Have your students examine the illustrations in the book, calling attention to the perspective and viewpoint of each. They prepare a painting on kidpix that shows what they predict the polar express will be about. 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. 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. We have added questions to help guide your students towards deep comprehension. It is a perfect way to do something fun and interesting with the kids that will also be educational and get them in the holiday spirit.
Some resources available here, some others available separately simile resources. Use the the polar express and the included pagebypage guide for close reading, guided reading. Use the stories for bookdiscussions, or make the book into a center or small group reading discussion activity in the regular classroom too. See more ideas about lesson plans, how to plan and christmas books. One way to teach this story is by using a unit study. Polar express year 2 planning ks1 english tes resources. Read the following lesson to learn more about the story and its cast of characters. Houghton mifflin in this activity kit for chris van allsburgs classic the polar express youll find party and event ideas, nametags, reproducible games. I was really excited to read the polar express to them. Polar express activities and lesson plans polar express the book and the movie are student favorites. In the polar express, van allsburg chooses an object to represent an idea. Not only is it perfect to read around the holidays, but we are actually working on comparing and contrasting right now. Polar express activities for preschoolers prek pages.
Students will retell the story, make connections, complete a craft, plus math and literacy center activities. Oct 28, 1985 the polar express is a fantastic book that proudly won the caldecott medal and is from the creative mind of chris van allsburg. Polar express lesson plans, themes, printouts, crafts. And toddlers love bill martin jr and eric carle books. Polar express by chris van allsburg is a classic childrens book that is beloved by many, both young and old alike during the holidays. The polar express printouts picture frames, holiday cards, ornaments, and gift tags.
Explore classroom activities, puzzles, teacher resources and enrichment pdfs for this book. These activities are geared towards students in the primary grades and include practicing shapes, patterns, time, sorting and problem solving. This polar express lesson plan lesson plan is suitable for prek 3rd grade. Polar express van allsburg book theme units, lessons. This story is about how a young boy experiences the magic of the north pole when he goes a magical ride on the polar express. The polar express shape book trainshaped book for story report. Instead of ending our prompt with the boy going to bed, we had our students pretend they were the little boy and he went with santa claus on his trip around the world. Fellow kids yoga teacher joie scott has put together a printable of this toddler yoga lesson plan, available at the link below.
Christmas theme gingerbread theme the polar express by chris van allsburgh. Identify parts of a story that are reality and fantasy. They show their paintings and tell what they feel the story is about and discuss why it is important to believe in others. This will make a good activity to use with your polar express unit. Students will read about polar bears, share information with their peers, and. Dec 23, 2017 the polar express by chris van allsburg is one of the most popular booksmovies to study during the holidays. Winter theme page with tons of ideas the polar express glyph by marilyn vaughn students will complete and cut out their train. The polar express pdf very cute book using the brown bear format. A lesson on diversity and belief that students can understand. The polar express interactive whiteboard resources.
For example, the train was wrapped in an apron of steam and moved as fast as a car on a roller coaster. In this christmas lesson plan, students read the book the polar express and then write what they wish could be the first gift of christmas. Lesson plan ideas for december 1 teaching tips 1 teaching writing 1 test prep 1 texas independence day march 2 1 thank you for your sympathy 1 thanksgiving books theme resources 1 thanksgiving crafts 1 thanksgiving lesson plan ideas 1 thanksgiving themes 1 thanksgiving themes lesson plans activitiesevents 1. Wise teachers everywhere are looking for ways to capitalize on interest in the story as children and families revisit this timeless classic during the holiday season. Plan your lesson in writing and make believe with helpful tips from teachers like you. Permafrost lesson plan recreate permafrost in the classroom adaptable for different ages. Polar bear facts itsy bitsy fun fun polar bear facts with a free printable. Polar express activities and lesson plans education world. While there, santa gives him the first gift of christmas a bell from his sleigh. The polar express figurative language activities must read mentor text all aboard the polar express this is always one of my favorite books to read with my students in december. Visualize our the polar express lesson plans will provide your students with strategies that work. Use the polar express for a chris van allsburg author study or a winter read aloud.
