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Groundhog Day

WELL, THIS WEEK, SOME FAMOUS GROUNDHOGS WILL BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONCE AGAIN, AS WE CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL TRADITION KNOWN AS GROUNDHOG DAY. ACCORDING TO FOLKLORE, IF THE GROUNDHOG EMERGES ON FEBRUARY 2ND, AND SEES HIS SHADOW, HE’LL RETREAT BACK TO HIS BURROW -- AND WE’LL GET THIS DELIGHTFUL WINTER WEATHER FOR ANOTHER 6 WEEKS! BUT IF HE DOESN’T SEE A SHADOW, WE’LL GET AN EARLY SPRING. SO, FOR MANY, THERE’S A LOT RIDING ON THIS BIG RODENT.

THERE ARE MANY FAMOUS WEATHER-PREDICTING GROUNDHOGS – IN OHIO WE’VE GOT BUCKEYE CHUCK, BUT THE MOST FAMOUS IS PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL, ABOUT 100 MILES EAST OF OUR STATE LINE, IN PENNSYLVANIA. UP NEXT, WE HEAD BACK TO THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY TO TALK TO EXPERT HARVEY WEBSTER ABOUT THIS TRADITION -- AND MEET A…WHISTLEPIG? WAIT, I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GROUNDHOGS?

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SO, NOW THAT WE’VE TOLD YOU A LITTLE ABOUT GROUNDHOG DAY – AND THE ANIMALS AT THE CENTER OF IT – WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: DO YOU TRUST THE GROUNDHOG’S PREDICTIONS? YOU CAN ANSWER YES OR NO BY HEADING TO OUR WEBSITE AND CLICKING ON THE POLL BUTTON.


Instructional Links


Website Article: Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Groundhog Day History | Includes information on local festival & teacher’s page with lessons & activities

Website Article: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Woodchuck (Groundhog)

Teacher Resources: TeachersFirst, Special Collection, Resources for Groundhog Day | Links to classroom resources