Groundhog Gets a Say – First Grade Companion Material Activities

Looking for engaging, developmentally appropriate activities to use with Groundhog Gets a Say by Pamela Curtis Swallow?

This First Grade read-aloud companion pack is designed to help students build comprehension, explore story structure, and think deeply about characters — all while keeping activities hands-on and flexible. Students are not expected to read the book independently. All pages are intended to follow a teacher read-aloud or shared reading experience.

This is a pick-and-choose resource, so teachers can select the pages that best fit their students, pacing, and instructional goals. Activities emphasize the central message of the story — that Groundhog is more than just his shadow and that his voice and role matter beyond Groundhog Day.

Pages may be used whole-group, in centers, or as independent practice. With a mix of drawing, writing, and cut-and-paste activities, this pack works well for a range of first-grade learners and can be spread across multiple days.

What’s Included:
Student cover page
See–Think–Wonder & prediction activities
Active listening checklist (Groundhog Hunt)
Character identification & story elements
Sequencing (multiple formats)
Comprehension questions (visual & written)
Setting & vocabulary activities
Problem & solution
Cause & effect
Character traits & analysis
Point of view
Timeline & story map
Opinion writing & author’s purpose
Creative response pages
1-page teacher guide

Skills Addressed:
Listening comprehension
Story sequencing & structure
Characters & setting
Problem and solution
Cause and effect
Character traits with evidence
Point of view
Opinion writing
Vocabulary development
Text-to-self connections

Please note: This resource is a companion and does not include the book. Don’t have the book yet? A link to purchase the book is included inside the PDF for easy access.