
{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.}
Each UNIT STUDY includes suggestions of books to READ, ideas to WRITE, crafts to CREATE, more to EXPLORE, snacks to ENJOY and other ways to LEARN about a specific topic!
This is part of a series, THE 12 DAYS OF WINTER UNIT STUDIES. For a thorough explanation of UNIT STUDIES {what they are and what they include} check out THE 12 DAYS OF WINTER UNIT STUDIES. You’ll also find a schedule of when each new UNIT PACK will go live!
Day Twelve: STEAM TRAINS
The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg is a classic Christmas book {even though it’s relatively young in the literature world} and was always one I read with my students when I taught in the classroom. I know that STEAM TRAINS are not a “winter-themed” topic but there is just something about this STEAM TRAIN going on this particular journey that just whispers “winter” to me.
READ: Like I said above, The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg is a classic. If you don’t have it in your Christmas library, you should really consider getting it. And if you have only ever seen the movie, you DEFINITELY need to read the book. Though a Christmas classic in it’s own right, the animation in the movie has some sort of odd feel to it….something the book doesn’t have. So, definitely check out the book. And, if you do, be sure to use the pages found in the FREE mini BOOK COMPANION PACK!
WRITE: Freight Train by Donald Crews is a sweet little book that lends itself perfectly to this writing activity. Whether you read the book or not, your little ones are sure to love this activity which you can find in the FREE WINTER-THEMED WRITING ACTIVITY PACK.
CREATE: This POPSICLE STICK TRAIN CRAFT uses just popsicle sticks, white glue, red/green paint {optional} and various embellishments. You can also make TRAIN TRACKS with the same supplies! This EGG CARTON TRAIN CRAFT is more involved than just popsicle sticks and glue but you can actually work on ways to make it move!
EXPLORE: Trains by Amy Shields- National Geographic Kids is a great little easy reader all about TRAINS. It is written at a basic level but is filled with factual information that leaves the reader with quite a bit of knowledge about TRAINS. And you can use the applicable pages in the FREE NON-FICTION mini BOOK COMPANION PACK to check on that new-found knowledge!
ENJOY: This GRAHAM CRACKER TRAIN SNACK is super easy to make with graham crackers, nilla wafers, cheerios and some candy. Or here is A DIFFERENT VERSION that uses graham crackers, mini Oreos, mini marshmallows and a few M&Ms.
LEARN: There are a couple of great STEAM TRAIN documentaries to consider:
Great American Steam {3 minutes}
A Story of Steam {15 minutes}
And Then There Was One {90 minutes}
READ MORE: Below is a good mix of both fiction and non-fiction books about STEAM TRAINS.
Check out the entire series,
12 Days of Winter Unit Studies!
READ~WRITE~CREATE~EXPLORE~ENJOY~LEARN!
I hope this EVERGREEN TREES UNIT STUDY gave you at least a few ideas about how to weave in some education this holiday season!
Be sure to check out the other UNIT STUDIES as they go live. You can find the full schedule, along with the rest of the Homeschooling Fun Through the Holidays Series, HERE!

Much appreciation goes out to my good friend, Jamie Spear! She helped me find these fun books, crafts, snacks and more! Without her, these UNIT STUDIES would have nothing but “read this, print that, and write something!” You can find her on FaceBook, Instagram and Pinterest.