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To begin:
Introduce vocabulary to the students and
have them guess what the story will be about based on the
words.
Tell students they will go on a trip
on the Polar Express and give them train tickets for their
journey (download
here). Add your own text to the text box on tickets
(ex: children's names, class name, destination, etc.)
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Literacy:
Polar Express Word Search
Polar Express CrosswordAfter watching the movie, compare
and contrast the book to the movie using a
Venn Diagram.
Reader's Response Bookmark - have students respond to the
prompts on the bookmark in their reader's response notebook
(or whatever other system you use).
Story Strips to Sequence - Put on sentence strips
Story Book from Ms. McGowan - For students to color.
Fill out the
story map for the book.
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Writing:
Letter to Santa - Use the reproducible to write a letter
to Santa
Imagery - The author uses lots
of imagery to help set the setting and action. Download the
cards and distribute to students. Have each student draw a
visual of phrase on their card to illustrate what the author
is trying to say. Remind students to practice using
imagery when they do their own writing.
Metaphors/Similes - The author
uses metaphors and similes to make the story more exciting
instead of using plain and boring language. Remind students to
use metaphors and similes in their writing to make their
stories pop!
Write a
news article about the Polar Express, answering the 5 W's:
who, what, where, when, and why. |
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Math/Technology:
Graph the following:
- Who believes in Santa Claus?
- Who has traveled on a train?
- Who celebrates Christmas?
- What's your favorite holiday?
Complete these
Polar Express math problems.
Practice telling time using hands-on
clocks.
Polar
Express Webquest
The Polar
Express - Read online by Lou Diamond Phillips
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Social Studies/Science:
- Geography - locate the North Pole
- Science - What is the Great Polar
Ice Cap?
- Study the
polar regions
and
animals that live there
- Polar Express - Exploring the polar
regions
student activity sheet
- The water cycle - how is snow
created?
- Study reindeer and their life cycle
- Learn about trains as a form of
transportation
- Children in this country believe in
Santa Claus. In other countries or cultures, children
believe in other figures. Read stories on the Three
Kings, Old Befana, etc.
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