Trains have been a steadfast theme in preschool settings for years. Even though, many young children today will not even set foot onto a real train, there is something that remains magical and endearing for them about them. So many theme and amusement parks have the miniature train rides, and young children can be found sitting there excitedly anticipating the train engine to start up. In addition, Thomas the Tank Engine has cemented the love for trains with many toddlers and preschool children. The following article provides various ideas to include into a train theme within a preschool or daycare curriculum.Train Crafts for Preschoolers
The shape of a train transfers well to open ended craft projects, as the engine and cars require simple shapes to make them: rectangles, circles, squares and triangles. The train can be formed with paper shapes and glue, but another suggestion is to use stamps or sponges:
1) Sponge/Stamp Painting: A demonstration would work best with this painting project to illustrate to the preschool children how the shapes will create a train. The spools make wonderful wheels for a train car.
Suggested Material Required:
•Rectangle shaped sponge
•Spools, or circle shaped stamps
•Liquid Paint
•Shallow containers, such as styrofoam trays from the grocery store
•Paper
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| From Learning and Teaching Preschoolers |
2) Train Craft Using Boxes and/or Egg Cartons
Depending on the size of boxes, this craft idea can be an individual activity or a group activity. The boxes, such as shoe boxes, can be decorated with crayons, felt pens or paint. Other collage items can be made available for children to add detail, like paper squares, paper towel tubes, egg cartons, glitter and so forth. This open ended art project provides young children an opportunity to be imaginative and creative in their art process.
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| From Getting Messy with Ms. Jessi |
3) Match Shapes
Create a template of an engine with places for paper shapes to be glued
Train Songs for Preschoolers
Down by the Station is a classic preschool song about trains. Another one which can be altered to a specific location or name is Engine Number Nine and is great to sing while leading a children train, marching around the room:
Engine Engine Number Nine
Engine engine number nine
Chugging down Chicago Line
If the train goes off the track
Do you want your money back?
Maybe yes, and maybe no
Choo, choo, choo choo
Train Felt Board Activity
See the trains chugging chugging down the track
Engine in the front, caboose in the back
All the colors streaming past
This train’s going very fast!
