Balloons Over Broadway Learning Station | A Thanksgiving Read-Aloud Activity
Balloons Over Broadway Learning Station | A Thanksgiving Read-Aloud Activity
Balloons Over Broadway Learning Station Activity | Literacy • STEM • Art • Parade-Themed Centers
Bring the magic of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade into your classroom with this multi-station activity inspired by Balloons Over Broadway! This packet includes core station materials, studio-style optional stations, and bonus math and creativity activities, all designed to help students engage with the story through literacy, design, engineering, vocabulary, and math.
Perfect for grades 1–5, this flexible resource allows teachers to choose only the stations they want or set up a complete classroom rotation experience. Everything is print-and-go for instant use.
WHAT'S INCLUDEDCORE MATERIALS
✔️ Full-size station signs
✔️ Small & large station number labels (color)
✔️ Packet cover page
SAMPLE OF OPTIONAL LEARNING STATIONS
- Puppet Engineering Department
Hands-on activities inspired by Tony Sarg’s early engineering work with marionettes. Students explore movement, design, and invention.
- Vocabulary Station: Parade Words
A literacy-focused vocabulary center featuring key parade and story terms.
- Art + Design Studio: Create a Character
Students use real parade balloon inspirations and character cards to design their own balloon character.
- Window Display Designer Studio
A creative design challenge inspired by Macy’s iconic holiday windows. Includes templates for a complete display.
- Parade Route Math Station (with Extras!)
Parade-themed problem-solving + bonus files:
- Color the Crowd: Macy’s Parade Math
- Thanksgiving Day Planning Math Packet
PERFECT FOR
- Learning centers
- Reading and STEM rotations
- Thanksgiving week activities
- Makerspace and creativity blocks
- Small-group or early finisher enrichment
- A Balloons Over Broadway story companion
This resource blends literacy, STEM, art, vocabulary, and holiday math into one exciting, cross-curricular experience!
A read-aloud copy of Balloons Over Broadway is recommended but not included, a link is provided within.
If you use this resource, please leave a review — it helps other teachers find it and lets me know what to create next. Thank you for supporting independent educators!
© The Bewitched Teacher. For single-classroom use. Please purchase additional licenses for sharing with colleagues.