The Origins

Worksheet Description

This Groundhog Day worksheet is designed as a cloze activity, where students are tasked with completing sentences about the origin of Groundhog Day using a provided word box. The word box contains terms such as “equinox,” “candles,” “solstice,” “sunny,” “winter,” “Christian,” “cloudy,” and “Candlemas,” which are all related to the cultural and historical aspects of the holiday. At the top of the page, there’s a space for the student to write their name, personalizing their worksheet.

The text on the worksheet provides information about Groundhog Day, stating that it has ancient roots in a celebration that marked the midpoint between winter and spring. It discusses the traditions associated with Candlemas Day, including the blessing and distribution of candles by clergy, which were believed to be needed for the remainder of winter. The exercise encourages students to use contextual clues to fill in the blanks, reinforcing their knowledge of the holiday and its historical context. The cloze activity not only teaches about the traditions and superstitions surrounding Groundhog Day but also helps students improve their reading comprehension and vocabulary skills.