Busy, Busy Groundhog! Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will describe what groundhogs do through the seasons.

 

Science Focus:

groundhogs

 

CCSS:

SL.1.2 Discuss a video; L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases; RI.1.1 Key details; RF.1.3 Decode words, RI.1.8 Text evidence, W1.2 Writing; RI.1.7 Use visuals; RI.1.10 Read and discuss first-grade texts

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  • Before watching What Is a Groundhog?, ask students to answer the title’s question! What do they think a groundhog looks like? Where do they think it lives?
  • After watching, let students turn and talk with a partner. Did they learn anything from the video that surprised them? (SKILL: SL.1.2 Discuss a video)
  • Play the vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are prepares, hibernates and energy. (SKILL: L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases)
  • Read the issue together. 
  • Then project and discuss the reading checkpoint skill sheet. Later, children can fill in their own copies. (SKILL: RI.1.1 Key details)

Kids practice reading sight words as they feed a hungry groundhog in this fun game. (SKILL: RF.1.3 Decode words)

  • By now, kids know that Norbert definitely does NOT know it all! Read his shockingly misinformed letter to the class and compose your own letter, refuting every mistake! Send it to norbert@scholastic.com and Norbert will write back. (SKILLS: RI.1.8 Text evidence, W1.2 Writing)
  • Kids read a chart to tell which years the groundhog saw its shadow with this skill sheet. (SKILL: RI.1.7 Use visuals)
A groundhog with a flashlight shining on it

Objective: Children will act out the legend of Groundhog Day as they look for their shadows.

Materials: flashlight, long table or something else to crawl under

  • Remind children of the legend: On Groundhog Day, a groundhog pops out of its burrow. If it sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, spring is near!
  • Have kids line up behind a long table, or something they can wiggle through or under. (This is the “burrow.”) Dim the classroom lights and stand at the other end of the burrow, fl ashlight at the ready.
  • One at a time, have each child crawl through the burrow. As children come out the other end, shine the flashlight on some, but not on others. Your little groundhogs can predict the weather depending on whether they saw their shadow or not!
  • TIP: To make a clear shadow, shine the flashlight at an angle directly over the child. It may take a little angling on your part to get it just right! (SKILL: Gross motor skills, shadows)