Trains

Choo-Choo! Discover the incredible world of trains. Click to the video playlists to learn all about steam locomotives and railroads, or choose one of the activities from the choiceboard below. STEAMventures await!

Video Playlists

Ages 5-7

Ages 7-9

All Ages

Digital Choiceboard

Flip over the tiles to discover crafts, experiments and more! Complete the activities you are most interested in.

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Decide How to Power The Little Engine That Could

Listen to The Little Engine That Could, the famous storybook by Watty Piper.

Now build the Little Engine That Could with working wheels. How can you make your train move on its own?

Build "the magnetized train" and "the balloon-powered train" from these examples or explore your own ideas.

Find Out How Train Rails Are Made to Compete in a Station Race

Did you know that jagged rocks act as a cushion below and around train tracks? Trains are heavy! Watch how new train tracks are built in just two days in this ARTC - Watermark Rail Works Time Lapse.

Now compete in Dinosaur Train’s Station Race Game from PBS Kids. Your challenge is to build train tracks and get passengers to the next station on time. Watch out for winding rivers and quicksand!

Make a Cardboard Box Train to Become an Engineer or Conductor

Learn to sing the engineer’s song, “Down by the Station” on Epic Books as the train speeds up faster and faster.

Now Build an Awesome Cardboard Train with a cardboard box, paper plates, paint and tape. Add train cars with smaller boxes and rope if you like.

Optional:
Make a DIY engineer or conductor’s hat designed to go along with your game of pretend. Practice driving as the engineer or taking tickets as the conductor. Load your train cars with favorite toys.

Go on a Freight Train Adventure and Make a Train Track Play Mat

Watch the Freight Train Read-Aloud and enjoy the clickety-clack of the many types of railcars in the classic picture book by Daniel Crews as it rolls through town.

Use a pool noodle to paint your own Train Track Paper Play Mat. Imagine all sorts of journeys on it with your brick or craft train.

Drive a Steam Train in a Rail Rally

Test your knowledge of how a steam locomotive works by reading The Mighty Steam Engine by Yvonne Ng on Epic Books.

Then play PBS Kids’ Rail Rally and feel the pressure of driving a steam train. Don’t forget to fill up the train’s boiler at the water tower! You can even race a friend.

Make Your Own High-Speed Electric Train

Find out more about high-speed trains on Epic Books. Read the book, Amazing Trains: High Speed Trains on your own or listen as it is read aloud to you.

Now learn How to Build a Simple Electromagnetic Train that really zooms. You’ll need an adult to help you get the right materials like copper wire and special batteries.

Learn About Tunnels and Build Your Own

See How China Builds a High-Speed Railway Tunnel through solid rock.

Now Make Your Own Train Tunnel And Mountain for your brick or craft train. You could add this to your train track paper play mat.

Design a Train-Themed Snack

Get ideas about how you want to design your train by watching How Trains Have Changed Over 200 Years.

Now put your design skills to the test in fruit form! Make a tasty Fruit Train with toothpicks or popsicle sticks. Lay your building materials out and compete for the best design with your family!

Pioneer Your Own Transcontinental Railway Outside or In Your House

Read along with this animated retelling of Brian Floca’s Locomotive from Epic Books. Experience the first train trip from East to West on the Transcontinental Railway.

Now try your own Backyard Railroad Engineering project. Build your own train tracks outside with wooden blocks or tracks. What sort of fun obstacles can you make your train travel around?

Optional:
Or if it’s too cold to build outside, try making your own Train Track Skee Ball Game with the tracks. Set your ramp at the correct angle to launch the train into different buckets for points.