This is a roundup of Balloons Over Broadway STEM activities and lesson ideas – both with and without technology – to use the week of Thanksgiving, the week after Thanksgiving, or anytime in November!

Judging by my social media feed the last few days, the book Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet has blown up this year *snicker* *snicker*.  Featuring beautiful illustrations and an inspiring true story, Balloons Over Broadway tells about Tony Sarg who invented the helium balloons that became the cornerstone of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York.

Get the book here at my Amazon affiliate link:

What I love about the story is the focus on Mr. Sarg as an inventor and how his passion and dedication led to his invention.  This makes it a fantastic book for classrooms incorporating STEM whether through technology projects, STEM challenges, makerspace and science experiments.

In no particular order, here are some of the engaging and STEM-centered Balloons Over Broadway lesson activities and ideas (click through for more details):

Balloons Over Broadway Activities

Inspired by the awesome book Balloon Over Broadway about Tony Sarg & the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, kindergarteners decorated balloons with favorite characters & hosted a parade with @Ozobot robots @fwparker @sarahjean96 #edtech #thanksgiving @Macys pic.twitter.com/sCgsV61AJY

— MaryCatherineColeman (@MaryCatherineC1) November 16, 2018

 

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We read the book #balloonsoverbroadway and then went on a @macys #thanksgivingdayparade #virtualfieldtrip using #ipads and #youtube 360! #futurelibrarians #elementarylibrary #appleedu

A post shared by Chrystal Burkes (@chryschool) on Nov 13, 2018 at 10:03am PST

 

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A post shared by Kami Butterfield (@teachingwithappitude) on Nov 20, 2018 at 10:01am PST

 

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@nearpodofficial has some really cool features. Today my kids took a virtual field trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and then designed our own balloons. #balloonsoverbroadway #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram

A post shared by Cortney Rosenberg (@teachertechiemostlytired) on Nov 21, 2017 at 2:48pm PST

 

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Who is using @seesawlearning?!?! 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️ I started using this amazing app late last year and I have to say I AM IN LOVE! 💗 💗! Today we read #BalloonsOverBroadway (must read for Thanksgiving!). After we finished, the students went over to #seesawlearning and created their own balloon that should be added to the #macysthanksgivingdayparade! 🦃 🎈 They also recorded themselves telling me why this balloon should be added!! If you want to know how to use #seesawlearning go over to wonderful @theprimarypartner #tptstore and get how-to guide #tptfreebie • • • • #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteachfirst #iteach #secondyearteacher #primaryteacher #primaryteaching

A post shared by Ms. Fannon (@alwayslearninginfirstgrade) on Nov 15, 2018 at 6:18pm PST

Room 20 read Balloons Over Broadway & created our own balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! 🎈 @JMDragons5 pic.twitter.com/mOzjjwfz17

— Kerry Jones (@mrskjones116) November 20, 2018

Check the finished product!! pic.twitter.com/P1vxqg2Y2p

— Mrs. Crum (@mrscrum3rd) November 20, 2018

Of course we had a practice run at The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade!!! @Macys They decided the order of the balloons too!!😊❤ pic.twitter.com/xagiM8e9vt

— Janie Hachen 🏵️ (@Hachen2nd) November 17, 2018

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Did your class do a fabulous STEM activity for Balloons Over Broadway that you think should be in this line-up?  Tag me in your social media post so I can check it out! Looking for more Thanksgiving ideas – check out my Thanksgiving activities on the iPad rundown or browse all of the Thanksgiving technology activities at www.shoperintegration.com.  Students will love the Thanksgiving Digital Magic Reveal Pixel Art, Thanksgiving Scoot, Thanksgiving Coding with ASCII Text Art and more!