This award-winning book is so very famous for the awesomeness of the illustrations. This is not only a book for our youngest ones but for all, PreK-1 and 2 and beyond. Such a beautiful story! Read the book and watch the movie!
Share as a School Learning Experience and as a Virtual Adventure. For your adventure, you can create your own activities for the families with movie actions. BECOME the actors!! Have fun with this!! Also send out a box with props to help them along the way to act out the movie. Of course, you must have some hot cocoa and even a Christmas mug among your gifts in your box to your families. Your families can participate in the movie.
Create a train effect in your own living room by setting up chairs like in a train car. You can participate in the movie and act out the parts. Don’t forget the cocoa! Have fun with creating your own adventure. The movie is available for free with many cable services for the month of December!
You could also read the book and create a super train with chairs and even build a train tent in your living room! Have fun! Use my devotions below to have conversations throughout the week about faith, hope and belief. Each day, during the week after your Polar Express Event, drink some cocoa and talk about the “Wonder Questions” below.
FAMILY SCHOOL/DEVOTION AND LITERATURE CONNECTION
Theme: Believe/Christmas Joy
School/Learning:
a. Point of View-First Person
b. Describe ways the author makes the story more interesting with words. Example: the train was “wrapped in an apron of steam” (metaphor) and moved as “fast as a car on a roller coaster”. (simile), “hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars” (simile). Write or tell about the “plain language” for each one illustrated above.
c. Write or tell about the main character’s special day using your own words as if writing a blog or recording a podcast.
d. Describe the setting of the story using words that help the listener to see clearly the events.
School/Home: Tell or write about a new story version replacing Santa theme with a Jesus theme.
Express Math Worksheet on Mathstories.com
Wonder Questions:
I wonder what you would wish for it you received the first gift of Christmas and why?
I wonder what would have happened if he would not have lost the bell?
I wonder how the younger boy felt when he was finally invited on the train?
Family Bible Connection: Hebrews 11, verse 1 – “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Talk about your faith in the Christ child for your life journey. Discuss the word “hope” and how that relates to this unprecedented year of 2020. What gives you hope, faith and belief?
Let’s all remember these words from the Bible, Hebrews 11, verse 1 – “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Know that there is good in the world, and good in each and everyone of you.
And in a time of such uncertainty, there is still so much worth believing in.
Prayer: Lord, help us to believe… help us to see your glory in our daily lives and look for the good in everyone and every day. Amen.
