Login

Join

Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for Train to Somewhere

The cover for Train to Somewhere Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources

Download

Preview

Buy the book

Watch a Read-Aloud

Use Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting to strengthen your students' comprehension skills, build their vocabulary, and help them understand how words work.

This is the story of an orphan named Marianne who is riding an orphan train west from New York City at the turn of the 20th century. Marianne's mother left her at an orphanage to find a better home, and despite her promises, she hasn't returned for Marianne. Marianne longs for her mom and a new family at every stop the train makes, but she finds neither. Then, she arrives in a town named Somewhere. Use Train to Somewhere with more sophisticated readers who need practice applying strategies like making inferences, identifying author messages, and determining importance to fully comprehend text.

Print resources

Preview

Buy the book

Watch a Read-Aloud

Explore lesson plans and activities to help you teach with Train to Somewhere in the drop down below.

The first page of Asking Questions with A Bad Case of Stripes

Determining Importance with Train to Somewhere

With several characters and plot details, Train to Somewhere will challenge students to focus on the central character and to determine what information and events are most important to the text as a whole.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

RL.4.1,RL.4.2,RL.4.3,RL.4.4,RL.4.10,RF.4.3,RF.4.4,SL.4.1c,SL.4.1d,SL.4.2,W.4.8,L.4.6,W.4.9

TEKS Alignment

4.7C,4.13H,4.13E,4.13C,4.10A,4.8C,4.7G,4.7F,4.7E,4.7D,4.1A,4.7B,4.7A,4.6I,4.6H,4.6G,4.6E,4.6B,4.6A,4.1C

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Identifying the Author's Purpose with Train to Somewhere

The meaningful message in Train to Somewhere is very clear. As a result, this book is ideal for readers who need practice identifying the author's purpose. Readers will be able to focus on identifying evidence throughout the text that supports the broader message.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

RL.4.2,RL.4.3,RL.4.6,RL.4.10,RF.4.3,RF.4.4,SL.4.1c,SL.4.1d,SL.4.2,W.4.8,L.4.6,W.4.9

TEKS Alignment

4.7D,4.13H,4.13E,4.13C,4.10C,4.10A,4.8A,4.7G,4.7F,4.7E,4.1A,4.7C,4.7B,4.7A,4.6I,4.6E,4.6B,4.6A,4.1C

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Making Inferences with Train to Somewhere

This book and lesson plan work well to support readers who need additional practice making inferences to improve reading comprehension. Readers will have to connect to prior knowledge and their own experiences and observations to understand what it might have been like to be on an orphan train without a family.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

RL.4.1,RL.4.3,RL.4.4,RL.4.10,RF.4.3,RF.4.4,SL.4.1c,SL.4.1d,SL.4.2,W.4.8,L.4.6,W.4.9

TEKS Alignment

4.7C,4.13H,4.13E,4.13C,4.8B,4.8A,4.7G,4.7F,4.7E,4.7D,4.1A,4.7B,4.7A,4.6I,4.6F,4.6E,4.6B,4.6A,4.1C

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Synthesizing with Train to Somewhere

Train to Somewhere is an effective anchor text for advanced readers who need work synthesizing. In this lesson, students will work to recognize the different comprehension strategies they're using to understand the main character's perspective throughout the story.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

RL.4.1,RL.4.2,RL.4.3,RL.4.4,RL.4.5,RL.4.6,RL.4.7,RL.4.10,RF.4.3,RF.4.4,SL.4.1c,SL.4.1d,SL.4.2,W.4.8,L.4.6,W.4.9

TEKS Alignment

4.7D,4.13H,4.13E,4.13C,4.8C,4.8B,4.8A,4.7G,4.7F,4.7E,4.1A,4.7C,4.7B,4.7A,4.6I,4.6H,4.6E,4.6B,4.6A,4.1C

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Vowels with Train to Somewhere

This word work lesson plan and set of teaching resources use Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting as a springboard for instruction focused on vowels.