Copy of the book our first grade team presents the story as a readers theater together. 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. Although he could have asked for anything, all he wanted was a silver bell from santas sleigh. Every book has its own guide, complete with lesson plans and classroom activities. Chris van allsburg 3 guided reading n get ready to read learn about the book get y brain o understand the meaning of words found in the book learn about comprehension strategies think about the text you read when you get contused its chri5trncx eve. This magical story of a boy who is welcomed aboard a steam engine straight for the north pole is perfect for a lesson on retelling. Polar bear polar bear yoga lesson plan for toddlers kids. The polar express lessons, ideas, crafts, and printables. This is an original 10 page lesson plan on the polar express picture book, ideal for grades k2. Click on the corresponding link below to download a pdf of the discussion guide. Teachers guide for the polar express by chris van allsburg.
Benchmarks pre, post, and during reading activities comprehension questions sequencing of the story retelling of the story plot, character, setting, problem chart wo. Our polar express lesson plans is a available resource to show students how to synthesize and improve reading comprehension. Click here for best free theme units,activities,educational sites,teaching ideas, lesson plans, fun,crafts,childrenpreschoolkfirstsecondthirdfourthfifth to 12th gradeteaching tips or guide. Students write and illustrate a wish for the first gift of christmas.
Making predictions with the polar express by chris van allsburg book not included grade level. Use the polar express and these activities as part of a chris van allsburg author study or a winter read aloud. The polar express describes a journey both literal and symbolic that brings about transformation for the characters and the reader as well, a consistant theme in van allsburgs work. Read to build an understanding of cultures of the united states and the world.
A weeks worth of planning for the book the polar express, including worksheets and differentiated activities. An adults memory of one christmas eve in childhood involves his trip on a magical train to choose the first gift. Grades 23 students will analyze the structure and elements of a story by noting the setting, characters, problem, events and resolution. The polar express printables, classroom activities, teacher. This book is an excellent resource for teaching a phonics lesson about inflectional endings. Comprehension strategy lesson plans and practice pages.
Now discuss the word choices that author chris van allsburg used to make the story more interesting. Reader 1 on christmas eve, many years ago, i lay quietly in my bed. Polar express activities and lessons education world. Students also work on retelling the book with text details. Preschool polar lesson plans dont be fooled by the objectives at the top of the page these lesson plans are indeed about the polar regions. Polar express lesson plan for teachers prek 3rd students write and illustrate a wish for the first gift of christmas. N this lesson plan and set of resources makes it easy to teach your students how to make predictions while reading. Print and utilize our the polar express lesson plan for retelling the polar express lesson plans. I have been meaning to write this post since before christmas but many changes have happened in my personal life and work life. These fun lesson plans are perfect for christmas time. Unit studies cover a variety of subjects that all center around one theme in this case, the polar express. The polar express lessons, ideas, crafts, and printables to. The polar express extension activity plan faster and discover new ways to use the books in your school and classroom libraries with a premium membership to bookpagez you get unlimited access to thousands of mini lessons for hundreds of books. The polar express by chris van allsburg lesson plans and teaching resources.
This lesson we read the story, the polar express, to our second graders. The polar express glyph by marilyn vaughn students will complete and cut out their train. We have a created an extensive library of discussion guides for all of chris van allsburgs titles. Polar express classroom activities for kindergarten and first grade. Purchase a ticket for the polar express, says gill matthews, and take your class on a magical literary journey to the north pole. Chris van allsburgs the polar express is one of the most beloved childrens books and movies of all time. Polar expressreading and celebration in your classroom as well as some guiding questions aimed to develop rich book conversation when discussing the polar express with your students. Click on a magic tree house book cover image to view the available lesson plans for that book. After reading the polar express to your class, use these activities, math and word problems to help your students get even more from the book. This the polar express lesson plan is suitable for 1st 3rd grade. Encourage preschoolers to think critically as you read the story polar express aloud by asking openended questions.
Jan 10, 2015 polar express week with lesson plan ideas. Polar express word search train shaped word search. I would love to compare and contrast the polar express movie and book. This indicates resources located on the teachers corner.
