Balloons Over Broadway with Ozobots
Bring the magic of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to your elementary classroom with Ozobots!
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a beloved American tradition. Image the excitement on your elementary students’ faces as they experience the thrill of creating their own miniature Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in your classroom!
To create a mini Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in your classroom, you’ll need the right tools. With the help of Ozobots and the book Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet, you can bring the parade to life in your classroom. You'll need:
Material List:
Scissors
Glue or Tape
Pipe Cleaners
Binder Clips
Ozobot Robots
Crayons or Markers
Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet
Getting Started with Ozobots
Ozobots are small programmable robots that will serve as miniature parade floats for this activity. These pocket-sized robots follow lines and perform a variety of actions, making them a perfect fit for this project.
Before you begin this activity you will want to print some 3D caps for your Ozobots using a 3D printer. The caps make it easier to attach the “balloons” to the Ozobot using a pipe cleaner. You can find the file for the caps here.
If you do not have access to a 3D printer, no worries! You can attach the balloon directly to the Ozobot using a pipe cleaner.
Introducing Balloons Over Broadway
Before students create their parade balloons, first provide them with some background knowledge by introducing them to the enchanting world of puppeteer and inventor Tony Sarg.
Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet is a delightful picture book that tells the true story of Sarg, who brought the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to life with his innovative balloon designs. This book not only provides historical context but also introduces the concept of creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.
Designing Balloons With Ozobots
Now that your students are inspired by Tong Sarg’s story, it’s time to get creative! Students will design their balloons using the paper balloon template. Students can create their own balloon designs or be inspired by one of the many animal templates included in the resource.
Once all the balloons are ready, it's time for the grand classroom parade. This is where the magic happens! After designing their balloons students can use basic programming skills to code their Ozobots to follow the parade route. Students can use the included parade route and building/people cutouts. You also have the option for students to create their own buildings using non-consumable materials or recyclables. Students also have the option of drawing their own parade route using chart paper and markers.
Find all of the instructions and templates in our Ozobot Balloons Over Broadway Resource!
Looking for More Balloons Over Broadway Ideas?
Check Out Our Balloons Over Broadway Bundle
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