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Kindergarten: Lesson Two - Experience Two
Few stories are more dramatic than the true story of The Reuben Wells. This not-so-little engine made a big difference for two Indiana towns, Madison and Indianapolis. It was the most powerful locomotive of its time. It was named after the man who designed and built it, Reuben Wells. Today, this historic locomotive is on display at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. The Reuben Wells The best way to experience this historic engine is to plan a visit to the museum. The Reuben Wells sound and light show in the All Aboard! gallery plays every 30 minutes. Students can stand near the massive engine and hear the sounds a departing steam locomotive would make. They can hop on the tool car for a simulated ride or play computer games that allow them to see what it would be like to operate a steam train. They can also view an amazing collection of model trains, including some that move through miniature landscapes of the past.  The Reuben Wells: The great size of the Reuben Wells can be seen as men pose with the locomotive in Madison, Ind. This photograph was probably taken after 1886 when the engine number was changed from 35 to 635 and other modifications were made. At The Children's Museum, the Reuben Wells has been restored to its original condition. Objectives: Experience Two will enable students to:  Learn the words big and bigger and sort objects into these two categories. Apply these words to trains and other objects from everyday life.Participate in reciting a poem and identifying its characteristics.Write simple rhymes and poems.Improve their reading and writing skills as they learn the story of The Reuben Wells and its importance to Indiana.You Will Need... Materials: Book, The Little Engine That Could; poem, "How Big Is The Reuben Wells?"; Visual 11: The Reuben Wells; two boxes of different sizes.Time:Two 30-minute periodsWords: More powerful than a locomotive... Engine, locomotive, big, bigger Focus Questions: Use these questions to help students focus on the key ideas in Experience One. How big is a locomotive like The Reuben Wells?
Indiana Academic Standards: Language Arts - Standard 1: Reading (K.1.1, K.1.6, K.1.11). Mathematics - Standard 3: Algebra and Functions (K.3.1). Procedures: Day One: Read The Little Engine That Could to students again and remind them of events in the story. Ask students to identify the front cover, back cover and title page of the book.Remind students that the engine or locomotive is the car that pulls or pushes the train. Explain to students that the engine in the story was smaller than other engines so it had to work especially hard.Introduce the picture of The Reuben Wells and explain that this is a real locomotive from long ago. It was the biggest, strongest locomotive of its time.Ask students if they can guess how big it is compared to other things such as a family car, a pickup truck or a house.Read "How Big Is The Reuben Wells?" several times aloud and encourage students to respond to the "Is it bigger than...?" questions aloud together.Day Two: Read the poem to students again. Have students listen for words that sound alike, such as "car" and "star."Ask students to identify the sounds they hear at the beginning of each word.Write the words on the chalkboard and have students identify letters that are the same and letters that are different.Remind students of the words big and bigger in the poem. Write the two words on the chalkboard. Encourage students to think of things in their own environment that are big and bigger. For example, a house is big, but the school building is bigger.Show them items in the classroom and ask them to tell which item is bigger. For example: Which is bigger, a storybook or the Big Book of Trains?Assessment: Place a large box and a medium-sized box in the classroom. Give each student two classroom items, such as toys or books, of different sizes. Have students place each item in the appropriate box. Performance Criteria: Given two items of different sizes, each student will be able to tell which item is bigger and place each item in the appropriate box. Train of Thought Journal: Include the picture of The Reuben Wells in the classroom Big Book of Trains. Write the word "big" on the facing page. Ask students to contribute to the book by drawing items that are big like The Reuben Wells. Family Connection: Let families know that the class is studying things that are big, like a locomotive. Students may enjoy talking with family members about things that are big or they may want to compare items at home that are big and bigger. Encourage a family trip to The Children's Museum or another site where children can see a big locomotive. "How Big is the Reuben Wells?" The Reuben Wells is a BIG locomotive. Who can tell me just how big it is? Is it bigger than a car? Response: YES! Is it bigger than a star? Response: NO! Is it bigger than a house? Response: NO! Is it bigger than a mouse? Response: YES! Bigger than a mouse? Response: Oh yes, indeed! It's bigger than a school bus I do believe! It's the biggest locomotive I ever did see! Tips for the Teacher: In Experience Two, younger students consider the power and size of a locomotive. They also have fun with poetry and develop their word recognition and writing skills while they learn about a historic engine that really made a difference for Indiana. Older students improve their reading comprehension, analysis and writing skills while they learn about the impact of The Reuben Wells. Many students today have never seen a real train. For students to actually understand the size and power of a locomotive, firsthand experience is crucial. To help students connect trains to their own lives, plan a field trip to a train station or museum where they can experience "the real McCoy." Bonus - Extending Experiences: Have students draw pictures of Reuben Wells, the man who designed the famous engine, and add him to a classroom display of individuals who made an impact on the state or regional communities. See The Children's Museum Web site for a portrait and biography. (Social Studies 2.1.2)Research on the museum Web site the story of how The Reuben Wells came to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Write a thank-you letter to the museum and explain why it is important for the engine to be on display. (Language Arts 3.5.3)Help students turn "The Ballad of The Reuben Wells" into a song by singing it to the tune of the old folk song "Sweet Betsy from Pike."Trains with Famous Names: Most engines have numbers. Famous engines like The Reuben Wells and special trains have names. The names sometimes describe an important characteristic of a train, such as speed or elegance. Often trains are given names that relate to the routes they travel or the major cities that are their destinations. Ask students to consider the meaning of names from the past, such as "The Wabash Cannonball," "The City of New Orleans" and "The Twentieth Century." They may want to research Indiana trains and the stories behind the names or write a story of their own. (Social Studies 4.1.9, 4.1.12) |
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