Groundhog Day Shadow Puppet
February 2 marks the day when Punxsutawney Phil forecasts the rest of the winter – in other words, Groundhog Day! If furry little Phil sees his shadow, we have six more weeks of winter. If not, spring arrives early (or so the legend goes). Celebrate Groundhog Day with a cute craft that also teaches your child about the science of shadows. Make a painted groundhog hand puppet, and then take your child’s new friend outside to take a look for his shadow!
Materials:
- Card stock paper
- Scissors
- A marker
- Tempera paint
- Cotton balls
- Tape
Instructions:
- Cut a plate-sized circle out of the card stock for the groundhog’s head.
- Dip a cotton ball in brown paint. Press the cotton ball down on the card stock. Repeat, until the front of the card stock circle is covered.
- Paint on eyes, a nose and two big teeth.
- Cut a long, thin rectangle (to make a hand strap) and two semi-circles (for ears) from another piece of card stock.
- Tape the ears to the top, back of the head.
- Fold each end of the rectangle down, making two taps. Tape the tabs to the back of the groundhog’s head to create a hand strap.
Take the puppet outside on a sunny day (or use a flashlight inside). Have your child put her hand through the strap on the back and position the puppet in the light to see if it makes a shadow.
