For an interactive classroom craft, have students watch the groundhog's prediction on television for that year. After the prediction is made, have the students work on a group craft project. Together as a class, the students can create a sign out of construction paper and coloring utensils such as crayons and markers that depict the groundhog's prediction. The sign can either broadcast that spring is on the way, or that winter is here to stay.
Prior to Groundhog Day, have students create their own Groundhog Day bookmarks in class. On one end of the bookmark, the students should depict a spring weather prediction. On the other end of the bookmark, have students design a winter prediction scene. Then, on Groundhog Day, have the students use the Internet to research what the groundhog predicted. For the rest of the day, have them use the appropriate end of their bookmark for classroom reading.
For older students who are learning about Internet research, a fun Groundhog Day activity is to have them research the official Punxsutawney Phil website. The website broadcasts the groundhog's prediction, and also features several other facts about Groundhog Day. Students can compare and contrast past predictions with actual results, as well as learn a little bit of history about the holiday. After they are done exploring the website, have the students write a short report on their findings.
Another interactive Groundhog Day activity is an online Groundhog Day quiz. This quiz asks students to answer fun facts about groundhogs and about Groundhog Day. Students should have a general knowledge of the holiday before taking the quiz. The quiz can be taken individually in a computer lab, or it can be taken together as a class on the SMART Board. This is a perfect interactive activity to help introduce students to the holiday.