I read an article in the local paper several months ago about a unique project in a special education class. In the class the teacher really focused on using the students' interests to bring daily lessons to life, and it just so happened that one of the teacher's students was in love with trains. So it became the teacher's quest to bring trains into the classroom.
It's all well and good to read books and watch videos about trains, but sometimes you need something a little more hands-on. So naturally, the best way to bring trains into a classroom is to install a model train display.
Of course, model trains can be expensive, so they had relied on members of model railroading clubs and other benefactors to provide donations, and of course, they were more than happy to support the love of a young hobbyist when it was such a good cause. But once they had the basics, they didn't need a lot of money to round out their display. With creativity and ingenuity, they were soon building their own villages and scenery for the trains, developing important math and reading skills along the way.
While it started with just one student wanting to learn more about trains, soon everyone was enthralled by the subject. They were having so much fun, they never realized they were learning at the same time. The student who originally brought his love of trains to the class blossomed in this new environment because he suddenly became the subject expert on this newly important topic. His increased confidence and newfound love of school was even more valuable than any specific school skills he may have gained.
At the time of the article, the students were trying to raise money to pay for a bus to take them to Crossroads Village, a local park that focuses on colonial life but, more importantly, offers train rides on the Huckleberry Railroad. While model trains are entertaining and educational, sometimes your love for the vehicles makes you want something life-sized.
As a former educator, I was inspired by the article because of the way the teacher used something like model trains to engage her students in learning. Hearing about the appeal of the model trains to these students also made me think back on the few times I've seen a model train set. I've always been interested in miniatures, and these trains were miniatures at their best. I know that it's never too late to start a model train hobby. Maybe someday I'll have to indulge in the iconic image of the train around the Christmas tree.
Whether you're a parent or a teacher, consider adding a model train to your educational repertoire. Students will delight in the tiny world that they can create. Along the way, they can learn about ratios, proportions, measurement, economics, the science of trains, and almost any other topic you can relate to the models. Working with such small pieces requires fine motor skills, and student develop patience when creating tiny accents for their trains involves painstaking work.
It's all well and good to read books and watch videos about trains, but sometimes you need something a little more hands-on. So naturally, the best way to bring trains into a classroom is to install a model train display.
Of course, model trains can be expensive, so they had relied on members of model railroading clubs and other benefactors to provide donations, and of course, they were more than happy to support the love of a young hobbyist when it was such a good cause. But once they had the basics, they didn't need a lot of money to round out their display. With creativity and ingenuity, they were soon building their own villages and scenery for the trains, developing important math and reading skills along the way.
While it started with just one student wanting to learn more about trains, soon everyone was enthralled by the subject. They were having so much fun, they never realized they were learning at the same time. The student who originally brought his love of trains to the class blossomed in this new environment because he suddenly became the subject expert on this newly important topic. His increased confidence and newfound love of school was even more valuable than any specific school skills he may have gained.
At the time of the article, the students were trying to raise money to pay for a bus to take them to Crossroads Village, a local park that focuses on colonial life but, more importantly, offers train rides on the Huckleberry Railroad. While model trains are entertaining and educational, sometimes your love for the vehicles makes you want something life-sized.
As a former educator, I was inspired by the article because of the way the teacher used something like model trains to engage her students in learning. Hearing about the appeal of the model trains to these students also made me think back on the few times I've seen a model train set. I've always been interested in miniatures, and these trains were miniatures at their best. I know that it's never too late to start a model train hobby. Maybe someday I'll have to indulge in the iconic image of the train around the Christmas tree.
Whether you're a parent or a teacher, consider adding a model train to your educational repertoire. Students will delight in the tiny world that they can create. Along the way, they can learn about ratios, proportions, measurement, economics, the science of trains, and almost any other topic you can relate to the models. Working with such small pieces requires fine motor skills, and student develop patience when creating tiny accents for their trains involves painstaking work.
