Colonial 5th grade ends Van Allsburg unit by reading and watching 'Polar Express'

By Caroline Michailoff and Viviane Privat, A&E Editors

COLONIAL LIBRARY — The fifth grade students kicked off the holiday season by reading, watching and having hands on activities based on the “Polar Express.”

First, they boarded the 8:30 am train on track 1. Every class got tickets and someone got chosen to be the person to get the first present. Then they read the “Polar Express” and watched some of the movie. The students were also given a packet based on the “Polar Express.”

Mrs. Norman, the librarian, said, “Ms. Puscar started the Chris Van Allsburg unit with some kids, but when we finished the unit, it was near Christmas, so I looked online and found good ideas for activities on the ‘Polar Express’ making it fun reading and a way to kick off the holiday season. I’ve been doing it for two years, and I think I will do it next year because I want kids to enjoy reading.”

“I liked watching the movie and all the action,” said Amélie L’Henaff (5V). “The book has a lot of mystery like all of Chris Van Allsburg’s books.”

Maya Spunburg (5H) said, “It was funny seeing the teacher dressed up, and it could have been better if we got to see more of the movie because Ms. Puscar stopped at an exciting part of the movie. Besides that, it was a fun and exciting experience.”

Based on these interviews, it sounds like the librarian will be thinking about doing this amazing experience again in the coming years. It was a nice way to end this unit.

What do you think? Would you want to do it? (Type your comments below.)

This story also appears on the Colonial Times website.