Lesson Plan: The Polar Express
NYS Standard #4: Students will read, write, listen and speak for social interaction.
Objective: The children will make text to self connections with the story, The Polar Express.
Aim: How can we make self to text connections with the story, The Polar Express?
Motivation: We are going to have a pajama party with collaborating first grade classes.
Procedure: Explain that we are going to read and discuss a story that many students may already know, The Polar Express. Since this is a popular story that many students are already familiar with, we have a limited prediction/discussion about what the story will be about. We don’t want to spoil the ending for students who haven’t read it yet.
We have a read aloud and discuss how the story made us feel. Ask how we can identify with the little boy’s feelings throughout the story; make it personal. Explain that when we know how a character feels, we are connecting with the literature, and having what is known as a text-to-self connection. Remind students that they are good readers because they are making important connections with the story, even if they aren’t able to read all of the words yet; it’s ok.
Assessment: We have a pajama party with two classes at a time. Children discuss the story and have accountable talk in small groups. Children must discuss the following questions:
· How did the story make you feel?
· Why did it become difficult to hear Santa’s bells as the children grew older?
· What do you think makes this is such a popular story?
· Why do you suppose that so many people are attracted to this story?
Follow up:
1) Students can write about their pajama party experience. They can write about how they identify with the children in the story.
2) Watch the movie, The Polar Express. Compare and contrast how the book is like and different from the movie. A Venn Diagram is a good graphic organizer for this activity.