1. The Little Engine That Could By Watty Piper http://www.imagineitresources.com

2. fine dining car We ate dinner in the train’s fine dining car. fine – very nice dining car - A room on a train where meals are served and eaten.

3. riddles Two boys tried to solve riddles during recess. riddle a question or problem that is hard to solve

4. yards The train was switched to a new track at the train. yards The train was switched to a new track at the train yards. yards – a place for railroad cars

5. Trains What do you know about trains? What are different parts of a train? Where do trains go? How do trains help people?

6. Genre – fiction Focus questions – read to find out… Will the Little Blue Engine get over the mountain? What did you learn from the Little Blue Engine?

7. Read pages 42-45 What does the little train carry? What kind of toy animals does the train carry? Use the picture clues and what you know about clowns to answer – Why does the clown look funny?

8. Read pages 46-49 Besides toys, what else does the little train carry? What does the train do after it tries to start up again? Why do you think the train came to a stop?

9. Read pages 50 - 53 Who tries to help the little train move? Why do you think the animals and dolls wanted to be helpful? What do the dolls and toys want the Shiny New Engine to do?

10. read ages 54-57 How do the dolls and toys feel when the Shiny New Engine refuses to help? What do you think the people riding on the shiny new train like about this train? What does the clown do to stop the Big Strong Engine?

11. That’s all folks!

12. Review Where was the Little Engine going? What was he hauling on his train? Who wanted his cargo? What happened to the Little Engine? Why wouldn’t the Shiny New Engine help the little train over the mountain? What do you think the second engine will do?

13. Read p. 58-61 Why won’t the Big Strong Engine help? What does the Big Strong Engine carry? Why is this engine the same as the first engine? Why does the clown call out “Look! Look!”? How does the Little Blue Engine ask its question?

14. Read p. 62-65 Name some things you learned about the Little Blue Engine. Why does the Little Blue Engine feel that she might not be able to help the little train? What does she finally decide to do?

15. Read p. 66-69 Why do you think the Little Blue Engine keeps repeating ‘I think I can”. How fast does the train move at first? How do you think the Little Blue Engine is feeling as it tries to go up the mountain? What does the Little Blue Engine do when she reaches the top of the mountain? How do you think she feels?

16. Why do you think this story fits well with the Unit I Think I can? Remember Be determined – don’t give up Phils. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

17. Now it’s your turn to write. Write a story. Choose one of the following… Write four or five sentences –Someday I think I can _________________. –Write a story about something that you were determined to learn to do. –Make up a story about a toy that tried to do something but had to get help.