With Groundhog’s Day coming up, I wanted to share a storytime focused all around Shadows and groundhogs! This is a super fun topic for kids to learn about and also includes some STEAM concepts. I’m planning on doing this storytime just after Groundhog’s Day, so some of the script won’t be finished until after Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction!
Here’s the full storytime script below:
Opening Song: We sang our opening song, and then got started!
Opening Question: Are you ready for winter to end? Or do you want it to last a long time?
Transition: This past Sunday was a special day – Groundhog’s Day! Groundhogs are small animals that hibernate during the winter – they sleep all winter. But early in February, they wake up, go outside, and predict whether winter will end soon or stay longer. This year, the groundhog predicted ___________. Let’s learn a little more about groundhogs and their predictions in our first book!
Book: Groundhog Day by Lisa Herrington
I don’t read all of this book, but use it for a couple super simple facts and real life photos of groundhogs.
Transition: Now that we’ve read a bit about Groundhog’s day, let’s try a rhyme about one!
Rhyme: Here’s a Little Groundhog
Here’s a little groundhog, furry and brown, He’s popping up to look around. If he sees his shadow, down he’ll go. Then six more weeks of winter – Oh No!!
Transition: Now, what if the groundhog was really grumpy when it woke up on Groundhog’s Day? What might it do? Those are all great guesses! Well, our next book is about just that – A grumpy groundhog!
Book:Grumpy Groundhog by Maureen Wright
This is a funny story that usually goes over really well with the kids. They love helping me make a grumpy face for the groundhog and I use some silly voices for the townspeople.
Transition: Now that we’ve read a bit about Groundhog’s day, let’s sing a song about it, too! In this song, we’ll do what the groundhog does.
Song: I’m A Little Groundhog (tune: I’m A Little Teapot)
I’m a little groundhog, Short and brown. All winter long, I sleep underground. On February 2nd I peek out and then, If I see my shadow, I jump in again!
Transition: Great job acting like the groundhog! Now, we know that if a groundhog sees his shadow, he goes back to bed. But how are shadows made? Our first book gave us a little hint. Did anyone catch it? Yes? Let’s learn a little more about shadows in our next book!
Book: I See a Shadow by Laura Breen
I LOVE this book! It gives some subtle information about shadows, but really, it’s so much fun for the kids to say what the shadows look like.
Transition: That book had a lot of great information on shadows! I loved seeing how shadows can trick us sometimes. Let’s learn a rhyme all about shadows.
Rhyme: My Shadow
Transition: You know…the way shadows do exactly what we do reminds me of a game…Simon Says! Has anyone played that before? If I say “Simon Says” then we all do the action. But if I don’t say “Simon Says” then we don’t do the action. It’s a tricky game. Do you want to try?
Game: Simon Says
Transition: Great job! You all got better and better at that game. Our next book is about George and his Shadow. Let’s see what they do together!
Book: George and His Shadow by Davide Cali
Something I like about this book is the crazy imagination of a shadow being sentient and the kids like imagining that their shadow could play with them.
Transition: Thanks so much for spending a little time of your day with me! Now we’re ready to sing goodbye and move on to our craft!
Closing: We closed out with our goodbye song and then went on to craft time!
Librarian Ginny 