RPC Photo / Bob Gaetjens Makayla Goodrich is in rapt attention during the movie "The Polar Express," which students at Wait Primary School watched last week.

Streetsboro -- The "Polar Express" provided holiday fun and reading lessons for students at Wait Primary School last week.

Both kindergarten and first-grade students read the book, but, according to teachers, the first-graders spent a little more time with the book by Chris Van Allsburg last week.

"It's a nice way to culminate the holiday season and work on some reading comprehension," said Wait Principal Jon Natko.

Natko said students focused on comprehension by comparing events in the book to their personal experience and things they've read before.

Rita Terzano, a reading recovery teacher, said students will compare the book and the movie, identifying similarities and differences.

David Beahn, a first-grade teacher, said reading comprehension and comparative work is part of the state curriculum, which teachers always try to follow.

"It's a treat, but we don't just show the movie," he said. "There needs to be an educational purpose."