Balloons Over Broadway & The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Balloons Over Broadway and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Reading Balloons Over Broadway to my students and embarking on our Virtual Field Trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade might have been one of my most FAVORITE things to teach in all of my 11 years in education!
Not only did my kiddos have a blast but thousands of students across the world have ventured on our Virtual Field Trip! This resource is my number 1 best seller on TPT. Watch the video below to learn more about our adventure!
Balloons Over Broadway is a biography written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet about Tony Sarg, the Puppeteer behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. You’ll learn all about Tony’s career as a puppeteer and owner of a magic shop as well as the history and evolution of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Let’s now walk you through our field trip:
Buckle up and head to NYC for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! This virtual field trip covers the history of the Thanksgiving Day Parade- from the Wondertown Windows to the behind the scenes of the magnificent parade that is broadcasted all over the world today!
This virtual field trip will start by giving your students some hints as to where they will be traveling. Students will make predictions. Students will access prior knowledge about New York City, Thanksgiving, and the Parade.
Your students will then hop on board a flight to JFK airport. While in flight— you can teach your students some important vocabulary and listen to a read aloud of Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet. Students will then touchdown at JFK.
Students will then see a short Welcome to NYC video, compare Macy’s Herald Square then and now, and take a look at the Wondertown Windows. Students will then have an opportunity to make their own Wondertown Windows.
Students will also explore some additional history, behind the scenes of the parade and create their very own balloon!
If you’re looking for even more Balloons Over Broadway fun.. you can check out our Balloons Over Broadway Book Companion!
I hope you have tons of fun exploring this incredible book and extension activities this Fall! If you have any questions about this resource, please do not hesitate to reach out or comment below!
