The Polar Express

As kids, we all enjoyed riding on a train at a carnival, a county fair, or on the Big Thunder Mountain railroad at Disney Park. Some may have experienced riding on the Polar Express located in many states around the country during the Christmas Season.

The Polar Express is a wonderful way to make lifetime family memories. Wear your favorite winter pajamas as you hop aboard a magical adventure to the North Pole. Taste some mouth-watering hot cacao loaded with marshmallows and listen to the award-winning book, “The Polar Express, written by Chris Van Allsburg. If you cannot get on one of those trains this year, you can now experience a taste of The Polar Express right in your own home. Below are some activities you and your family will truly enjoy. Make some hot chocolate, wear your pajamas and sing along while moving through the wonderful storytime experience.

The Polar Express train ride

Supplies Needed:

• 2 pool noodles per twosome,
• The Polar Express song
• The Polar Express book written by Chris Van Allsburg

Find an open space around your home or outdoors and gather your family and friends as you climb aboard the

Polar Express train. Don’t forget your ticket

Description:

1.Appoint a narrator to read the story to the group.

1. After he has read the page with a picture of the polar express train on it, ask the group to pair up and stand one behind the other. Place a pool noodle under each of their right and left arms, asking them to hold it tight. They pretend to be children riding on passenger cars on the train.

3.Before you play The Polar Express song, the group may want to practice the movements below.

Change the movements at your discretion.
I recommend every 16 counts.

• At the beginning of the song, move the arms (and noodles) alternating forward and back like a train wheel.
• bounce in place for a few beats and then jump in place (trying to start the engine)
• Move forward together while the arms alternate in a circular motion.
• Walk together backwards
• Spin around in one direction and then the other.
• Jump forward
• Lower and raise the body up and down while walking (like you’re riding on a roller coaster).

Ride the train around your house, up and down the steps, through the kitchen and living room. Who knows, other people in your family may want to join in.

Hot Chocolate

Supplies Needed:

• A plastic hot cocoa mug for each participant
• A white pom pom to place inside the cocoa mug (marshmallow)
• Hot Chocolate song by Tom Hanks

Description:
1.The narrator continues telling the story.

1. After he has read the page where the waiters are serving the hot chocolate on the train, pass a cup with a pom pom in it to each individual and ask them to hold the bottom of the cup with one hand and place the other hand on their waist pretending they are waiters and waitresses.
2. Practice the movements below before you play the song “Hot Chocolate” by Tom Hanks

Change the movements at your discretion. I recommend every 16 counts.

• Walk briskly in various directions around a large room attempting not to bump into anyone.
• The quick beating of the drums in the song indicates when the children run in place. I call it happy feet!
• Continue to change directions while holding the cup on their head.
• Hold the cup with two hands kicking their legs in front of them.
• Drum beat (Happy Feet)
• Take the cup around the waist, changing hands.
• Kick legs behind swinging arms in front.
• Repeat any of the movements above until the end of the song

Remember, try not to let the marshmallow fall out of the cup!

Continue to read the Polar Express story to the children while they’re snuggled in their pajamas drinking some homemade hot cocoa.

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This post originally appeared on our November/December 2022 Magazine