Introduction
    It is traditionally believe that on February 2 of any given year, a furry little animal will emerge from his hole early in the morning. If this critter sees his shadow, it will frighten him and he will go back into his burrow not to be seen again for six weeks. The story goes on to say that this event determines what our weather will be like for the same six weeks - more winter.
    If , however, this critter does not see his shadow, we will have an early spring. How can a little furry animal have knowledge that we do not have? Why do we watch for this event every year? Can this critter really predict the coming weather?
Follow this web quest to learn more about this furry creature and the legends behind the stories of the GROUNDHOG!!!
 
 
 
 

Your task is to:

• Read  the legend of Groundhog's Day.
• Find out where this legend began.
• Decide whether you believe the story to be fact or fiction.
• Identify 3 communities that practice the celebration of this special day.
• Listen to groundhogs.
• List facts about groundhogs.
• Read stories about Groundhog's day
• Play the Groundhog Game
• Research other hibernating animals
• Take a quiz on Groundhog's Day
• Complete the Rubrics

     The Process
         There are eight groundhog activities below. The class will be divided into groups of four. Each group will choose four activities to complete. Each student in the group will be one of the following:
              Leader (guide discussion)
              Recorder (write needed 
                                   information)
              Illustrator (draw pictures)
              Computer Driver (control 
                                               computer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

     1. Copy the Scottish couplet on Candlemas Day. 

*Illustrate the poem to demonstrate the meaning.
 
 
 

2. Play CyberGroundhog's Day 5 times.

*Record your answer each time you play.
Make a graph of your answers. Summarize the results of the graph.
 
 
 

3. Visit Punxsutawney.
 * Review magazine articles of prairie dogs' burrow. Read the book Under the Ground .
Draw how you think the inside  of Punxsutawney Phil's burrow would look. 
 
 

4.  Visit other groundhogs:
*Choose a favorite and draw a picture of him. Be sure to give his name and his home town.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5.  Record the name of each of the following groundhogs and where they live.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

6.  Find the groundhog translator.
*Write a sentence, copy the translation and listen to the sentence in groundhogesse.
 
 
 
 
 
 

7.  Click on the Groundhog's shadow 
*Take the Groundhog quiz.
Check you own score.

           8.  Print the match game from this link. 
            *Play the Groundhog Game. 
 
 

Upon completion of four activities, the group should display the results of their activities on a poster board. Make up a title for you group (ex. Hogxperts)
The poster board should have the following information under each activity.
Leader______, Recorder_______, Illustrator_______, Computer driver_______
 
 
 

Each group is to complete four activities before evaluation. Evaluation will be determined by the teacher on the following criteria.
 

Requirements	Point Value	Score
Completed 4 activities	40 points
Each of the 4 activities included all of the elements of the activity.	10 points per activity (40 points total)
Each member of the group served as leader, recorder, illustrator, and computer operator	20 points
Recorded Points	100 possible

By studying Groundhogs day, the students will learn about legends and the basis for legends, customs of long ago, and also become aquainted with burrowing mammals.

Internet sites:
1.  http://craftsforkids.about.com/kids/craftsforkids/
    gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.geocities.com
    /Heartland/6459/actpag26.html
2.  http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7134/
    Shadow/ghquiz.htm
3.  http://www.punxsutawneyphil.com/translate/
4.  http://www.channel3000.com/news/stories/
     news-990202-073524.html
5.   http://www.wiarton-willie.org/index.cfm
6.   http://www.groundhogsday.com/
     groundhoggallery.html
7.   http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/
     7134/Shadow/groundhog.htm
8.    http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jones/ghd.html
9.    http://www.groundhogs.com/index.htm
10.  http://users.penn.com/~mweimer/
11.  http://www.groundhog.org/history/
12.  http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7134/Shadow/
       ghgame.htm
13.  http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~marmota/links.html
14.  http://www.hoghaven.com/

Books:
1.   Mourtran, Julia, The Story of Punxsutawney Phil "The Fearless
        Forecaster".  Prentice-Hall, U.S.A. 1988.
2.   Balian, Lorna, A Garden for a Groundhog.  Abingdon, 1985.
3.   Delton, Judy, Groundhog's Day at the Doctor. Parents, 1981.
4.   Holland, Joyce, Gertie Groundhog. Denison, 1962.
5.   Johnson, Crockett,  Will Spring be Early, or Will Spring be
       Late?. Crowell, 1960.

Video:
The Spirit of Punxsutawney; Groundhog Day. West Production Services, Inc. 1992.