Yesterday afternoon, all about noon, I couldn't help but have the Simon and Garfunkle song in my head as I watched my wee ones at recess. What was once a white landscape of piles of snow had turned overnight into an ice-skating rink. Right away, I knew we couldn't have the lesson on shadows I had planned...it would have fallen on deaf ears. Instead, cautioning them about the ice, I let them be free. First they chose to "skate" on the ice covered black top near the school but then they got adventurous and found a small "ice covered" low spot in the forest.
When recess was over, we formed a circle on the pavement closest to the classroom door which was free of ice and actually quite warm, and we had our science lesson on shadows. After all, Ground Hog Day is coming on Monday. Once we got back into the classroom, the children had to "predict" whether Punxsutawney Phil would see his shadow.
Speaking of Phil, did you know that in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Ground Hog Day is comparable to Christmas or Halloween? Events go on for days but really heat up on the night before February 2. At the local high school, a Ground king and queen are crowned and there's a traditional bnquet, the Prognosticators Ball and then a midnight screening of the movie "Groundhog Day". Fireworks and a big bonfire follow. By 3 A.M. in the morning, revelers start arriving at Gobbler's Knob, the grassy knoll where Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, will appear near dawn and probably, based on history, see his shadow.
This winter celebration has been going on since 1886. So what do you think? Will Phil see his shadow and we can look forward to six more weeks of winter? Or do you think he won't and Spring is around the corner?
This winter celebration has been going on since 1886. So what do you think? Will Phil see his shadow and we can look forward to six more weeks of winter? Or do you think he won't and Spring is around the corner?
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Comments: 80
Miss Bob - I loved that picture of the three graces:) It just make me happy to see them in action - a real sight for sore eyes.
I think 6 more wks of winter!
(a) Phil will see his shadow, be frightened and run back down his burrow and we will have 6 more weeks of winter.
(b) He won't see his shadow and so he'll hang around outside and spring is around the corner.
Karen:
What would be the GOOD News? My kids voted when we got inside and 19 wanted Phil to see his shadow. They haven't had enough of winter. Only 3 kis voted for spring and of course I cast the 4th vote.
You know what I voted. I'm ready for sunny days, warm soil to dig in and wearing a spring jacket. Dressing in layers has become most dull to my way of thinking.
Hugs and blessings - S.
I wonder what a good bribe would be for a groundhog. I only wish I knew then I would be knocking at his door or slipping it under the door frame. I wonder if he's Irish and likes Guinness?
I learned long ago, when one teaches young ones, that flexibility is a must. In the end, the kids had loads of fun, used up energy and when we re-grouped at circle, were ready to learn. Once again, I got some really nice writing in their journals after they had some exercise outside.
I still can't skate. I wibble and I waddle when I put on skates.
It's been going on longer than that, Bob! Feb. 2 is the Winter cross-quarter, i.e. the day exactly between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox. Most of the pre-Christian nature-based religions of the Europeans celebrated this day with fertility-related holidays (the Celtic Imbolc and the Roman Lupercalia are probably the best known), and Christianity appropriated the day and "Christianized" it by calling it Candlemas in celebration of the Virgin Mary's purification after the birth of Jesus. Most farming communities in Europe had a tradition of using some sort of animal omen to predict the onset of Spring on Candlemas. The Scots used to beat on the ground outside of a snake's Winter hibernation hole to see how the snake would react. In Germany the farmer's used to watch for the appearance of Hedgehogs on Candlemas. Our Groundhog Day is the direct descendant of that - when the German farmers came to America and settled in Pennsylavania (and you'll note that Punxsutawney, PA is in the heart of German farming territory) they discovered there were no hedgehogs, so they adopted the groundhog instead. And that's how Groundhog Day came to be.
As for the Three Graces....they certainly ARE! Actually, all 22 are really quite wonderful....and very supportive of one another.
Featured in the Triple Name Club.
We can have spring together Kathryn....we'll put on flip flops, don shorts and tank tops and just go out in the snow.
