Groundhog’s Day is an exciting day each year. The groundhog’s story goes that on February 2nd every year, the nation waits with bated breath to see whether or not Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow. Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog who peeks his head out of his hole-in-the-ground home. The old story goes that if Punxsutawney Phil (who lives in Punxsutawney, PA) sees his shadow, he will want to hide back in his burrow and the nation will experience 6 more weeks of winter. The forecast is for an early spring if he doesn’t see his shadow and isn’t scared back into his home.
Groundhog’s Day Resources
Whether or not you actually think a groundhog can predict the weather, Groundhog’s Day is fun to celebrate with your students. It gives you a great excuse to incorporate more books and read-aloud time into your classroom with a groundhog’s day story or two!
Below you will find a list of great book resources you can use in your classroom Groundhog’s Day story read-aloud.
Groundhog’s Day Story Read-Aloud Books
Reading aloud to children in the classroom is one of my favorite things to do. However, with all the other curricular demands, it is hard to squeeze in the time for simple reading. You’ll want to find time for these Groundhog’s Day story read-aloud books, though. One or two books to celebrate Groundhog’s Day on February 2nd will be worth the time and effort.
*Each book title links to Amazon just to make it easy – you can read reviews, a summary, and order should you choose! (This post contains affiliate links.)
Groundhog’s Day Off
Groundhog’s Day Off by Robb Pearlman is a fun Groundhog’s Day story to share with your class. After the same old thing year after year, the groundhog decides to go on strike and heads out on a much-needed vacation. This book lays out the auditions that the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania holds to find a new spokes-animal to replace the groundhog on Groundhog’s Day.
Groundhug Day
Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace is all about an upcoming Valentine’s Day party. Groundhog has an issue, though. If he sees his shadow, he’ll have to stay in his burrow for another six weeks and miss the party! Some of Groundhog’s friends understand his worries and want to help him. You’ll have to read how they helped Groundhog overcome his fear.
Substitute Groundhog
Substitute Groundhog by Pat Miller is a Groundhog’s Day story for read-aloud that your students will love. After feeling ill and being diagnosed with the flu, Groundhog has been told to stay in bed for two days. At any other time of the year, he would be happy to listen to the doctor’s orders. This year, his two days of bedrest fall on Groundhog’s Day. Groundhog has a brilliant idea that maybe he can find a substitute. Someone to step in for him and come out of his burrow to look for their own shadow. Your students will love predicting which animals would or would not make a good substitute for Groundhog.
Groundhog Secrets
Groundhog Secrets: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Woodchucks (Stories of Groundhogs, Squirrels, and Chipmunks) by Lieve Snellings follows a woodchuck named Margot. Reading this realistic fiction will give insight into the life of Margot in this Groundhog’s Day story. It will allow your students to enter Margot’s fun world while learning real-life facts about the woodchuck family’s daily lives, including our beloved groundhogs.
Groundhog Gets a Say
Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow is another great option for a groundhog’s day story read aloud in your classroom. In this fact-filled book about groundhogs, your students will learn a lot about groundhogs while being entertained. This silly story is about a groundhog who decides to speak up. He educates everyone that groundhogs do much more than just poke their heads out of their burrow once a year.
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