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Fascinate your child with these easy-to-make shadow puppets.

Description:
According to legend, if a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, pokes its head out of its burrow on February 2nd and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog doesn?t see its shadow, spring is just around the corner. Your child can make his or her own groundhog shadow without ever leaving the house.

Step by Step:

1. Help your child cut the shape of a groundhog out of brown construction paper using safety scissors.
2. Attach to a craft stick or straw. Now shine a flashlight on a blank wall, and place the paper groundhog in front of the flashlight to make its shadow appear.
3. Explain to your child that an object that falls in the path of a bright light will cast a shadow.
4. To make a groundhog that can pop out of its burrow, cover a Styrofoam cup with brown construction paper (you can even add cotton balls or white felt around the top edge for snow).
5. Then make a small version of the groundhog puppet above.
6. Cut a slit the width of the craft stick or straw in the bottom of the cup, then slip the stick or straw through, pulling down until the groundhog is hidden in the cup. Place in the path of light, and 'pop' the groundhog out of its burrow by pushing up on the stick or straw.

Materials:
Brown construction paper
Safety scissors
Popsicle� or craft stick or straw
Cotton ball or white felt
Flashlight
Paper cup (optional)

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