Glenmore Elementary Third Grade Students Combine Critical Thinking and Creativity in Thanksgiving Literacy Project

Glenmore Elementary Third Grade Students Combine Critical Thinking and Creativity in Thanksgiving Literacy Project

Annually in preparation for Thanksgiving, Glenmore Elementary third grade students participate in a two week literacy centered project focused around the book “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet, a story about Tony Sarg, the puppeteer of the Macy’s Day Parade. By the week before Thanksgiving break, the third grade hall is filled with over 80 parade floats handmade by the students and designed reflecting on their favorite books.

“I am so proud of the work our third grade students and teachers did in class and at home with their families to prepare our hallway with a beautiful parade of balloons and floats,” said Glenmore Principal Teri Gould. “Our Glenmore students are excited to watch the Macy’s Day Parade this Thanksgiving to connect their new learning with the live performance on Broadway in New York City.  This project truly reflects all the ways our students are smart.”

Utilizing the SAISD Learner Profile attributes of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, the students read “Balloons Over Broadway” and analyze the problems Tony Sarg faced while creating his floats and determine a solution to those problems in order to build their very own float. Each student also writes a descriptive essay following the prompt “what would it be like to be a float in the Macy’s Day Parade” or “explain the point of view of a person in the crowd at the Macy’s Day Parade”. Using estimating knowledge learned in their math classes, students then began their creative process of planning and building their float. Float designs featured many different popular books ranging from Pete the Cat to Diary of a Wimpy Kid to Harry Potter. 

San Angelo ISD is proud of our students for using their individual smartness to be creative, problem solve, and think critically to design and build. To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD, please visit the SAISD website at www.saisd.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.