Craft projects engage preschoolers after reading "The Polar Express." Incorporate a train ride theme by letting the kids decorate their own train tickets. Another option is to hand out train outlines that the kids decorate with stickers, crayons, glitter, construction paper and other craft supplies. Mixing together shaving cream and white school glue creates a material similar to puffy paint. Stir in a packet of hot chocolate mix to add the look and smell of cocoa. The kids use the homemade paint to make their own designs.
"The Polar Express" works well with activities in the dramatic play center. A cardboard box train lets the kids pretend they are taking a trip on the Polar Express. To get the kids involved, let them paint and decorate the outside of large cardboard boxes to make them look like train cars. Kid-sized chairs placed inside the boxes create the train seats. Props, such as train tickets and a train conductor's hat, make the dramatic play project more interesting. Reenacting the story with the props and train setting is another way for preschoolers to connect to the book.
Hot chocolate is a natural connection to "The Polar Express" because the characters drink the beverage on the train. A hot chocolate bar allows the kids to stir up their own drinks with extras, such as crushed peppermint or whipped topping. You can also work on measurements by giving specifications on how much hot chocolate mix goes into the cup. If graham crackers are on the preschool snack menu, the kids can make their own edible trains on plates. Break the graham crackers into individual rectangles. For the train's engine, place one graham cracker horizontally and another vertically behind it. Rectangles placed horizontally behind the engine make up the rest of the train cars. Peanut butter, cream cheese or frosting connects the train cars, and can be used to create smoke from the train's smoke stack. Round crackers work well as the wheels.
This Christmas story lends itself to various educational activities ideal for the preschool level. To connect the hot chocolate element to math, have the kids sort a handful of holiday marshmallows into groups based on color or shape. A letter to Santa emphasizes literacy and writing skills. Let the children write the letter the way they think it should be written with a translation below by you. Another option is to have the kids draw pictures for their letter instead of writing words. You can make your own math game by drawing train tracks on a piece of poster board. Kids roll dice to move around the train tracks by counting the number of squares.