Shrinky Dink Crafts 6: Groundhog Day

Teachers should use the beginning of February to give a history lesson about Groundhog Day. Groundhog day can be traced all the way back to 1841 in Pennsylvania. It is currently celebrated in the United States as well as in Canada. On February 2nd of each year a groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, is watched to see what happens when he comes out of his burrow. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, then that means winter is going to last another six weeks. If Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow, then it means that spring is on the way.

You will need the following items to create your shrinky dink groundhog:

1. Shrinky Dink sheets
2. Cookie sheet
3. Oven
4. Pencil Crayons
5. Scissors

Follow these directions to make your shrinky dink groundhog:

1. Purchase shrinky dink sheets. They come in packages. You will need to get enough for each class member to have one sheet. You can buy them from your local craft store or you can order them from the original makers of Shrinky Dink. Just click on the link and push "shop online".
2. • Give each student one shrinky dink sheet.
3. Instruct the kids to feel both sides of the sheet. One side is smooth and one is rough. Make sure the children place the rough side up. It is the side that they are going to draw upon.
4. Have the children use a brown pencil crayon and draw the outline of the groundhog. Tell them to make the groundhog as large as they can because it is going to shrink later on in the oven.
5. Let the children color their groundhog with the pencil crayons.
6. Show the children how to cut out the groundhog while still leaving a clear edge all the way around of it. This gives the groundhog room to shrink on the edges, without destroying the picture when it shrinks.
7. Place the groundhogs onto the cookie sheets.
8. Head to the school kitchen and turn the oven on to 325 degrees.
9. When the oven is heated, place the cookie sheets inside for sixty seconds. If left inside the oven any longer than sixty seconds, then the shrinky dink will burn.
10. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for at least ten minutes.