Groundhog Day

So tomorrow is Groundhog day. Each February second Groundhog Day is celebrated by many people across the US...

If your child is an early riser then you can turn on the TV to any network and at 7:45 a.m. a Groundhog named Phil emerges from his burrow in search of his shadow. If he sees that shadow or not, it is reported to the town leaders, who make their pronouncement of the length of the winter season and whether it is to go to the full spring equinox or if it will end six weeks earlier than the calendar states.
Based on an old story that taught folks to believe that animals could predict the length of winter, it's still held dear to this day.

So in honor of Groundhog day our homeschool curriculum includes studies of the various historical cultures and holidays around this date, as well as of course the reddish brown North American marmot, as well as studies about woodchucks, squirrels and other small wild rodent like creatures.

With this we learn about the date of Groundhhog day, the word Emerge, how to recognize the first signs of spring, the length of winter, and gain a goal for the end of winter.