I know it's only August, but this month's Poppins Book Nook theme is books that were turned into movies, and I could not resist doing an activity based on one of my all time favorites, The Polar Express. It is such a magical book and even though it is a Christmas story, my boys love any excuse to read about or play with trains. This activity is fun for little train lovers all year round, and also makes a great holiday or birthday gift!
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The Polar Express is a Caldecott medal winning story about a young boy who is swept away on a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. When he gets to choose the first gift of the season, he picks a simple bell. The bell becomes a powerful reminder to always believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas, no matter how old you are.
The Polar Express was made into a movie starring Tom Hanks in 2004, introducing this wonderful story to a whole new audience. As with most books turned movies, I still prefer the book version. Reading it aloud is a Christmas tradition in our house and will continue to be as long as the boys will let me.
I decided to put together a fun Discovery Bottle based on The Polar Express. The boys have really gotten into discovery bottles lately, and they loved the Glow in the Dark Ocean Bottle we made earlier this summer. Discovery bottles are great to use for quiet time, allowing children to explore and discover in a contained way.
To put together a Polar Express discovery bottle, you will need:
- A copy of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
- Empty jar (a peanut butter jar works great)
- White tinsel (I used some really old tinsel that we already had, you may not find an exact match)
- Jingle Bell
- Toy Train
- Snowflake Confetti
To put your bottle together, first cut your tinsel into pieces approximately 2 inches long. This will be your "snow." The amount you need will depend on the size of your jar. Add it to the jar along with your train and bell. Sprinkle your snowflake confetti into the jar and close the lid. That's it!
After reading The Polar Express, present the bottle to your child and let them explore. They will quickly discover some of their favorite elements from the story are hidden inside!
My boys loved rolling the jar around and making the bell ring. We also incorporated some counting practice as I asked them to count the snowflakes inside.
This was a wonderful activity to go with The Polar Express. It's perfect for quiet time, as they love to sit and explore all the different things that they find inside.
This would also make a wonderful Christmas gift for young train lovers: their very own copy of The Polar Express plus a brand new engine for a train set in a fun, interactive package!
Speaking of gifts, we have an awesome giveaway this month as part of the Poppins Book Nook Monthly Virtual Book Club for Kids. This giveaway includes some of my all time favorites!
Books That Were Turned Into Movies Bundle Giveaway! Hollywood glitz and glamour means nothing without a good story. Some of the places that these block buster movies come from is straight from the pages of our favorite books. This month one lucky entrant will win the Books That Were Turned Into Movies Bundle Giveaway. The winner will receive one copy of each of these storybooks that were turned into movies: The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlotte's Web, and The Gruffalo. So pop some popcorn, jump in your comfy chair, and get ready to enjoy books that were turned into movies this month with the Poppins Book Nook!
Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the PromoSimple terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here. Just enter the PromoSimple below to win:
Be sure to visit all the wonderful Poppins Book Nook Co-hosts too!
Enchanted Homeschooling Mom - 3 Dinosaurs - ABC Creative Learning - As We Walk Along the Road - Brain Power Boy - Chestnut Grove Academy - Embracing Destiny - Every Bed of Roses - Farm Fresh Adventures - Growing in God's Grace - Kathys Cluttered Mind - My Bright Firefly - Peakle Pie - Preschool Powol Packets - Pray Species - SAHM I am - Stir The Wonder - Sunny Day Family - Sweet Silly Sara - Teach Beside Me - To the Moon and Back - Tots and Me - Tree Valley Academy - Witty Hoots