The Polar Express Movie Guide | Questions | Worksheet | Google Slides (G - 2004)

The Polar Express Movie Viewing Guide (G - 2004) is a great resource for a fun, entertaining and educational Christmas activity. Challenge students to discover true spirit of Christmas and think deeply about beliefs and doubts.

Check the preview file for high resolution sample questions to see if this movie guide is suitable for your students. This resource consists of 11 high-level, short answer reflection and essay questions that will do more than just ask your students to regurgitate information. 

This product includes:

• A student movie guide, PDF print version (4 pages)
• A student movie guide, PDF digital fillable form version (4 pages)
• A Google Forms & Slides Version of the Movie Guide
• An answer key (4 pages) IS included with this movie guide, however many answers will vary as students are encouraged to construct their own meaning from the characters' dialogue and behavior.
• A generic movie guide permission slip (1 page)
• CCSS alignment indicating standards met, PDF (1 page - see also preview image)
• CCSS Note: I’ve taken the liberty of aligning certain reading standards with the act of consuming content via the movie instead. Although students aren’t reading they are asked to perform the same cognitive functions on the content that they consumed from the movie.

Google Classroom Distance Learning Tips:

1. Create an assignment using the Google Form
2. Use the screen sharing tool on your conference calling software to play the movie
3. Pause the movie at each question to give students time to write/discuss
4. Make sure students input their name, so when you open your copy of the form, you can see each student's individual response they submitted
5. Note: If you are using the movie guide for multiple classes and want to separate responses by class, create multiple copies of the google form with file names such as [Title]MovieGuideClassPeriod[2] and then create assignments for each copy of the Google Form movie guide

General Tips for Using this Movie Guide:

1. Print one, double-sided movie guide for each student
2. Preview the next question on the movie guide as you complete each one, this can help students pay attention to important upcoming events.
3. Pause at the times designated on the movie guide, encourage students to debate, discuss and talk about their ideas before writing their answers.
4. Discourage students from simply copying answers.
5. Randomly choose a student to share their answer and defend it if necessary.
6. If time allows, feel free to rewind and show important parts of the movie again for additional analysis.
7. After completing the short answers, allow 5-10 minutes for each essay question at the end of the film.
8. On average, this movie guide will require about 45-60 minutes in addition to the length of the movie.

Digital PDF Version Tips

• It is intended for a paperless, 1:1 tablet/iPad classroom
• Ask students to download a PDF editor app if they don't already have one. It needs to have a save function as well. I used Foxit PDF.
• Host the file. I used google drive to share a folder with students.
• When complete, ask students to save the file in a designated google drive folder using a naming convention. (I use LastnameFirstnameMovieGuide.pdf)

Get Free Money with TPT Credits!

• Leave Feedback for this product and earn TPT credits
• 20 Credits = $1 OFF any TPT purchase

FREE Movie Guides & Resources:

Get a feel for my work and see if this resource is right for you. I ask questions that require students to 'live' on the higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy.

• Free Onward Movie Guide (PG - 2020)
• Free Trolls World Tour Movie Guide (PG - 2020)
• Free Kung Fu Panda 3 Movie Guide (PG - 2016)
• Free The Lightning Thief Movie Guide (PG - 2010)
• Free Home Alone 2 Movie Guide (PG - 1992)
• Free! Story Elements Worksheet
• Free! Character Analysis & Comparison

Your feedback, ratings, likes and follows are appreciated:

• TpT Store - TeacherTravis
• Pinterest - TeacherTravis
• Instagram - Teachers Travis
• Facebook - K12MovieGuides
• Twitter - K12MovieGuides
• Blog & Website - K12MovieGuides

See my movie guides below, by category, or search for one at my TPT STORE

• All Movie Guides (300+)
• Elementary Movie Guides
• Middle/Jr. High School Movie Guides
• High School Movie Guides
• G-Rated Movie Guides
• Documentary Movie Guides
• Holiday-Themed Movie Guides
• Bundled Movie Guides
• Liberty's Kids Series
• Mankind the Story of All of Us Series (HistoryChannel)
• Our Planet Netflix Series