It’s that time of year again. Each year in the United States on February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, will emerge from his condo in the ground and peek out at his surroundings. If he sees his shadow, we will get another 6 weeks of winter weather. If not, spring is coming early! Mammalian meteorology aside, Groundhog Day is a great time to have fun, especially with the kids. It’s unique because it’s not a holiday per se, but there are still great opportunities for celebration and fun. Few things are more fun than a puppet – they’re easy to make and all you need is your imagination. I hope you enjoy making this Groundhog Day craft with your children and that they put on a good puppet show with the groundhog puppet!
Groundhog Fun Fact: Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are excellent diggers and can move about 700 pounds of dirt when making their burrows! Their homes typically include multiple chambers, such as a sleeping area and even a “bathroom” chamber—very tidy for a rodent!
Easy Groundhog Day Crafts
Making Groundhog Day crafts is a fun and creative way to celebrate the quirky holiday that predicts the arrival of spring. It provides an opportunity for kids and adults alike to learn about the tradition in an engaging, hands-on way while fostering creativity and motor skills. Crafts like brown paper bag groundhogs can spark conversations about weather patterns, seasons, and folklore. Plus, crafting together is a great way to bond as a family or classroom and bring a bit of whimsy to the winter season. Are you ready to make some cute groundhog day crafts? They are so much fun!
These make great Groundhog Day crafts for preschoolers on up through elementary school children. While toddlers may needs help and supervision with some of the steps, all of these crafting activities are great for their learning and development. These also make great groundhog crafts for toddlers because they always love to play with puppets! Making your own groundhog just may become a fun tradition for the kiddos!
Craft Supplies:
- Brown paper lunch bag
- Brown felt
- Large googly eyes
- Black pipe cleaners
- Black Sharpie
- White felt
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
How To Make a Groundhog Puppet With A Paper Bag:
First, cut a rectangle out of the brown felt. It should match the part of the paper bag leading up to the flap:
You can glue the felt onto the bag when it’s ready. Next, cut a square out of the brown felt. This will become the groundhog’s head. You might want to fee hand the head on a blank sheet of paper and then use that as the template to trace onto the felt.
Use your Sharpie to draw an outline of the groundhog’s head. It should be larger than the top rectangular flap of the paper bag – this is where you’ll glue it when it’s ready.
Now use scissors to cut out two smaller, roundish pieces of felt for the ears. Put a small amount of glue on the bottom of each ear; glue them to the back of the head. Next, draw the nose on the groundhog’s face with the marker and glue on your eyes. So far, it should look something like this:
Make a small square out of the white felt and draw a vertical line down the middle – this will be your teeth. Cut the pipe cleaners until they are about the length of your ring finger to use as whiskers. Glue on your whiskers and teeth. Cut out arms with some of the leftover felt. For extra detail, draw paws with your marker. Your groundhog puppet is ready to play with!
Take the kid(s) outside and tell them if their groundhog puppet sees its shadow you’re in for a long winter, and if not, spring is on its way! You can also make groundhog pudding/Oreo dirt cups for a special treat – there are many different recipes available online.
Conclusion
Groundhog crafts can be a fun and educational activity, especially around Groundhog Day on February 2nd. They’re popular because they tie into the folklore of Groundhog Day, where the groundhog is believed to predict the weather. Making groundhog crafts can be a great way to engage kids in learning about this tradition and can also be a creative way to explore themes like winter, hibernation, and animal habitats. Plus, crafting in general is a great way to develop fine motor skills and creativity!
This is also a great way to sneak in a history lesson about Groundhog Day and its origins. Have your phone or camera handy – you’re sure to make some memories with this activity. Happy Groundhog’s Day! Are you making any other groundhog day crafts? Do you think we will have an early spring? Share pics of your adorable groundhog day crafts on social media @familyfocusblog!
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Cindy says
What a fun kids’ craft! I only had a white paper bag and brown construction paper but the groundhog puppet was still so cute and so much fun to make. This unique groundhog craft was a big hit with my 7 year old.
Gretchen says
What a fun way to share groundhogs day with little learners! I love this groundhog craft activity.
NRIWINGS says
Such a fun craft idea! Making a Groundhog puppet is a creative way to celebrate Groundhog Day. Thanks for the easy-to-follow instructions—perfect for kids and families!
Khan says
Such a creative and fun Groundhog Day craft! The step-by-step guide makes it super easy for kids to enjoy. I love how interactive this puppet idea is—it’s a great way to make learning fun!
Diligence Certification says
Groundhog Day crafts are a fun and creative way to celebrate this unique tradition! From making adorable paper groundhogs that pop out of their burrows to shadow puppets and coloring pages, there are endless DIY activities for kids and adults alike. These crafts not only enhance creativity but also teach children about the folklore behind Groundhog Day in an engaging way.
Kaushal Kumar says
This is such a fun and creative craft idea for Groundhog Day! The step-by-step instructions make it easy for kids and adults alike to enjoy making their own groundhog puppet. It’s a great way to add a hands-on activity to the tradition while learning about the holiday. Can’t wait to try this with my little ones—thanks for sharing!