The kids have loved learning about burrows and how groundhogs dig tunnels. Did you know they dig up to 700 lbs. of dirt when digging their burrows?! WHOA! We talked about burrows and other places animals calls home…dens, lairs, nests, caves, etc. Then I had the kids pretend like they were groundhogs and do a little descriptive writing. First they had to draw their little burrows. CRACKING up that this one has a TV & a bed! HA!
Then they had to write a few sentences describing their burrow as if they were a groundhog.
Finally, they made a little groundhog. I LOVE this little art piece. It takes all of about 5 seconds to put together. One of my best friends, Jodi, showed me this idea years ago when we taught Kindergarten together and I’ve been doing it with my kids ever since.
The groundhog is made of one large brown heart {turned upside down}, one medium sized brown heart {cut right down the middle and used as ears}, and one medium sized white heart {turned upside down and used for teeth}. All the kids had to do was cut the ears and make the faces. The hearts were pre-cut for them! I think these are the dang cutest things! And perfect since Valentine’s Day is only a week away!
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Abby says
Love it! The groundhog idea is great!!!
Jena Snowden says
Oh I love your groundhogs and their burrows! I've seen a lot of groundhog writings but never with their cute little homes attached. I've found my groundhog writing for next year! 🙂 Thanks for all that you share.
Dave and Linds says
love this! i will def. be doing this next year! thanks:)
Gwen says
We missed Groundhog Day too, so we've been playing catch up. Cute ideas! I just posted on our groundhog catch up a few days ago. Thanks for the smartboard link. Love cute, already done files!
fantasticinfirst.blogspot.com
Kinderpond says
I am so loving the TV in there! Priceless 🙂
Jennifer
According to Ashley says
The burrows are adorable!
Doodle Bugs Paper says
Cute! Cute! Cute! My first graders are still obsessed with groundhogs.. I am ready to move on to another animal :o)
Sarah says
Great ideas!! The burrows with the writing is adorable!!
Sarah at Classroom Chic
sailingintofirstgrade says
Cute! We were home 4 days too and I decided to skip Groundhog's Day. Now I am depressed. Maybe I can do something similar for our forest unit?
Sarah Paul says
Cute! I'll use this next year for sure!
Rachelle says
Holy cuteness!!!!
-Rachelle
http://www.whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com
Mrs. Bates says
Very cute!!!
Elisabeth says
Love it! TOOOO cute!!
Elisabeth
http://www.missdelk.blogspot.com
mikey says
So lucky to have a smartboard, what a great tool to use, the whole unit on groundhogs was awesome! I didn't know they could be used that way~guess that's why they're called smartboards! HA!
Emily says
Cute groundhogs and burrows, I love the idea!!
I know you posted about your 'Mystery Words' activity a longgg time ago but I just posted about it today over at my blog! My kids loved it!
Kim says
Super cute! I'll be putting those ideas away for next year!
Mrs. Thiessen says
Cute! And, so simple! Love it!
Alexandra
http://thefirstgradesweetlife.blogspot.com/
Kayela says
I was just searching through your blog (I'm a fellow first grade teacher) and subsequent lover of all things "first." I just saw that you posted a comment about our Groundhog's Day SmartBoard lesson! YAY! It is from our site at SmartLessonStop.com! Come check us out for more SMART fun!
Love,
The girls at SmartLessonStop.com
kelly says
Love Groundhog's day!
Kristin Young says
We made these today and they were super cute. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
http://littlemissglamourgoestokindergarten.blogspot.com
Mrs. Zumbach says
This activity was SO ADORABLE! My first graders loved designing their own burrows today! Thanks for sharing!