Here are some pics of the work in progress. This O-Scale layout uses almost every Dept 56 Seasons Bay piece and figure produced, and a few Dept NE Village pieces for additional shops. Atlas O 3-rail tack and switches. Trains Lionel O Polar Express, though ?I eventually want to ge the Lionel Albert Hall set.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
No layout, but as part of a reading project I subscribed to model railroading magazines for my students' reading.
cool. What age are your students?
That's cool. Trains in the classroom. What a great way to promote the hobby and class participation as tool for teaching points. Definitely would of been my favorite class. What do you teach?
I'm a Special Ed teacher in a public Middle School, SDC-Special Day Class. Moderate to Severe disabilities.
As a parent of a 15 yr old daughter who is autistic (moderate to severe) with developmental delay. I fully appreciate what it takes to be a special Ed teacher. Sometimes I don't think they pay you guys enough. The layout is definitely a great teaching tool with these kids.
"Suz", it was actually a student that has autism that got the idea of creating a classroom layout going in my head. One of his favorite movies is the Polar Express. We watched it, in class, each day he would come in an go straight ove to the train table, look it over and say loudly, "Polar Express!"
That doesn't surprise me. Thomas and the Polar Express go hand in hand.
Very cool. Good job
.
I am a retired Industrial Arts teacher Wood Shop for 28 years and I would bring in my Lionel Cass Shay and demonstrate to my students how the lumber harvesting was hauled out of the woods. Kidos from 6-12 grades loved it. Had a few even join TCA after graduating. Neat to do and I got to run trains for a few days. No layout because of the shop being to dusty, but for a few days the kidos and I had fun. Enjoy your kidos and they sure will remember this for their lifetime.
Carey TeaRose posted:cool. What age are your students?
7 - 12, mostly junior high
Having been in a junior high shop class and made wooden coat hangers or birdhouses, I can see how building a layout from lumber, and then the simple wiring (teaching kids not to stick their fingers in wall sockets, and otherwise use, carefully, electricity) would help prepare students for the the real world, such as making their own repairs around the home. Valuable skills even if they don't pursue the hobby.
I'd also like to add Kudos for your creativity in reaching these kids, it's teachers like you that restore my faith in our educational system. I only wish we had more like you.
When a csx training school was at collinwood yard in cle ohio i was an instructor of new hires, My classroom was four tracks an engine five freight cars assorted of course !
Carey T,
Long ago when my daughter, who is now in her 40's, attended the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, I was friends with one of the WPSD teachers, during that time. Each Christmas we would build the large U shaped 3 piece 4x8 layout for the Deaf kids, Christmas Tree & all, in one of the rooms, just off the main WPSD Cafeteria. Of Course a lot of the layout was from our home. We used lots of colorful Trains with many colored lights, allowed the kids to play with the 3 different villages, and the Deaf kids including my daughter, had a great Christmas with it, you see most of the kids actually lived in dorms on the WPSD Campus. A few of the teachers even made up Christmas Stories in American Sign Language to tell about our Western Pa area, and used the train layout to teach the stories. Unfortunately the pictures are gone now, my daughter took them to school her senior year and gave them all to her class mates, to take home as memories from their WPSD Christmas's. I do wish she would a saved just a couple for herself.
PCRR/Dave
When my grandnephew was in grade 2, I asked the teacher if she would like a visit with some trains. They were studying transportation at the time so I did a guest lesson, with the help of Don Masso.
We talked about the transition from horses to steam trains, and then to diesel locomotives.
The kids were certainly interested!
I highly recommend asking your local school if they have a place for a train visit in their curriculum!
I was a high school Industrial Arts teacher too, and would have had a layout in the shop, but I wasn't "playing with trains" at the time.
Ed
EddieM,
I agree 100%, especially to that age group of kids, when talking transportation thru the years in our country. Way to go sir, fantastic educational props!
PCRR/Dave
Hello Ms. Tearose, welcome to the forum, and thanks for your work as a teacher. I posted this last week on "Weekend Photo fun," but since you may not have seen it, will repeat it here:
A member of the administration of Eagle Academy Charter Elementary School in Washington, DC saw a National Capitol Trackers layout in the summer at Fairfax, VA. She thought it would be great for the kids if such a layout could visit the school. Of course we said "yes!" The first visit to the Wheeler Road location of the school in SE DC was in November. it was a success, and they asked if the Trackers would also bring a display to the New Jersey Avenue campus. So, we did, We set up Wednesday (2/17) and ran Thursday(2/18). I'm not sure who had the most fun: kids, teachers, or Trackers.
Here's the layout we set up.
And, some of the action.
The teachers had us take about 10 minutes of each 30 minute session to talk about RR safety and what trains do. Next year we are going to try to get some Operation Lifesaver materials to take with us. Also, I was really struck by the youngster who asked: "how do they bend the rails to make a train go on a different track?"
So, next year, we will also take along an O-gauge manual switch to show how they work.
Yes, they want us to come back every year.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I'd also like to add Kudos for your creativity in reaching these kids, it's teachers like you that restore my faith in our educational system. I only wish we had more like you.
GunrunnerJohn,
i have an MTH O-scale loco and tender that don't run. The Lionel repair guy at the local train shop won't touch it. Can I send it to you? I'd love to have this running again!
BANDOB posted:The teachers had us take about 10 minutes of each 30 minute session to talk about RR safety and what trains do. Next year we are going to try to get some Operation Lifesaver materials to take with us. Also, I was really struck by the youngster who asked: "how do they bend the rails to make a train go on a different track?"
So, next year, we will also take along an O-gauge manual switch to show how they work.
Yes, they want us to come back every year.
terrific. good job!
Carey TeaRose posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:I'd also like to add Kudos for your creativity in reaching these kids, it's teachers like you that restore my faith in our educational system. I only wish we had more like you.
GunrunnerJohn,
i have an MTH O-scale loco and tender that don't run. The Lionel repair guy at the local train shop won't touch it. Can I send it to you? I'd love to have this running again!
You can, but it would probably be cheaper to find a local MTH shop, shipping across the country two ways won't be cheap.
Not often, but I've set up a look under the Christmas Tree for the students to play with during recess. We were studying electricity at the time, so it served two purposes!
hi Carey Tearose I'm a school bus driver for special needs children, send me an email I'll work with you to help!
Alan
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
