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What a wonderful “Good News” presentation at the January 10 Board of Education meeting!
Third-grade students from Mohansic took to the podium and explained how they used engineering techniques, critical thinking, and creativity to construct floats for their “Balloons over Broadway” parade in November. The students were inspired after reading a book about Tony Sarg, who created the first inflatable floats for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Like Tony Sarg, the students’ creations started off as just an idea guided by an essential question: “How can I create a float or puppet to bring joy to others on Thanksgiving?”
After brainstorming ideas, the students developed a plan to build their floats. Students put their plans into action and proudly displayed their creations in a parade around the school. Afterward, the students reflected on the project and came up with ways to make their floats even better.
The “Balloons over Broadway” project also integrated the use of technology, as students used a green screen to create a virtual parade video. Literacy was also at the forefront of the project, which included lessons about cause and effect, compare and contrast, and character traits.
Dr. Hattar said he was impressed by the students’ public speaking skills. Calling it one his favorite “Good News” presentations ever, Dr. Hattar also said it was clear that the students stayed true to their guiding question about creating floats that would make people happy.
“As you walked around, you saw the smiles,” he told the third graders. “You made a lot of people up here and you made a lot of people in the audience really, really happy with the designs and work that you did.”
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