By anchoring word study to the text, students will benefit from seeing how r-controlled vowels are used inside of the text before engaging in both guided and independent practice with vowels.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

RF.4.3,RF.4.4

TEKS Alignment

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Vocabulary Connections with Train to Somewhere

This set of vocabulary development resources for Train to Somewhere highlights the words that are most important for students to know and understand while reading the book. Through engaging in fun word games, matching words to definitions and pictures, and practicing how to categorize words, students will develop the vocabulary necessary to comprehend this story and many others.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

L.4.4a,L.4.5c,L.4.6

TEKS Alignment

4.7E,4.7F,4.3A,4.3B

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Comprehension Assessment with Train to Somewhere

Use this Common Core aligned comprehension assessment to evaluate students' comprehension of Train to Somewhere.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Running Record with Train to Somewhere

Use this Running Record to assess oral reading fluency with Train to Somewhere. Track meaning, structure, and visual accuracy using the first 100 words of the text to determine whether or not this book is a good fit for the readers in your classroom.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Writing with Train to Somewhere

The BookPagez extension activities are a great way to push student engagement beyond the pages of the text. Try using this activity with early finishers, with students who show a deeper connection with the text, or as a center activity.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

Print

Preview PDF

Preview Digital

Print

Determining Importance with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Student Practice Page and Answer Key
Reader's Notebook Prompt
Graphic Organizer

Print

Identifying the Author's Purpose with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Student Practice Page and Answer Key
Reader's Notebook Prompt
Graphic Organizer

Print

Making Inferences with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Student Practice Page and Answer Key
Reader's Notebook Prompt
Graphic Organizer

Print

Synthesizing with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Student Practice Page and Answer Key
Reader's Notebook Prompt
Graphic Organizer

Print

Writing with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Worksheet

Print

Get Full Access to the Entire Library of Resources when You Join Today!

You don’t need another curriculum—you need smart, supportive tools that build on the stories already in your classroom. BookPagez delivers research-aligned lessons, assessments, and digital tools to make your read-alouds, centers, and guided work more meaningful, more efficient, and more fun.

Teach with the favorite children’s books already on your shelf

Receive new, research-based materials every week

Tap into Digital Classroom for centers, assignments, and monitoring

Reclaim your evenings—planning is streamlined & ready to go

Stay organized with your personal file cabinet + dashboard

JOIN NOW!

30 Day Risk-Free Guarantee, Cancel Anytime

About the Book

The cover for the book Train to Somewhere

Title: Train to Somewhere

Author: Eve Bunting

Genre: Historical Fiction

Themes: History, Adventure, Family

ISBN: 9780395713259

Publisher's Summary:

Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting is a moving picture book set during the historical era of the Orphan Trains, which transported children from crowded cities to new families in the American Midwest between the mid-1850s and late 1920s. The story centers on Marianne, a young girl traveling westward with fourteen other orphans, all hoping to be chosen by waiting families at each stop. Marianne's journey is unique—she clings to the hope that her own mother, who left her in an orphanage with a promise to return, will be there to claim her at one of the stations. As the train stops town after town, children are selected by local families, but Marianne remains unchosen, growing more anxious and uncertain with each passing stop. The narrative explores Marianne's longing, resilience, and the emotional complexity of waiting for a family while facing feelings of abandonment and hope. The book's gentle illustrations and sensitive storytelling invite students to consider themes of belonging, loss, and endurance, making it an excellent resource for discussions on history, empathy, and family. Train to Somewhere is particularly valuable in the classroom for its ability to connect students to a significant, but often overlooked, chapter of American history while highlighting universal emotions and the search for acceptance.

Content and Downloadable content Copyright ©2010-2025 Thinking Tree Enterprises, LLC. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referenced on this site are the property of their respective owners. Please see our Terms of Use.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for Train to Somewhere

Explore lesson plans and activities to help you teach with Train to Somewhere in the drop down below.

Determining Importance with Train to Somewhere

Identifying the Author's Purpose with Train to Somewhere

Making Inferences with Train to Somewhere

Synthesizing with Train to Somewhere

Vowels with Train to Somewhere

Vocabulary Connections with Train to Somewhere

Comprehension Assessment with Train to Somewhere

Running Record with Train to Somewhere

Writing with Train to Somewhere

Determining Importance with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Identifying the Author's Purpose with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Making Inferences with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Synthesizing with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Writing with Train to Somewhere (Spanish)

Get Full Access to the Entire Library of Resources when You Join Today!

About the Book

Reset

Resource Downloading disabled

Oops! It looks Like You're Getting Carried Away.

Get instant access to this resource plus thousands more when you join today.