They didn’t take a ride to the North Pole, but first-graders at Blanche Sims Elementary School had their own ‘Polar Express? experience on Dec. 7, as they traveled to Great Lakes Crossing to see the popular holiday film.
‘We went to get on the bus and our principal Eric Whitney was all dressed up like a train conductor and our secretary Tina Zach was his helper,? said first-grader teacher Lynn Burrell. ‘Diana Stewart, who is one of the moms, helped us get this all ready.?
Burrell explained that every year, all the first-grade classes in the Lake Orion School District do a unit using the book ‘The Polar Express,? which is a Caldecott medal winner.
‘We use it for different activities with math and reading…all of our curriculum,? Burrell said. ‘With the movie coming out this year, we thought it would be fun to do something with that.?
So after hearing the story and going to see the movie, the students came back to Blanche Sims for their own Polar Express-themed party. Christina Curell, mom of first-grader Brandon Curell, even created a special Polar Express cake, including a train of cupcakes, for the kids.
‘They are having cocoa and cake, because that is the big deal in the ‘Polar Express,? they have cocoa on the train,? Burrell said.
Other activities included a Polar Express puzzle, holiday-themed clay creations, a conductor game played like ‘Simon Says? and Santa bingo.