When I told our daughter that we were going to turn a potato into a groundhog with some brown paint and googly eyes I immediately had her attention. This is a cute groundhog's day craft that lets your child choose which version of the story they would like to see happen. They get the option of putting clouds in the sky (no shadow) or a sun (shadow). Our daughter chose to put clouds in the sky so the groundhog wouldn't see his shadow and spring would come early so she could go outside and play!

What you'll need:

  • Brown paint
  • Potato
  • Paper towels
  • Knife (for an adult to use ONLY)
  • Googly eyes
  • Black marker
  • Construction paper (white, green, blue, yellow)
  • Stickers (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick

How to make your Potato Groundhog's Day Craft

  1. Have an adult cut a potato in half lengthwise. Dab the potato onto a few paper towels to remove some of the moisture.
  2. Pour some brown paint onto a paper plate and dip one half of the potato in it. We also tried using a paintbrush to apply the paint to the potato, but if you do this you need to really glop it on there.
  3. Stamp your potato onto a piece of white construction paper. Dip your finger in the brown paint and add two ears to the top of your potato print. Set the page aside and let it dry.
  4. The groundhog (your potato print) is popping out of his hole in this craft, so you need to cut a green piece of construction paper to put on the bottom half of the groundhog/paper. We cut a little dip out of the green paper around the groundhog to make it look more like a hole.
  5. Decorate the grass with flowers (stickers, etc.) if you would like to.
  6. Glue two googly eyes on the groundhog and use the marker to draw on his nose and mouth.
  7. Now your child gets to choose which version of the tale they would like to make. Option 1: Phil does not see his shadow and we get an early spring. For this one cut some cloud shapes out of blue paper and glue them to the picture. No sun means no shadow! Option 2: Phil does see his shadow and we have six more weeks of winter. For this one cut a sun shape out of the yellow construction paper and glue it on to the picture. Use your black marker to draw a shadow on the grass around the groundhog.
potato groundhog craft

potato groundhog craft supplies

groundhog's day craft step 1

groundhog's day craft step 2

groundhog's day craft step 3

groundhog's day craft step 4

groundhog's day craft step 5