The pere marquette 1225 train, now in owosso, michigan, was the inspiration for the story. The polar express by chris van allsberg is a classic book for introducing christmas literacy to children. The book lists, bulletin board photos, pictures of kid projects and printables are great for kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade and fifth grade. The polar express printable train shapes marked beginning, middle, and end. To help you share the magic of the polar express with your students, we have created a list of suggestions for using the book across the curriculum.
The polar express by chris van allsburg transported by a magical train to the north pole, a boy is chosen by santa to receive the first gift of christmas. See below for some ideas or use our more extensive discussion guide for extended activities, writing exercises, and ideas for group discussion. Here is a collection of activities, crafts, and printables that you can use with your kids or classroom when reading or watching the polar express. The polar express maze christmas printables teachervision. There are endless possibilities for using this book in your classroom. The polar express printables, classroom activities, teacher. Polar express,chris van allsburg describes the journey of the train in a really interesting wayby comparing one thing to another.
Fritz the dog shows up in the polar express as a puppet on a post of the boys bed frame. The polar express by chris van allsburg is the perfect holiday book study for your classroom. Are you teaching about the polar express in your classroom or homeschool. The packet of worksheets includes task cards, sorting activities, a synonym match, comparing and contrasting activities, writing about emotions and visualizing elements, and sequencing cards. Also a popular christmas movie, this classic holiday story reminds us to always believe in the spirit of christmas. Adapted piece book sets are helpful with any student needing assistance and iep goal tracking on comprehension of a story. At the intermediate and challenging levels, sectional activities and quizzes, unit tests. Designed with both primary and uppergrade learners in mind, this resource provides lessons and activities that use this popular childrens book to teach about descriptive writing. Polar express classroom activities for kindergarten and first.
Winter theme page with tons of ideas the polar express glyph by marilyn vaughn. This a teachers guide to the polar express lesson plan is suitable for kindergarten 5th grade. This will make a good activity to use with your polar express unit. The polar express delivers equity in the kindergarten classroom. Once home again, the boy learns that the ringing of the treasured bell can only be heard by those who truly believe. We hope you and your children enjoy some of the extension activities below. There are a few years i decide to sent home a winter break packet. This printable also includes a summary of the book, ideas for a reading celebration, an uppergrade lesson on similes and metaphors, and a lowergrade lesson on timelines. This reading flip book is perfect for your students to use when completed reading this wonderful holiday book. Polar express party for preschool events to celebrate. The polar express by chris van allsburg lesson plans and teaching resources the polar express scroll down on this page to find a variety of activities to support the book, including handouts, vocabulary, song lyrics, and other literacy and crosscurricular activities.
The picture book is about a boys magical trip to santas home at the north pole. On polar express day, the teachers and children wear their pajamas, and the children are given a jingle bell when they arrive at school. Polar express time freebie fun way to use this book in the classroom. The polar express printable crossword puzzle use vocabulary and events to solve this the polar express printable crossword puzzle. The polar express teachers guide literature printable. Polar express activities and lessons education world.
Besides the colorful ticket, ive also included a bw option, but i think its more fun for children if they. There are so many fun polar express activities for kindergarten you can do to help celebrate the holiday season and maybe even sneak in some learning and reading comprehension here are my favorite polar express day ideas. Activities to goalong polar express discovery bottle. Polar express activities for preschoolers prek pages.
During this holiday season, take advantage of this teachable moment by connecting the book and movie to your curriculum. Christmas activities for the classroom creatively teaching. Here is the basic breakdown of activities by age group. Classroom activities for the polar express ideas for warner bros.
Put on your hats and mittens, button your coat and lace your boots, its time for a trip on the polar express. Nov 20, 2011 the polar express by chris van allsberg is a classic book for introducing christmas literacy to children. Nov 01, 2012 these polar express worksheets are great for learning the letter b is for bell, math, and literacy activities with a cute christmas theme. See below for some ideas or use our more extensive discussion guide for extended activities, writing. Explore classroom activities, puzzles, teacher resources and enrichment pdfs for this book. The photos below depict some of the activities ive done with my class and information regarding the resources i used to make this an exciting day for the children. Teachers guide for the polar express by chris van allsburg. Polar express worksheets and activities the polar express is a musthave christmas book for kids. Retelling beginning, middle, and end story elements character, setting, problem, solution movie vs. Give each child a bell after the story and string it. This weeks must read mentor text is the polar express by chris van allsburg.
Polar express activities and lesson plans polar express the book and the movie are student favorites. Do you read this classic christmas story by chris van allsburg. Dec 04, 2019 polar express unit by christina cole christmas activities for 3 rd or grade. I love this picture book because it works for just about any grade level, and can be adapted for a multitude of learning styles. The polar express figurative language activities must. A day of activities centered on the polar environment uses the polar express by chris van allsburg as the springboard. Research the dates of some of the famous ethnic or national holidays. The polar express literacy center activities free from the curriculum corner december book study practice set for reading workshop this free set of literacy centers is designed to accompany a reading of the polar express in your classroom. Winter theme page with tons of ideas the polar express glyph by marilyn vaughn students will complete and cut out their train.
Its an absolute must that hot chocolate is served at a polar express party. Book box and t chart the first gift of christmas writing how to make hot chocolate writing polar express abc order tickets for a polar express celebration color and black and white a letter from santa color and black and white. Polar express unit polar express activities, first year. The polar express is known for its awardwinning illustrations.
