Groundhog Day originated with Pennsylvania's settlers; they developed the idea that winter's length could be predicted based on their beliefs and knowledge of hibernation. Discuss other instances of folklore that exist in our culture. Assign students a natural occurrence, such as Aurora Borealis or the moon's eclipse; ask them to create a story that explains why it happens.
Groundhog Day is a great opportunity to discuss hibernation. Introduce students to a variety of animals that hibernate. Discuss the reasons that these animals choose to hibernate; address the reasons that they are able to survive sleeping all winter. Once students have a grasp the attributes of a hibernating animal, have them explain what a human being would need to have in order to successfully hibernate. Instruct them to draw a picture of what that human would look like.
Meteorology has developed a great deal since the time that Groundhog Day was created, allowing us to make educated guesses about the length of seasons and the reasons behind weather patterns. Show students some of the technology that goes into tracking and predicting weather. Show some of the natural signs that the weather is changing by watching the wildlife and vegetation in the area.
How often is Punxsutawney Phil accurate in his weather predictions? Use Groundhog Day as an opportunity to discuss probability by charting and comparing the groundhog's prediction each year with the actual length of winter. Locate data for the last ten Groundhog Days that shows whether Punxsatawney Phil did or did not see his shadow on each of the ten years. Have your students research the weather patterns for each of those years and chart the temperatures. Ask students to decide whether Punxsutawney Phil should be trusted based on his track record.