This adorable groundhog puppet is such a fun and creative way to celebrate Groundhog Day! With our free printable template and just a few simple supplies, you can create a cute little groundhog that “pops” out of its burrow to check for its shadow.
Kids will love making this hands-on craft and using their puppet to act out the Groundhog Day tradition. So grab some paper cups, straws, and your template, and let’s get started on this charming groundhog craft that’s perfect for all ages!
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How to Make a Groundhog Puppet
Materials:
Equipment:
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut out the puppet pieces
- Print the groundhog puppet template (find the link in the materials list above!) and cut out the pieces.
- Trace the pattern pieces onto cardstock and cut them out.We used the following colours: Brown for the ears, head, body, and arms. Black for the nose. White for the teeth.
Step 3: Make the groundhog puppet
- Attach glue tape to the back of the nose.
- Put the nose in place at the bottom center of the face.
- Use a fine point marker or pen to draw a line on the center of the teeth.
- Add glue tape to the top of the teeth and connect them to the back of the head below the nose.Attach the ears to the top of the head and then connect the head to the flat top of the body.Finally, add the arms so that they go out to the sides and up a bit.
- Attach googly eyes to the head with glue tape or tacky glue.We used glue tape here, but recommend using a small dot of tacky glue for a stronger hold.
- Then add a line of glue tape to the back of the groundhog before attaching it to a paper straw.
Step 4: Make the groundhog’s burrow
- Have an adult use the tip of a pair of scissors to poke a hole in the bottom of a paper cup.
- Place the cup on a piece of green construction paper.
- Wrap the paper around so it’s snug around the whole cup.
- Cut the paper so it’s even with the bottom of the cup.
- Then cut around the top so that it overlaps the cup by about 1-1/2 inches.
- Unroll the paper and cut a fringe along the top of it, cutting down the 1-1/2 inches.
- Use glue tape to secure the paper around the cup.
Step 5: Add the puppet into its home
- Insert the puppet into the cup by pushing the straw down through the hole.
- Your groundhog puppet is complete!Now hold the straw in one hand and the cup in the other, using the straw to “POP” the groundhog up to see its shadow.
Helpful Tips:
- Use our free printable groundhog template or have fun drawing your own!
- If you design your own groundhog puppet, make sure that it will fit in your cup.
- A wooden skewer or coffee stir stick will also work in place of the straw.
Get our free printable groundhog puppet template:
The link below will take you to our free, printable groundhog puppet template! The PDF file will open in a new window. Then simply print the template on 8.5 x 11 (letter size) printer paper or cardstock.
>>> Groundhog Puppet Template <<<
Do I have to use cardstock for the groundhog puppet?
Cardstock is nice and sturdy, but you can also use construction paper to make your puppet. Or you can even colour in the printed template with crayons, markers, or pencil crayons.
You can also cut the groundhog puppet from craft foam or felt.
How can I make a snowy scene for my groundhog puppet?
Pull cotton balls apart so they look more like wispy snow. Then use tacky glue to attach them around the mouth of the cup. You can also add foil snowflake confetti on top of the cotton balls for an extra fun look.
How can I make a “dirt mound” burrow for my groundhog puppet?
Cut brown construction paper to fit around the cup, just like you did for the green grass. Then instead of cutting grass blades at the top, cut wider sections of paper. Curl these sections down using your fingers, or roll the paper around a thin pencil to get it started.
Draw flower shapes on construction paper and cut them out. Use cardstock or a thicker paper for the stems, attaching them to the side of the cup before gluing the brown construction paper in place.
This groundhog puppet is SO CUTE and fun to play with! Whether you’re crafting at home, in a classroom, or for a holiday event, this project is easy, interactive, and so much fun to decorate.
Here’s even more Groundhog Day craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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