? ›

Live the events of Groundhog Day over and over again as Phil Connors. Each day in Groundhog Day: The Game, you attempt to play cards quickly and in order without communicating to the other players before time runs out.

What are baby groundhogs called? ›

Baby groundhogs go by several names. They can be called pups, kits, and cubs. Groundhogs usually give birth to litters with around three to six pups, though they can occasionally give birth to 10 young in some litters. Adult groundhogs are also called woodchucks and even whistlepigs.

What are 5 interesting facts about groundhogs? ›

5 Fun Facts About Groundhogs
  • Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family.
  • Although they are usually seen on the ground, they can climb trees and swim.
  • Groundhogs are considered a true hibernator. ...
  • Groundhog burrows can be as deep as 6 feet and as large as 20 feet or more.
Feb 2, 2023

Why do we celebrate Groundhog Day for kids? ›

It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. In 2024, an early spring was predicted.

What are traditions for Groundhog Day? ›

According to tradition, when a groundhog leaves its burrow, if it sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If it doesn't see its shadow, there will be an early spring. The first Groundhog Day celebration was held on Feb. 2, 1877, at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

How do groundhogs say hello? ›

They do have a rather unusual greeting, however, in those rare times when they meet each other. When this happens, one groundhog will touch its nose to the mouth of the other groundhog, Scientific American reports. You might call it kissing, but scientists call it naso-oral contact.

Is Groundhog Day suitable for kids? ›

Groundhog Day was rated PG, allowing children access with parental permission.

What does the shadow mean on Groundhog Day? ›

Tradition says Phil seeing his shadow is a sign that the next six weeks will bring wintry weather. If Phil doesn't see his shadow, it means an early spring. Groundhog Day isn't scientific (in fact, Punxsutawney Phil's weather predictions are wrong most of the time).

What to wear to a Groundhog Day party? ›

Dress Warm... boots, gloves, hat, many layers, hand warmers, etc. Groundhog Day is in February, in the middle of winter and middle of the night. Backpacks or bags are not recommended.

Why is Groundhog Day called groundhog? ›

Groundhog Day, in the United States and Canada, day (February 2) on which the emergence of the groundhog (woodchuck) from its burrow is said to foretell the weather for the following six weeks.

Is Groundhog Day for fun? ›

Without a doubt, Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney is one of the most fun and unique events that I've ever visited in all of my travels.

What are some fun facts about the groundhogs Day movie? ›

The film was not filmed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but actually in Woodstock, Illinois (just fifty miles from Bill Murray's hometown of Wilmette, Illinois). There is a small plaque that reads "Bill Murray stepped here" on the curb where Murray continually steps into a puddle.

What is one fact about Groundhog Day? ›

First established by Germans in America in 1887, Groundhog Day was actually inspired by Europe's Candlemas Day, during which clergymen would bless the candles they needed for the cold season. If the candles brought a sunny day, there would be six more weeks of winter.

What is so special about Groundhog Day? ›

It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. In 2024, an early spring was predicted.

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