Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow this year?

He did.  This means six more weeks of winter.  For those of you not wanting to hear this news you can disagree with Phil and go along with Chuck’s prediction.  Staten Island’s groundhog, Chuck, did NOT see his shadow which means an early spring.  I was not aware of all the different groundhogs in the country.  There is Willie from Illinois, Jimmy from Wisconsin as well as a number of others.  For more Groundhog’s Day information check out the Raleigh Examiner.

Since there is going to be six more weeks of winter, I thought we would do another winter art project.  I was hoping to be doing a project about tulips and daisies but I guess it will have to wait.

Idea of the Day:

Snowy Painting

What you will need:

- black or dark blue construction paper

- construction paper in other colors

- thick white tempera paint

- small sponge

- cotton balls

- pie pan

- aluminum foil

- glue

- scissors

What to do:

1.  Cut colored construction paper into various sizes and shapes: triangles, squares and rectangles.

2.  Use the shapes to create a nighttime city scene, houses or buildings.

3.  Glue the houses and buildings to the dark construction paper.

4.  Cut out foil to use for windows.

5.  Pour the white paint into the pie pan.

6.  Dip the sponge into the paint and gently blot the paint on the paper to create snow.

7.  Stretch cotton balls across the bottom of the paper to make more snow.

8.  Glue the stretched cotton to the paper.

I found this activity in The Complete book of Arts & Crafts for grades K-4.