Groundhog Facts and Activities
The adult groundhog weighs about 10 pounds. Find something that weighs 10 pounds (like a sack of potatoes), put it into a brown burlap sack, and glue on colorful felt features for eyes, nose, and mouth. Have the students hold the "hibernating groundhog" during storytime as a special reward. The groundhog is also 2-feet tall. How does that compare with our height? Let's get the yardstick and measure.
The groundhog burrows and tunnels under a rock or a tree stump. It closes itself in from the inside by pushing dirt back up into the entryway. Often, other animals come along and "rent out" the upper part of the burrow during the winter. Other animals could include a fox, skunk, or rabbit. Use creative dramatics to enact "The Groundhog Rental Company." The groundhog could interview the fox, skunk, or rabbit to make sure that it will make an ideal renter. What qualities would an ideal renter have? (Quiet, no late night noises, no blaring of the television, etc.)
