Playing with puppets is a great way to encourage conversation and build vocabulary. Here is a simple puppet to make in honor of Groundhog Day.

Materials:

• Paper
• Markers or crayons
• Scissors
• Bright light (or a flashlight)
• Tape
• Empty cereal box

Directions:

Draw a picture of a groundhog on a piece of cardboard. Color the groundhog and cut it out with a pair of scissors. Tape the picture of the groundhog to a wooden craft stick or a drinking straw.To use the puppet as a shadow puppet, aim a bright light at an empty wall and hold the puppet about a foot from the wall so that puppet casts a shadow image onto the wall. Talk about the tradition of Groundhog Day and about light and shadows. Have fun casting shadows on the wall with other objects from around the house.