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All Aboard! The Polar Express

November 19, 2012 By Mary Amoson 8 Comments

All Aboard The Polar Express

All Aboard the Polar Express!

The Polar Express is a classic Christmas story that is beloved by parents, teachers, and students. Check out all our learning ideas to bring their book to life and to tie in so many learning skills in a fun way so your students won’t even know they are learning.

Start with the Book

Each year I read the Polar Express with my students. I strongly feel the book is perfection and your students will enjoy it. Yes, it is long but it is also beautiful in illustration and vocabulary. Many teachers recreate a Polar Express train experience and invite guest readers to come. We do this as well and it is amazing. We also give each child a paper ticket and a bell from the dollar store.
You can grab the book here and start this tradition in your classroom with learning fun.

Extending the book for Building Words

Next, we use the book to guide instruction. What a fun way to invite learning in your classroom. One of the activities we do is to build words using blends and the train theme. You can see the words we created below.

Reading and Matching Words

Then, we played a fun delivering the gift came. Students have to read the word on the present and find the sleigh that will deliver it. How fun is this to review words they know and understand?!?

Reading Comprehension Fun

Next, we play our reading comprehension game. It is prepped in our basket here.

My students don’t see the class list we use and they don’t know that we add a check by their name for each question they answer correctly. We add an X by their name for every question they get wrong. What an easy and great way to keep track of reading comprehension without your students even noticing.

Connecting to Writing

Using a piece of literature to tie into what we are reading helps students make great connections to what they read about. Using The Polar Express to be the topic of writing is just smart… and fun. 

One of the keys is to provide a good word wall to help those with writing. At this point in the year, I am highly encouraging as much independent writing as possible.

Little Readers

Another trick I implement in my classroom is little books. They are easy to create with a school copier and they can create more for my students to read. Let’s face it, having enough books is a struggle for EVERY teacher.

But I don’t just give my readers books, this book asks them to write in it to finish the sentences. Now I am creating readers and writers.

My Favorite Part

I can not even hide that my favorite part is using the writing prompt asking if that student WOULD get on The Polar Express or WOULD NOT get on The Polar Express. What a great open ended question to see if they understood the book and how it connected with them. We use this art project from Stephanie Stewart. 

Math Fun Too

Don’t fear… we have reviewing math skills in this pack too. Check out our writing numbers activity above.

You can grab this Polar Express Learning Pack from my shop here.
You can grab this Polar Express Learning Pack from TpT here.

Looking for More?

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell
Easy to Create Toy Soldier Ornaments

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Filed Under: Christmas, Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Raevers says

    November 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Thanks for the freebie! SUPER cute! I love your blog!

    Reply
  2. Sarah Hankinson says

    November 23, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Thanks for the math pages – they are cute! We're doing a Polar Express week with our kindergarteners and first graders: the kiddos will love it!

    Sarah
    Learning is for Superstars

    Reply
  3. KinderRoom103 says

    November 27, 2012 at 9:12 pm

    This is an awesome unit and thanks for the freebies!

    Carmen
    Karmens Kinders

    Reply
  4. Kindergarten Kids At Play says

    November 28, 2012 at 8:04 am

    Cool unit! Thanks for the color by number freebie! I'll definitely be using them. I'm a new blog follower! Please check out my blog too if you have a chance! I just posted a Santa 5 senses book freebie too 🙂

    kindergartenkidsatplay.blogspot.com

    Reply
  5. Surfing into First Grade says

    November 28, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Thanks for free color by number! My first graders will love it!!

    Reply
  6. Debbie Singer says

    December 2, 2012 at 8:52 am

    Thank you for the Polar Express coloring sheets! Our school has a "Polar Express Day" on 12/21/12. I'll pass along the word so they can see the awesome packet you have put together. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Kathryn says

    December 22, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    are the freebie coloring sheets still available? I can’t figure out how to get them. I dont see them in the tpt store.
    Thanks!
    Kathryn

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      December 22, 2015 at 11:51 pm

      Do to the link and download the PREVIEW file. The freebie sheets are in that download. 🙂

      Reply

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