While Groundhog Day is a smaller holiday compared to others in the past few months, it deserves a fun celebration! Students find it so neat that an animal can help predict whether spring will come early or winter will continue. Since every minute in the classroom is so important, it is helpful to combine a celebration with academics. Thankfully, there are incredible ways to incorporate teaching Groundhog Day with essential standards.
Directed Drawing for Teaching Groundhog Day
When teaching Groundhog Day, Directed Drawing is the perfect activity! Using these activities combines so many skills. For instance, students work on following directions and pay attention to detail. While doing this, they work on fine motor development and increase their stamina in focus and attention. As they create their drawing, they increase their self-expression and communication ideas. On top of this, Directed Drawing is an amazing way to gain an appreciation for art.
Directed Drawing Full Year Bundle
This bundle of over 60 Directed Drawing and Writing worksheet activities are perfect to include throughout the entire year. For instance, students can draw a groundhog on Groundhog Day and a scarecrow during autumn. Additionally, they can draw a rainbow frog during spring and a jellyfish when learning about sea creatures. There are multiple options for every season and holiday to ensure there is something for everyone!
Every design includes step-by-step directions for students to follow. It will be amazing to see smiles on their faces as their designs come to life.
Adding in a Writing Component
Whether teaching Groundhog Day or simply working on a fun design, there is a Directed Drawing for everything. Best of all, they all include a writing component to help students gain essential practice. By combining this practice with an image they create, they are always so excited to write.
There are 10 differentiated options to ensure that ALL students can work on the same drawing lesson at many writing levels. For instance, there are templates with sentence starters and one with more open responses for advanced writers.
Teaching Groundhog Day by Video
On top of all these differentiated options, there are over 25 video links for Directed Drawing videos! Click HERE to see the Directed Drawing Videos Directory. You can play these while walking around as students work.
This Directed Drawing Groundhog video will be the perfect way to guide and support students.
Secret Sentences
Students will love celebrating Groundhog Day with their classmates. Thankfully, this is the perfect set of sentence starter activities for kindergarten and first grade.
Specifically, there are 14 seasonal packs with at least 7 pages in each pack. This includes Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Earth Day, and Easter. There is a seasonal pack to use throughout the entire year!
Students will begin by identifying the first letter sound of small picture icons to decode a secret sentence. For instance, a picture of an apple represents the letter a. Then, students will write each letter to decode words in a simple sentence. Once students decode the sentence, they print it neatly and self-edit it. Afterward, they will show their comprehension of the sentence by drawing a matching picture. Students will be proud of their sentence and eager to read it to a partner!
Ultimately, students will create, read, write, and self-edit complete, simple sentences on each activity page. They will have so much fun and love cracking the code!
Teaching Groundhog Day is such a fun celebration in the classroom. It is so exciting to see if there will be a long winter or early spring. Thankfully, these activities will ensure students work on essential skills while showing off their creative side.
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