Few things say Christmastime like an electric model train set chugging its way slowly down a track that meanders around a Christmas tree and between the brightly wrapped gifts. Children of all ages enjoy the steady hum of the engine, the movement along the track, and the cars that follow faithfully along, usually trailed by a cheerful red caboose. A wonderful addition to a Christmas model train set is to add a Christmas village to adorn the train track. A Christmas village will bring to mind simpler times, days of old, and will add to the Christmas experience for the entire family. Following are some ideas about setting up a Christmas village for your model train set.
1. Be creative with your track design. Some train sets offer only an oval or round track option, but if possible, purchase more track so you can make a larger overall set up. The track should go around the tree, but it shouldn't be right under the tree; leave room for gifts and of course, the village. If you like, have it go under a chair and around the piano bench. If possible, it can travel all around the room.
2. Village buildings and accessories can be made of a variety of different things. Beautiful ceramic buildings complete with lights and even gardens are a lovely way to build your village. These may include a general store, a hotel, a church, a few small homes, and of course, a barn with a Nativity scene. Use cotton balls or fleece to spread snow throughout your Christmas village; after all, what is Christmastime without fluffy snow? Tiny Christmas trees, decorations and lights can be scattered throughout the town.
3. If there are small children in your home and you are concerned about breakables, you need not limit yourself to ceramic village buildings. Have the children join in the building of the village with Lego or Lincoln Log constructions. Houses made of toothpicks and popsicle sticks are also a fun addition to the town. Any type of building will do. The children may even want to paint the houses green and red, and add cotton balls all around for snow. The idea is to have fun and bring out the Christmas spirit.
4. For an extra-special Christmas train, carefully string tiny Christmas lights all along the edge of the train track. Make sure the train will not roll over any lights. This is an especially nice touch in the evenings when all the lights are off and the only light is from the tree, the village and the track.
5. If your model train is large enough or has open cars, decorate the cars with small wrapped gifts and sachets full of potpourri. The gifts will give the appearance of a Christmas train full of bustling travelers taking gifts to a variety of destinations. The potpourri will give off a Christmassy scent as the train travels around the track.
Enjoy your Christmas model train set up; you will find that it brings out the child in everyone, especially you!
1. Be creative with your track design. Some train sets offer only an oval or round track option, but if possible, purchase more track so you can make a larger overall set up. The track should go around the tree, but it shouldn't be right under the tree; leave room for gifts and of course, the village. If you like, have it go under a chair and around the piano bench. If possible, it can travel all around the room.
2. Village buildings and accessories can be made of a variety of different things. Beautiful ceramic buildings complete with lights and even gardens are a lovely way to build your village. These may include a general store, a hotel, a church, a few small homes, and of course, a barn with a Nativity scene. Use cotton balls or fleece to spread snow throughout your Christmas village; after all, what is Christmastime without fluffy snow? Tiny Christmas trees, decorations and lights can be scattered throughout the town.
3. If there are small children in your home and you are concerned about breakables, you need not limit yourself to ceramic village buildings. Have the children join in the building of the village with Lego or Lincoln Log constructions. Houses made of toothpicks and popsicle sticks are also a fun addition to the town. Any type of building will do. The children may even want to paint the houses green and red, and add cotton balls all around for snow. The idea is to have fun and bring out the Christmas spirit.
4. For an extra-special Christmas train, carefully string tiny Christmas lights all along the edge of the train track. Make sure the train will not roll over any lights. This is an especially nice touch in the evenings when all the lights are off and the only light is from the tree, the village and the track.
5. If your model train is large enough or has open cars, decorate the cars with small wrapped gifts and sachets full of potpourri. The gifts will give the appearance of a Christmas train full of bustling travelers taking gifts to a variety of destinations. The potpourri will give off a Christmassy scent as the train travels around the track.
Enjoy your Christmas model train set up; you will find that it brings out the child in everyone, especially you!
