Name: _____________________ Date: _____________________

Groundhog Day KWL

Write 1-2 things in each of the K and W boxes! The L box will be filled in after the unit is complete.
K=Know W=Want to know L=Learned

K W L

©Hillary Kiser
Name: _____________________
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day takes place on February
2nd of each year. According to the tradition, if it is
cloudy on this day when the groundhog emerges, or
rises, from his burrow, spring will arrive early. If it is
sunny, the groundhog will see his shadow and return to
his burrow. If the groundhog sees his shadow, there
will be six more weeks of winter.
Groundhog day was first observed in the
United States in 1887. Clymer H. Freas was the editor
of the local paper, Punxsutawney Spirit, at the time.
He began promoting the town’s groundhog as the
official "Groundhog Day meteorologist.“ A large
celebration each year takes place in Punxsutawney,
Pennsylvania with Punxsutawney Phil.
In 1993, there was even a film made about Groundhog
Day.
After the film, Groundhog
Day became even more
popular. Now people use the
term “Groundhog Day” to
refer to the same thing
happening each day. Each
year, people make
predictions about what the
Groundhog might do. What
do you think will happen this
year?
Date: _____________________
Comprehension
Questions
(Underline or highlight your text evidence.)
1. What is the main idea of this text?
____________________________________
2. Briefly explain what happens on Groundhog
Day.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
3. What does emerges mean? How do you know?
____________________________________
____________________________________
4. What year was Groundhog Day first observed
in the United States and who started this tradition?
____________________________________
5. Which town has a large celebration each year
for Groundhog Day?
____________________________________
©Hillary Kiser
Name: _____________________
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day takes place on February
2nd of each year. According to the tradition, if it is
cloudy on this day when the groundhog emerges, or
rises, from his burrow, spring will arrive early. If it is
sunny, the groundhog will see his shadow and return to
his burrow. If the groundhog sees his shadow, there
will be six more weeks of winter.
Groundhog day was first observed in the
United States in 1887. Clymer H. Freas was the editor
of the local paper, Punxsutawney Spirit, at the time.
He began promoting the town’s groundhog as the
official "Groundhog Day meteorologist.“ A large
celebration each year takes place in Punxsutawney,
Pennsylvania with Punxsutawney Phil.
In 1993, there was even a film made about Groundhog
Day.
After the film, Groundhog
Day became even more
popular. Now people use the
term “Groundhog Day” to
refer to the same thing
happening each day. Each
year, people make
predictions about what the
Groundhog might do. What
do you think will happen this
year?
Date: _____________________
Answer Key
(Underline or highlight your text evidence.)
1. What is the main idea of this text? Information
about Groundhog Day
2. Briefly explain what happens on Groundhog
Day. According to the tradition, if it is cloudy on
this day when the groundhog emerges, or rises,
from his burrow, spring will arrive early. If it is
sunny, the groundhog will see his shadow and
return to his burrow. If the groundhog sees his
shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.
3. What does emerges mean? How do you know?
Emerges means to rise, it says the definition right
after the word in the text.
4. What year was Groundhog Day first observed
in the United States and who started this tradition?
1887 and Clymer H. Freas
5. Which town has a large celebration each year
for Groundhog Day?
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
©Hillary Kiser
 Write Your Prediction
to Punxsutawney Phil.
Dear Punxsutawney Phil,
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
©Hillary Kiser
 Ask 10 People!
Will the Groundhog see his shadow?

Yes No Look at the Data

1. How many predicted yes? _____________
1
2. How many predicted no? ______________
2
3. What fraction of the people predicted yes?
3 __________________________________

4. What fraction of the people predicted no?

4
__________________________________

5 5. Write a word problem to go with your data,

then have a friend use your data to solve the
6 problem.
__________________________________
7 __________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
8 __________________________________
__________________________________
9 __________________________________
_________________________________
10
©Hillary Kiser
 Groundhog Day
Facts Activity
Using the Groundhog below, write
down five short facts you learned
about Groundhog Day from the
reading. The facts can go anywhere
on his body. Then you may color the
groundhog.
(Making sure the facts can still be
seen.) ©Hillary Kiser
Groundhog Day Facts

©Hillary Kiser
Name: _____________________ Date: _____________________

Groundhog Day Writing Connection

Why do you think people use Groundhog Day as a prediction of what the
seasons may do? Does the Groundhog really decide the weather?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
©Hillary Kiser
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