Last week was our polar animal weekit was so much fun and so busy. During this holiday season, take advantage of this teachable moment by connecting the book and movie to your curriculum. Take the polar express to learning five lessons for teaching the story. The polar express is known for its awardwinning illustrations. The polar express printables, classroom activities. Below each lesson are ideas for adapting the lessons for use with older or younger. We wear pajamas, drink hot chocolate, and give each child a bell. This lesson could also be adapted to make it an opinion writing piece. This lesson plan uses differentiation to teach students of varying reading abilities about this incredible animal. This lesson plan and set of resources makes it easy to teach your students how to make predictions while reading.
Chris van allsburgs childrens classic the polar express won a caldecott medal and went on to be made into a motion picture. 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. The polar express, by chris van allsburg, is a classic christmas picture book for all ages. This christmas tale depicts a young boy who rides a train to the north.
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. Making predictions with the polar express, third grade. This weeks must read mentor text is the polar express by chris van allsburg. In our story web, the students used their senses to tell us. Has a reading log, crossword puzzle, word search puzzle, and craft idea. The polar express a week before the unit begins send home boxes with the children include directions about creating a train box. The polar express by chris van allsburg scholastic. The polar express lesson plan students love this classic story and the illustrations. The polar express extension activities for young children. Make classroom reading time even more productive by using the polar express to teach word study. In this polar express lesson plan, after reading the book, the polar express, students will decide if they believe or do not believe in santa claus. See more ideas about polar express activities, polar express party and polar express theme. The polar express is enjoyed the world over by children and adults of all ages and, after twentyfive years in publication, is still one of the most beloved and widely used books in classrooms across the country 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. Outline the names with liquid glue assist young children if needed.
Use the the polar express and the included pagebypage guide for close reading, guided reading, centers, independent reading or assessment. The polar express lesson plan for 1st 3rd grade lesson. This download includes a fun winter literacy lesson connecting to the book the polar express. The polar express figurative language activities must. Anyone who believes in santa will hear its sweet sound forever. Just like our other reading comprehensionclose reading plans, this polar express version is packed with reading comprehension activities. 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 photos below depict some of the activities ive done with my class and information regarding the resources i. The polar express will help readers that happen to be trying to monitor their use of reading comprehension strategies. Polar express lesson plan lesson plan for prek 3rd grade. The polar express teachers guide literature printable. A vacation to the polar regions explore antarctica and the arctic from a geographic perspective. Houghton mifflin in this activity kit for chris van allsburgs classic the polar express youll find party and event ideas, nametags, reproducible games, activity sheets, and recipe cards.
The week before winter break we do an entire week unit on polar express. The polar express by chris van allsburg readers theater script. Worksheets to make this fun christmas resource easy to prep with tons of learning. 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. Below each lesson are ideas for adapting the lessons for use with older or younger children, and some suggestions for expanding the lessons. Polar bear finger puppet i heart crafty things these cute polar bear finger puppets are not only a great winter kids craft but they are perfect combined with a favorite childrens book about polar bears. Dec 15, 2011 the polar express a week before the unit begins send home boxes with the children include directions about creating a train box. So, today were sharing a polar bear yoga lesson plan to go with the popular book polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear. With a limited cast of characters, readers can focus on the clear order of events.
The polar express is a perfect story for readers who need to practice visualizing. Students can create persuasive pieces on why they deserve a ticket on the polar express. Education world connects you to lessons, resources. Its christmas eve, and a young boy gets a train ride to the north pole on the polar express. Fourth grade lesson in writing the polar express betterlesson. An adults memory of one christmas eve in childhood involves his trip on a magical. The 6 inspirational lessons the polar express can teach. 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. The teacher will teach that our beliefs are a matter of personal choice. I wanted to hit a few highlightsin pictures we made arctic hares in the snow. Compare and contrast a book and movie activities teaching. Polar express activities for kindergarten and first grade.
Have your students examine the illustrations in the book, calling attention to the perspective and viewpoint of. This printable also includes a summary of the book, ideas for a reading celebration, an uppergrade lesson on similes and metaphors, and a lowergrade. Story map with polar express winner of the poster giveaway. The polar express lesson plan with bulletin board ideas. The polar express the polar express the polar express the polar express the polar express the polar express the polar express.
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