Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Free Coloring Crown
Is there anything better than watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in your pajamas with a warm cup of coffee? It is one of my favorite cozy Thanksgiving traditions, and every November I love bringing that same magic into my third grade classroom. My favorite way to do it is with the book Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet.
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Why I Love Balloons Over Broadway
This book tells the true story of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer who dreamed up the giant character balloons that float through the streets of New York City every Thanksgiving morning. My students are always amazed that someone actually had to invent the parade balloons, and they love learning that he thought of them as upside down puppets.
It is a perfect read aloud for talking about creativity, problem solving, and sticking with a big idea. Before reading, try showing a short clip of the parade so students can see the crowds of people lining the streets and just how huge those balloons really are. It gets them so excited for the story!
Looking for more read alouds? Check out my favorite picture books for social emotional learning.
Grab Your Free Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Coloring Crown
I created a free printable PDF crown to go along with the story, and it is one of those simple seasonal activities that kids get so excited about.
Here are two ways you can use it in your classroom:
Color and wear it after the story. Think of it as a Thanksgiving coloring page your students can wear! This is perfect for those busy days right before break when you want something meaningful but easy.
Use it as part of a balloon parade. Have students come up with their own balloon idea for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, build a balloon for a school parade, and wear their crowns as they march through the halls.
Our Classroom Balloon Workshop
This is where the real fun happens in my room. After we read, my third graders imagine that Macy’s is holding a contest to find a brand new balloon. Each student comes up with an original balloon idea and then either writes a persuasive letter or creates a poster explaining why their balloon deserves a spot in the parade.
Then we hold a balloon workshop! Parents come in and help their child bring their design to life. Seeing the room full of families building, laughing, and creating together is one of my favorite days of the whole school year.
Resources to Make It Easy
If you want to try this project with your own class, I have two options ready to go.
The Balloons Over Broadway Persuasive Writing Craft Activity walks students through planning their balloon and writing a persuasive letter. It includes a balloon idea checklist, a strong language chart, a graphic organizer, sample writing, final copy paper, and bulletin board letters.
The Balloons Over Broadway Writing Craft Template Project uses the same balloon contest idea, but students create a persuasive poster instead of a letter. It is a great fit if you want a shorter writing piece or a way to differentiate.
Both resources include directions for turning student designs into real balloons for your own parade.
Want to see how we run our balloon contest, family workshop, and parade? Check out my post, Balloons Over Broadway Thanksgiving Parade Activities!
I hope these free resources help you bring a little parade magic into your classroom this November. Happy parade season, friends!