Looking for a fun, frugal way to celebrate Groundhog Day with your kids? This easy Groundhog Day craft is the perfect solution!
Made with just a few simple supplies (popsicle sticks and construction paper), it’s a delightful DIY activity that’s also great for rainy day fun, brain breaks, or screen-free play.
I’m sharing my tips for making this popsicle stick groundhog craft. Plus, I’ve got a bunch of creative ideas for ways to use and enjoy this activity with your children.
Whether it’s predicting the weather or just making silly shadow adventures, this craft is a fantastic way to celebrate the season and spark imaginations.
Related: This cute groundhog puppet craft using a toilet paper roll is another super cool activity to enjoy with kids!
Easily Boost Your Groundhog Day Fun with Kids
If you’re searching for a simple Groundhog Day activity to help your students get excited about this special day, I think you’re really going to love this craft. And it’s also amazing for Letter of the Week fun with the letter “Gg”?
As I was planning ahead for our homeschool fun activities this year, I started to reminisce about projects that my boys enjoyed when they were younger. When I flipped to the month of February, I was hit with a wave of delightful memories. We’d start the month with a bang by celebrating Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day is a popular where we live in Western Pennsylvania. Our home isn’t too far from Punxsutawney, the home of Punxsutawney Phil and Gobbler’s Knob. It was kind of exciting to find out if the groundhog saw his shadow and we’d have an extra six weeks of winter? Or would spring come early this year?!?
This easy Groundhog Day craft was one of our favorite craftivities for the event. The boys would also use their DIY groundhogs for creative play, too.
Supplies You’ll Need for Your Groundhog Day Craft
This craft for kids call for only a few materials that you probably have them in your home, library, or classroom. If you’ll be doing this project with a large group of students (or don’t have a lot of time for this project), I recommend doing some prep work prior to starting.
Before you begin this groundhog craft, you will need:
- Jumbo Popsicle Stick (green)
- Brown and White Construction Paper
- Black Marker
- Glue
- Scissors
If you don’t have green wood craft sticks, no worries! Simply use a green marker or tempera paint stick (like Kwik Stix) to color it green. Or leave it as-is.
Mr. Pen- Colored Popsicle Sticks, Wooden Rainbow Colored Popsicle Sticks for Crafts, 200 Pack, 4.5 InchCrayola 9Crayola Broad Line Markers (12ct), Washable Markers for Kids, Arts & Crafts Supplies, Coloring Markers, Toddler Stocking Stuffers, 3+Crayola Super Tips Marker Set (100ct), Fine Point Washable Markers, Drawing Markers for Kids & Adults, Great for Thick & Thin Lines
How to Make This Easy Groundhog Day Puppet
01
Prepare groundhog pieces
Draw and cut out all the shapes to make the groundhog from brown construction paper. Requires: Large oval for the body, smaller oval for the head, two small ovals cut in half for the arms and legs (four total limbs), and one smaller oval cut in half for the ears (two total ears.) Also, one very long oval with one end cut off for the tail. Finally, cut one small half-oval from white paper for the teeth.
02
Glue together groundhog pieces
Glue the head to the front of the body and all other limbs to the back of the body/head. Glue arms and legs in place on the body and ears to the head.
03
Add eyes, nose, and mouth shape
Draw the eyes, nose, and mouth with a black marker. The mouth should be an upside-down M shape.
04
Glue on white mouth piece
Glue the teeth in place on the mouth.
05
Glue stick onto back of groundhog
Glue the stick to the back of the puppet.
Creative Ways to Use Your Groundhog Puppet for Play
Prior to making your groundhog craft, talk with your kids about this special day. It can be incredibly helpful to explain why this day is recognized and the traditions surrounding it. I’ve used books and videos for this step.
Brainstorm different names for your groundhog. You can try the traditional Phil or try “G” names, like Greta, Grace, Gus, or Gavin.
To really get into the activity, I suggest using an overhead light and practicing if your groundhog will see its shadow or not.
For some math fun, move the light to the side. Measure the length of the shadows and compare.
Have your groundhog craft be the star of your writing and drawing time! Use your new cute friend as a prompt for creative work.
More Frugal and Fun Groundhog Day Activities
Extend the fun you’re having with this easy Groundhog Day craft by adding simple extras, like books and stickers. Here are a few of our top picks – we hope that you like them, too!
Groundhog Day! (New & Updated)How to Catch a GroundhogThe Night Before Groundhog DayGroundhogs!: A My Incredible World Picture Book for Children (My Incredible World: Nature and Animal Picture Books for Children)FeelWarm 1000Pcs Happy Groundhog Day Sticker Roll 16 Style Cartoon Dormouse Decals for Kids, Cute Sticker Home Decor Label Crafts for Water Bottle Laptop School Classroom Rewards Gift Party Favor
Oh, and free printables, like our Groundhog Day word search activity and color by number pages, are more awesome ways to celebrate!
Do you have any questions about making this easy Groundhog Day puppet? And how will you use it with your kids? Please let me know in the comments area at the bottom of this post!
