TEACHER’S GUIDE Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2023. For use only with license.

Groundhog Day, Explained (B2)

Preview
Part 1. Discussion about groundhogs. Answers will vary.
For similar animals, you could refer to: beavers, badgers, hedgehogs, gophers, marmots, squirrels
Part 2. Nouns (definitions)
(1) solstice (2) equinox (3) hypothermia (4) hibernation (5) mating season
Part 3. Students’ predictions. Answers will vary.

Viewing Activity
Part 1. Short Answers (pause video after first 25 seconds).
(1) If a groundhog sees its shadow on Groundhog Day, it supposedly means we will have 6
more weeks of winter.
(2) If a groundhog doesn’t see its shadow on Groundhog Day, it supposedly means winter is
over.
(3) Answers will vary.
Part 2. Matching Activity. (1) b (2) a (3) e (4) d (5) c
Part 3. Short Answers (pause video after first 25 seconds).
(1) In winter months, groundhogs’ body temperature drops 62 degrees. A groundhog’s
hibernating heartbeat is only five beats per minute. In warmer months, its heart beats 80
times per minute. Their breathing slows down in winter too. It can go from 16 breaths per
minute to about two during hibernation.
(2) Groundhogs come out of their hibernation in early February to look for mates.
(3) He is right 30% of the time.

Post-Viewing 1
Part 1. Discussion questions. Answers will vary.
Part 2. Conjunctions/Linking Phrases. (1) While (2) However (3) Whether (4) After all

Part 3. Matching activity (based on Part 2). (1) A (2) D (3) B (4) C

Post-Viewing 2
Part 2. Sentences using the conjunctions/linking phrases.
(1) It’s no surprise that animals need to hibernate in the winter. After all, food is harder
to find and they need to conserve energy.
(2) A groundhog may closely resemble a beaver. However, they’re very different animals.
OR... While a groundhog may closely resemble a beaver, they’re very different animals.

(3) While the spring equinox occurs in March, there are often wintry conditions until May.
OR... The spring equinox occurs in March. However, there are often wintry conditions until
May.

(4) Whether a person can die from hypothermia depends on how cold the temperatures
are.
TEACHER’S GUIDE Fluentize, LLC. Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Groundhog Day, Explained (B2)

Post-Viewing 3
Plot Description Task. (About ‘Groundhog Day’ film). Conjunctions/Linking Phrases.
(1) However,
(2) While
(3) However,
(4) While
(5) Whether
(6) After all,
(7) Whether
(8) After all,

Quiz & Review

Part 1. Questions. Refer to Viewing Activity.
Part 2. Vocabulary.
(1) winter solstice / spring equinox
(2) hypothermia
(3) Mating season
Part 3. Conjunction/Linking Phrases.
(1) While it may seem random, there is some logic to turning to the groundhog for
weather predictions.
(2) However, the idea that groundhogs predict the weather when they come out of
hibernation may be a bit of a stretch.
(3) Whether a groundhog see its shadow or not on February 2nd has more to do with
the weather that day than the groundhog itself.
(4) After all, Punxsutawney Phil has only been right about 30% of the time, so we’re
probably better off listening to meteorologists, or, just flipping a coin.
Part 4. Refer to Post-Viewing Activities 1 & 2.