The document provides activities for teaching Polar Express. It includes math word problems related to the story for students to solve in groups. It also includes sequencing story events by having groups arrange story strips in order. Finally, it suggests having students illustrate phrases using imagery and sort examples of metaphors and similes from the story. The activities aim to engage students in collaborating, problem-solving, and understanding literary devices in the story.

1. Polar Express ACTIVITIES
Have groups work together to answer these math problems. Read them aloud,
allow groups to work together, then raise their hands when they think they have
the answer. Option: Give points to the team who gets the correct answer first.
Winning team gets candy canes or other candy.
1) When Kelly got on board the Polar Express, there were 31 seats available. The
train has a total of 159 seats. How many seats were already filled? 2) The
conductor looked at his pocket watch to see what time the train would be leaving.
It read 8:37 p.m. If it takes the Polar Express 3 hours and 15 minutes to get to
the North Pole, what time will it be when it arrives? 3) On the train we had 41
different kinds of cookies, 3 different flavors of cocoa, and 122 candies.
Mmmmm! How many treats did we have in all? 4) On our way to the North Pole
we noticed 15 lean wolves and 32 white-tailed rabbits hiding from the train. How
many more rabbits were there than wolves? 5) As the train climbed the mountains
to the North Pole we saw 1,124 different mountain peaks. If half of them were
covered completely with snow, then how many were not completely covered? 6)
The distance from John's house to the North Pole is 4,202 miles and the distance
from Alex's house to the North Pole is 5,329 miles. How many more miles is it
from Alex's house than from John's house? 7) At the North Pole, Adrian shouted,
"Look, the elves!" We then noticed a massive crowd around the train. We
estimated there were about 627 elves. If this is rounded to the nearest ten how
many would that be? 8) The clock struck midnight as the elves roared with
approval for Santa to give his gift to Chelsea. How many hours would pass by if
Santa could give out another gift tomorrow at midnight? 9) As Santa and his
reindeer took off into the sky, they were traveling at 431 miles per hour. The
farther away they got the faster they would go. The Sky Officer measured Santa
traveling at the speed of 900 miles per hour. How much faster was Santa
traveling than when he first took off into the air? 10) Santa left presents for
Aubrie, Justin, Neil, and Ross. Those presents totaled 28. If each child received
equal amount of gifts, how many gifts did each child receive?
The Polar Express- Story Sequencing Strips
Cut these statements into strips. Give each group 2-3 strips. Start with one
group: Have one student read their strip aloud and tape it to the chalkboard.
Have another student from another group read their strip aloud then tape it
before or after the original strip, according to the sequence of events in the story.
Continue until all strips are in the correct order.
On Christmas Eve, as a young boy looked out his bedroom
window, he saw a train standing perfectly still in front of his

2. house.
The book took the conductor’s outstretched hand and
climbed aboard the train. On the train, children sang carols,
ate candies with nougat centers, and drank hot coca.
As they traveled northward through the cold forests the
children saw wolves watching the train as it traveled by.
The train climbed mountains so high it seemed as if they
would scrape the moon.
When the train arrived at the North Pole City, Santa and his
elves were waiting for all them.
The boy chose first gift of Christmas. It was a silver bell from
a reindeer’s harness.
After their exciting visit with Santa and his elves, the Polar
Express took the children home.
The young boy was so disappointed to find out that the bell
Santa had given him had fallen through the hole in the
pocket of his bathrobe.
On Christmas Day, the boy discovered a package from Santa
under his tree. Inside the boy found the silver bell Santa had
given him with a note attached to it. The note told the young
boy to get the hole in his pocket fixed.
Though the boy grew up, the bell still rang for him, as it does
for all those who believe.
Print page found at:
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/worksheets/literature_activities/polarexpress_i
magery.pdf
Imagery - The author uses lots of imagery to help set the setting and action.
Download the set of cards at the URL link above, cut into cards, and distribute
one card to each student. Have each student draw a visual of phrase on their card

3. to illustrate what the author is trying to say. Remind students to practice using
imagery when they do their own writing.
Print page found at:
http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/worksheets/literature_activities/polarexpress_
game.pdf
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!
Hand out cards to each group and have them organize the examples into
“Similes” or “Metaphors.” Engage students in a discussion about the difference
between similes and metaphors and go through all the examples to ensure the
students know which belongs under which category.