Celebrate the holiday season with these fun activities including coloring and drawing worksheets, directions for making your own christmas tree decorations, and craft ideas. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the polar express, enjoy these fun facts about the book. Free note home to parents about polar express pj day. Extend and enhance students enjoyment of chris van allsburgs magical holiday classic the polar express with the reading activities and guided discussion questions in this teachers guide. While this may seem like a no brainer, i wanted to point it out. This writing packet includes a weeks worth of creative writing activities that go with the polar express. Polar express activities for kids crafts, minibooks, printables, recipes, and more. Included are sample plans, author information, vocabularybuilding ideas, and crosscurricular activities. Pair a reading of the polar express by chris van allsburg with a set of literacy activities. This is a unit to go along with the polar express book and leading up to watching the movie at the end. I usually spend one to two weeks close reading and analyzing the story and authors craft with my.
Worksheets to make this fun christmas resource easy to prep with tons of learning. A teachers guide to the polar express lesson plan for. Heres a quick parent note to send out the day before your polar express day at school. The polar express anderson press, written and illustrated by chris van allsburg, is a magical picture book that can be enjoyed by children of all ages, and which offers many opportunities for introducing and developing visual literacy skills. The polar express extension activities for young children. Give each child a bell after the story and string it on red yarn or ribbon. Tell the students you will be showing them what you mean and inviting them to try this in their own writing. Our kids still enjoy the polar express book by chris van allsburg and the goalong movie. Anyone who believes in santa will hear its sweet sound forever. Polar express classroom activities for kindergarten and first grade. The polar express lessons, ideas, crafts, and printables.
Each book in this series is a guide for using a wellknown piece of literature in the classroom. In preschool and kindergarten, you can read highinterest picture books, like polar express, to engage your kids in fun activities and enhance learning in a variety of ways. Book box and t chart the first gift of christmas writing how to make hot chocolate writing polar express abc order tickets for a polar express celebration color and black and white a letter from santa color. Polar express classroom activities for kindergarten and. If you are new to the polar express, it is a beautiful story about a young boy that struggles with deciding if santa is real. The setting of the book is based on van allsburgs childhood home in grand rapids, michigan. A collection of games you can play with friends or on your own. Create the perfect culinary delights to enjoy with your family while reading the polar express. If you are looking for some holiday activities for your elementary school class, try these selections inspired by the classic book the polar express. When i taught kindergarten, we always ended our time together before christmas break with a big polar express celebration. Toddler simple cutting, colors, shapes, upperlower case sort, letter b, coloring sheet, shadow matching, patterns, graphing. Have you enjoyed reading the christmas tradition the polar express book. See more ideas about polar express party, holiday fun and christmas fun. Nov 24, 2019 thats when i came up with doing a whole day filled with fun and engaging literacy and math stations all centered around the polar express.
He created only one draft and had to make only a few changes to the text. I used these darling free printable polar express tickets from party like a cherry her entire polar express party is totally darling. Here are a few of my other favorite christmas activities for the classroom. In this packet you will find over 50 pages of no prep math and literacy activities that are rigorous and engaging for your 1st and 2nd graders. The polar express lessons, ideas, crafts, and printables to. Todays featured freebie is a ticket to ride the polar express in your classroom. This book companion is perfect to use for a read aloud book study, book club study, independent reading activity or more. These polar express worksheets are great for learning the letter b is for bell, math, and literacy activities with a cute christmas theme. The kids all lined up and we gave them a ticket to get on the train. Polar express unit by christina cole christmas activities for 3 rd or grade. The polar express delivers equity in the kindergarten. The polar express printables, classroom activities. This printable also includes a summary of the book, ideas for.
Use the stories for bookdiscussions, or make the book into a center or small group reading discussion activity in the regular classroom too. Christmas theme gingerbread theme the polar express by chris van allsburgh. Polar express teaching ideas and resources clutterfree. The polar express printouts picture frames, holiday cards, ornaments, and gift tags. The polar express pdf very cute book using the brown bear format.
Have your students examine the illustrations in the book, calling attention to the perspective and viewpoint of each. The polar express interactive whiteboard resources. The polar express is done with oil pastels, and to get the night lighting just right, he mixed color complements reds with greens, oranges with blues to bring out. The classic story of a boy who travels by train to the north pole to meet santa claus and receive the first gift of christmas. Polar express activitiesthe polar express is a wonderful book to read this time of the year. The polar express reminds children and adults alike that the world is full of wonderall one must do is look for it, listen, and believe. Chris van allsburg said that the polar express was the easiest of his picture book manuscripts to write. This resource has ideas, crafts, activities, and lessons for your polar express thematic unit. The polar express graphic organizer is suitable for 1st 3rd grade. A day of activities centered on the polar environment uses the. See more ideas about polar express party, polar express activities and polar express theme.
Polar express by chris van allsburg is a classic childrens book that is beloved by many, both young and old alike during the holidays. Dec 18, 2014 adapted piece book sets are helpful with any student needing assistance and iep goal tracking on comprehension of a story. We read the book, dressed in our pajamas, drank hot chocolate, and had a ton of fun with these polar express stations. Students will retell the story, make connections, complete a craft, plus math and literacy center activities. My class and i had so much fun having a polar express day. Have one of these a month, if possible, and combine a book reading and craft related to the holiday.
Polar express lesson plans, themes, printouts, crafts. Education world connects you to lessons, resources. Polar express worksheets for kindergarten little learning. Although he could have asked for anything, all he wanted was a silver bell from santas sleigh. The children always enjoy this book and get involved in such interesting conversations around the themes within the story.
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