The ise in my driveway is treacherous but the pond has a nice smooth glaze on it....as did the hardtop on the playground.
Who is this Punxsutawney Phil dude?
Come on over....there was all kinds of skating going on today on the pond. Tuck was in heaven chasing all the pucks, tripping skaters, etc. Good thing all the teenagers love Tucker.
You never heard of Punxsutawney Phil? Where do you live....out in the boon docks or the most isolated capital in the world?
Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the holiday:
. Yes! Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog. The others are just impostors.
. How often is Phil's prediction correct? 100% of the time, of course!
. How many "Phils" have there been over the years? There has only been one Punxsutawney Phil. He has been making predictions for over 120 years!
. Punxsutawney Phil gets his longevity from drinking the "elixir of life," a secret recipe. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.
. On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter.
. According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.
. No! Phil's forecasts are not made in advance by the Inner Circle. After Phil emerges from his burrow on February 2, he speaks to the Groundhog Club president in "Groundhogese"(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world.
. The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May..."
. Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in the 1800s. The first official trek to Gobbler's Knob was made on February 2, 1887.
. So the story goes, Punxsutawney Phil was named after King Phillip. Prior to being called Phil, he was called Br'er Groundhog.
It's so much fun to watch the children play so carefree on the ice, not to worry about breaking a hip!
I'll have to get that little bugger into Leprechaunia. If he can learn Irish, of course. And if he can be trained into the legless, horizontal position.
Bob, your sweet kiddies are again delightful. I have a morbid fear of 'slipping' on ice, wet floors, you name it but that has been since witnessing a school mate smack her head forcefully on wet concrete following a swimming lesson as a kiddie. now, thanks to this comment thread i have to also worry about cracking a hip.. thanks heaps ;)
To see flowers growing in February would be a miracle in the Northeast.
Flexibility is the key to good teaching. You can teach almost anything as long as you go with the flow. After 20 minutes "ice skating" the kids were ready to explore the whole concept of shadows.
Would you believe I have never seen the movie Groundhog Day. Maybe I should check and see if they are showing it today on the TV. Sounds like a fun movie.
As for fears....set them aside. You can't go through life fearing anything and everything...hell, you couldn't enjoy life.
That bloody Punxsutawney sounds like a damned drunken Eskimo swear word....not that I would know, of course. I wonder if the critter swears when it pokes its nose out to see its shadow blocked by the gawking crowd?
As for Phil learning Irish...I don't know. I do know he knows German, As for the drinking I did read there's quite a bit of spirit drinking through the night on Groundhog Eve.
I love the photos; I remember where I grew up the winters were always cold but we had recess. Where I live now my little one hasn't had recess all winter and it has only snowed once. Well we did have that ice storm last week that everyones been talking about.
I don't understand some school districts. Come cold weather, recess is out. When I lived in Alaska, we went out everyday, regardless of the weather. Burns all that extra energy so that when the children come into the classroom, they are ready to settle down.
I grew up in Connecticut and I knew Puxatauney Phil very well but didn't know his name at that time. He was just a pesky woodchuk to me with very bad weather predictions.
He is a pesky fellow....one of Phil's relatives lives in a burrow out in my yard...he loves to raid the veggie garden.
Although today is suppose to be in the high forties, I saw on Yahoo Weather, another snowstorm tomorrow! Ugh.
A sleigh ride, Connie? That would be fun.
* Groundhog Day Slideshow: Groundhog Day
* Groundhog Day Play Video Video: Groundhog Day FOX News
* All Eyes On The Groundhog Play Video Video: All Eyes On The Groundhog CBS 3 Philadelphia
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – The world's most famous groundhog saw his shadow Monday morning, predicting that this already long winter will last for six more weeks. Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn in front of an estimated 13,000 witnesses, many dressed in black and gold to celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl victory the night before.
I remember years ago, I mentioned something about Punxsutawney Phil at work to my manager and she didn't have a clue what I was talking about!
Again, you are a delight as is your subject material. Always.
I bow to you. Anytime feel free to drop by the classroom. We do have fun!
I'm jealous of all the snow!