Balloons Over Broadway

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Monica Morris

Balloons Over Broadway

4th grade STEAM ACTIVITY  

Big Idea: History and Diversity inspire people to create and celebrate cultures.
Essential Question(s): How can you design a toy/character that moves?
Materials Needed: various sizes of cardboard, craft sticks, string/yarn, scissors, markers/crayons - optional other craft supplies
Lesson objective(s): Students will design a toy relevant in current time that could eventually be replicated into a  Balloon for the historical Macy’s Parade.
ENGAGEMENT
  • DEFINE - Marionettes - a puppet worked from above by strings attached to its limbs
  • SHARE the book BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY by Melissa Sweet
  • Show the video -(You Tube Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ATpFjaGROY
  • The teacher will refer back to the book, Tony Sarg and marionettes.
  • The teacher will assign students the task designing a toy/character and creating it out of cardboard and craft supplies.  The toy should show movement with string.
EXPLORATION
  • Students will design a current toy/character on paper.
  • Students should design the current toy/character to show 3-5 movements.
  • Students create a rough design with the use of cardboard and other craft supplies
  • Students share the reason they choose that toy/character.
  • Students will demonstrate the movements of their toy/character as a marionette.
EXPLANATION
  • Understanding Vocabulary
Marionettes / Tony Sarg/ Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
  • Why did you choose that design?
  • What problems were encountered while designing the toy/character to move?
ELABORATION
  • Understanding how each movement represents a meaning
  • Ask students how many movements can be made individually and together.
  • Students can explain each movement that was created
  • Students can use technology (an Ipad) to make a video of their project.
  • Several student projects can be combined and students can write a short play(script)
  • Students can present the play to a small audience
  • Students can  transfer their creation to a digital format and use coding to make the characters move.
  • Students can research other cultures and create a puppet reflective of that culture.
EVALUATION
  • Inquiry will be embedded throughout the lesson as well as at the end of the lesson to demonstrate learning and to answer the essential questions.
  • Rubrics within the lesson and teacher conferencing.
  • Summative evaluation will be an electronic student journal showing designs of sketch and actual movements that correlated with the design.


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