August 2, 2010

Shape Train


Our theme this week is TRAINS! Those of you with little boys would probably be happy if you never saw another toy train - let alone another episode of Thomas or Dinosaur Train - again. But I have girls and while we are drowning in princesses, trains are a rare treat.

This simple train craft is easy to make and reinforces both shapes and color recognition. Simply grab what you already have on-hand: a few sheets of construction paper, scissors, and God's gift to teachers and moms everywhere: a glue stick.


My glue-obsessed girls did a great job building their trains from three rectangles, one square, one triangle, and seven circles.


Of course, that's not the only thing A glued...


and no project of hers is complete without first being turned upside down, scribbled upon, and then torn apart.


My eldest independent-thinker used extra scraps to turn hers into a bustling train, puffing smoke as it races along.


Freight Train
by Donald Crews


Freight Train Big Book (Mulberry Big Book)This Caldecott honor book is perfect for teaching colors to train-loving toddlers. The sparse text on each page describe one of the train cars: "Green cattle car," "blue gondola car," etc. The illustrations are simple, utilizing only six basic colors and shades of black.

This is a great one to buy as a board book for babies and younger toddlers. There are also Spanish editions, for those of you who wish to introduce a new language to your little ones.

I'm linking up to:
- Show & Tell at ABC & 123
- stART @ A Mommy's Adventures

12 comments:

  1. I love shape trains; they always look great.

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  2. We do have trains coming out of our ears but I still enjoyed your post! We posted about another train themed book today...one with sharks.

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  3. Come on baby, and do the locomotion...

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  4. Bp ADORES this book. His favorite part is where the train crosses "twessels".

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  5. Hi! I love the last train picture - I agree it does look like it's bustling along. We have some train ideas at ours which you might like - including an idea for making a ride on train. http://nurturestore.co.uk/cardboard-box-ride-on-train-tutuorial

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  6. I remember loving the illustrations in this book when I was a kid.

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  7. Whata fabulous train! And a great way to learn how to draw too - i.e. simple shapes make a beautiful picture. Will have to do a "shape based" drawings with Red Ted soon, I think he will love it!

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  8. I'll admit I was happy to get through the Thomas the Tank Engine phase - but your craft still looks like fun :)

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  9. Love the shape trains...especially the speeding one =)

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  10. Another favorite title from my K teaching career and we did a very similar project. So really your child is a genius and way ahead☺

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