Students write and illustrate a wish for the first gift of Christmas. In this Christmas lesson plan, students read the book The Polar Express and then write what they wish could be the first gift of Christmas.

Pupils read The Polar Express.They prepare a painting on KidPix that shows what they predict The Polar Express will be about. They show their paintings and tell what they feel the story is about and discuss why it is important to believe...

Third graders create pictures using ordered pairs after listening to a piece of literature. In this ordered pairs and literature instructional activity, student listen to and discuss The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. They...

Students read the story, "The Polar Express." Prior to beginning the story, students predict events of the story and drink hot cocoa. Afterwards, they write a short story about Christmas and create a model train for the classroom....

Young scholars develop a podcast as they retell the story of The Polar Express. In this early childhood lesson plan, students experience technology by creating a podcast. Young scholars also create illustrations to be scanned for the...

Students create holiday story while working in cooperative learning groups, using Chris Van Allsburg's Polar Express as a writing prompt.

Students create an artistic response to the book, The Polar Express. In this creative writing lesson, students read the book and visualize an imaginary journey they would like to go on. Students create a train car from construction paper...

Students listen to the picture book, The Polar Express, and review events that happened in the story. Students draw pictures of what they might have seen on the way to the north pole.

Students keep a folder and outline booklet as they read. They meet with other students each Thursday to discuss their readings.

Third graders study a list of books written and illustrated by the author. They examine facts about the author's life. They take a survey of Allsburg's books read by the students using the Excel spreadsheet.

Young scholars define culture and explore elements that are part of the custom or culture of a place.  In this holiday lesson, students identify the cultures they participate in.  Young scholars identify the differences in...

Learn about different holidays, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, La Posada, by listening to stories. After reading about each holiday, they participate in a discussion and complete a fun activity.

Students study customs of various winter holidays. In this holiday lesson, students read the book The Reasons for the Seasons and complete a winter glyph. Students use graphing software to create a chart of the holidays that are celebrated.

Students use a Flip camera to complete various projects about Christmas. In this Christmas and technology lesson, students write and record letters to Santa. Students write letters to Christmas characters and record them. Students make...

Students imagine that they have been chosen to visit the North Pole and take a look at what Santa is bringing them for Christmas. They imagine the setting and all the toys for boys and girls around the world. They close their eyes and...

Students compare a book to its film adaptation, and then perform readers theater of a scene from the book that they feel was not well represented in the movie version.

Explore the informative links found within this site to gain an insight into the life and work of Chris Van Allsburg. This site provides lesson plans, teaching ideas and activities for several of his works.