The History of the Train

Book: Trains

By: Lynn Curlee

My recent discovery in my school's library was the book Trains by Lynn Curlee, the book, surprisingly, talks about the history of trains from it's very first days to it's role in todays society.  To be completely honest I had very low expectations for this book and put off reading it until now onl because it was almost overdue and I didn't want to waste a good reading opportunity. After reading it all I can say is that I'm so incredibly glad that I choose to read this book because I had no idea how great it would be as a history book, I really thought it was going to be heavily focused on types of train but it instead taught me so much about the history behind the train and even why travel by train is almost unheard of in the United States now a days.  

For that reason and so much more I would highly recommend this book for any classroom because it's a great way to integrate a historical book into your vast array of genres and also because it a great book for a Guided Reading session with a more advanced 5th grade group or for a 6th grade group that feels like a simpler read with the book being a large book and the vast amount of images.

Lexile Reading Score: NC1260L

Recommended grade level: 5 or 6

Teaching Suggestions: I highly recommend this for a guided reading activity in small groups.

Before the Reading

Before you introduce the reading come up with a plan of how you're going to run the Guided Reading by first identifying the parts where the children will struggle (depends on the class and group) and help them think about what they want to know as well as what they allready know about trains.  If this is the first guided reading then it can be making a list of everything they know about trains or it can be a list of what they recently learned about trains.  

During the Reading

As they are going through the reading mark points in the text where you will ask individual students what happened to determine if they understood the part and if they didn't understand it provide additional support, if they got it then give them some positive feedback and move on to the next child.  Make sure that your interventions are very brief though or it will prevent any ongoing learning from actively reading.

After the Reading

Have them discuss what they learned from the reading and to summarize what they read as well as talk about what they liked/found interesting and what they disliked/didn't find interesting.  After they've discussed the reading have them do an activity where they come up with all of the major details a train would need in order to be safe to have people ride in it.  If they've completed the book then have them talk about what there would need to be for people to safely ride a bullet train.  After discussing possible options have them research bullet trains for homework.

Great Electronic Resources

http://tunaruna.com/train/history_1800.htm

A website focused on the history of trains, very interactive and perfect for children to use to research the trains or to compare information they read in the book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl0lxIMMb9E

short video on the creation of the transcontinental railroad, perfect for children ad great for a homework assignment or for students to watch while working with another group.

Words you may need to define for the class or go over with the class:

• Depot - where people get on and off a train or where the train picks up or drops off it's cargo.
• Locomotive - The front car in a train which does the job of pulling the rest of the trains
• Commerce - the act of buying or selling especially in large amounts
• Piston - a small cylinder that moves up and down against a liquid or gas to create motion.
• Loom - a device used to make fabric by weaving yarn or thread
• Tonnage - weight in tons, especially for cargo on a train