[teacherdani21]

I am thinking about doing a mini unit (3-4 days) on the Polar Express. Besides reading the book and watching the movie; does anybody have some fun activities to do? I haven't done much searching yet, but I wanted to get some ideas from my wonderful PT friends first! Thanks so much!

[MalibuBarbie]

All three first grades are going to get together in the library with our pjs, robes and slippers on!

Our media specialist is going to read the book--and we're going to be on the train. The teachers will pass our hot chocolate, mint nougat candies....

THEN...our fabulous media specialist is going to do a pj fashion show! He did it once before and it was a RIOT!!! He'll call kids up to walk down the aisle as he talks about what they're wearing. What a hoot!

Everyone will get a bell at the end. I can hardly wait!

[MalibuBarbie]

Another idea is to incorporate the five senses. I have a train shaped booklet that I run off and the kids cut out. On each page the kids have written....

On the Polar Express I "saw".... I "smelled".... I "heard"... I "tasted".... I "felt"...

Mal

[trtlegrl]

Our first grade classes do a mini unit on Polar Express and on the day we watch the movie, we all dress up in our pajamas and drink hot chocolate. We print up a train ticket and the kids all line up the chairs in a straight line like a train car. We sit in a line and drink our chocolate and pretend we are on the train. We also have a mailbox with snow on it and Polar Express written on it. We all sit next to it and take a picture. We also hide a bell in their desk or cubby and they find it during the day.

We have lots of fun.

[smudgie]

We read the book in our classrooms and wear pjs or bathrobes. We hand out bells on a red ribbon and all the first grades parade through the school singing Christmas & Hannukah songs. For the Christmas party we make a Polar Express train by gluing 4 pepppermint candies onto a pack of lifesavers. A pack of gum is glued onto the top of the lifesavers. At the front on top of the gum is a starburst with a small Reese's cup glued on top and then a Hershey kiss on top of that to represent the smoke stack. They love this little keepsake. They put it in a bag to take home. Have fun. If you google Polar Express you will get the publisher's website w/ many activities and print outs.

[URMySunshine]

I thought this link had some great printables and ideas:

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/...arpartykit.pdf

[teacherdani21]

Thanks so much! I knew I could count on all of you wonderful teachers!

[1stgradenew]

We spend a whole day on Polar Express. The kids decorate a large box that they sit in all day(they are in their own little train chair). They get a train ticket the day before and bring it in the morning when they are in the PJs. We wait til the bell rings and act all silly like train conducts as they walk in. We read the story, and drink hot chocolate like the other classes. We also illustrate the story as a class to make a class book. I will think a little more b/c we do a TON of stuff!

[kmer2]

The author has tons of stuff on the website to do in connection with this book and movie. I also got some great stuff from a teacher friend that looks like a lit. connection you should be able to buy in a teacher store. I will try to remember to check the publisher and stuff and put it on here.

[schoolmama]

I found a wealth of information with lesson plans, etc. at a scholastic website a few years ago.