Name Train Craft

Here is a fantastic craft that could be used during a transportation, train, shapes, colors, or letters preschool theme. It involves little to no preparation ahead of time, and can be done with very basic craft materials that you almost certainly have on hand.

I first saw this craft here, but thought it would be too much trouble. I didn't want to hunt down or have to buy sentence strips to use for a background. I didn't want to go to the hardware store to get paint chips. I didn't have a fancy cutter to make the engine or wheels. But then my preschooler caught a glimpse of it up on the computer screen and she begged to do it. So we improvised, and we were able to do it just fine without all those fancy supplies. She ended up doing so much more great 'preschool' work by having to make many of the components herself.

This craft covers so many great preschool skills! Your child will get to cut, tape, glue, write, count, and order. You'll also be discussing shapes, colors, and letters. You could even work on a color pattern if you wanted!

You'll need:
plain white paper
construction paper
scissors
tape
glue
markers

Step 1: Make your background. Cut 2 or 3 sheets of plain white paper lengthwise (hot-dog style) of have your child do this. Tape them together end to end to make one long strip.

Step 2: Cut your train cars. Again, you can do the cutting, or have your child do it. You could draw them on the paper first or have your child first cut strips , then cut the the strips into smaller rectangles. Work together to help your child cut the number of letters in his or her name, then make sure you have enough train cars.

Step 3: Add the letters of your child's name to the train cars. You can write them, your child can write them, you stamp them, you can use stickers.

Step 4: Have your child glue the letters (in order) to the background strip.

Step 5: Add wheels. You'll probably need to do the cutting for this step. Cut enough small round circles from black construction paper to have 2 for each train car, plus 2 for the engine. Your child could help you count how many you need and how many you have. Have your child glue the wheels to the train cars.

Step 6: Add an engine. Trace and cut a simple engine shape out of black construction paper. It doesn't need to look great. Have your child glue the engine to the front of the train.

Step 7: Connect the train cars. Have your child use a black marker to draw a simple line connecting the cars.