Happy Groundhog Day Crafts
- Make your own groundhog by creating an interactive puppet that can pop up and look for its shadow. Cut a large oval in a piece of a construction paper for the groundhog's body and a small oval for its head. The two ovals should be able to fit inside a paper cup. Glue the two ovals together. Attach the large oval to a wood stick or plastic straw. Cut out and glue round eyes to the small oval, or face of the groundhog. Draw a nose and mouth on using a black pen or marker. Carefully slit the bottom of a paper cup using a sharp scissors or knife. Slide the free end of the stick down into the slit. Move the stick up and down to animate the groundhog, causing it to pop in and out of the cup.
- Trace several different animal shapes onto cardboard or thick paper. Make only the outline of the animal, leaving out any details or facial features. Cut out the shapes and glue them to Popsicle sticks or plastic straws. Extinguish the overhead light and shine a flashlight behind the shapes, so that the shadow of the shapes is cast on a large, blank wall. Create narratives for the animals and act out a puppet show about Groundhog Day.
- Turn your child into a groundhog with a groundhog mask. Paint one side of a paper plate brown for the groundhog's face. Let the plate dry. Draw facial features, such as eyes and mouth, on construction paper. Cut them out and glue them to the paper plate in the appropriate places. Cut two small circles in brown paper and attach them to the top of the plate to simulate ears. A nose can be created out of a pink felt triangle. Glue it to the plate. Attach pipe cleaners to the sides of the nose to represent whiskers. On either side of the plate, punch a small hole. Thread a sting through the holes to create a mask.
- Craft a reversible bookmark that demonstrates the different weather predictions that the groundhog might make on his special day. Cut out a 1-by-6-inch piece of craft foam. Paste foam cut images of the groundhog in differing climates. On the winter side, cut out a jacket and hat to keep the groundhog warm. Decorate the spring side with groundhog accessories such as sunglasses to represent warm weather. When the groundhog predicts the weather, flip your bookmark to the appropriate side.