Viewers are taken to Punxsutawney, PA, where the celebration originated in 1886. There, they see all the town's festive activities associated with this amusing holiday -- children's art activities, races, a gigantic chili dinner, folk concerts, hay rides, and much, much more. The keeper of the town's most famous resident, groundhog 'Punxsutawney Phil,' shows how he takes care of the animal and briefly explains groundhog behavior. Another segment, rendered in beautiful animation, explores the holiday's European origins. A trip to the famous Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center helps students understand the difference between predicting weather with old wive's tales and modern, scientific instruments. Weather phenomena, such as the water cycle, are also explained. The program ends with the holiday's big celebration early in the morning of February 2nd, when Punxsutawney Phil predicts how much longer winter weather will last.

Item#: A8194
Grades: K-5
Runtime: 12 min.