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WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN
How the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 and how it has changed over 100 years
How giant balloons float, including helium, buoyancy, tether lines, balloon handlers and wind
What happens on Inflation Eve, the night before the parade
Who makes the parade happen, from float sculptors and balloon designers to costume designers, carpenters, performers and the Rockettes
The real parade route through Manhattan, from the American Museum of Natural History to Macy’s Herald Square
Map skills: finding New York City, comparing it to their own town, and following a route
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade LINKtivity® with 5 interactive sections:
A Parade Through Time: a clickable 100-year timeline and a Then & Now Balloon Gallery where students vote for their favorites
Up, Up & Away!: hotspots on a giant superhero balloon explain the science of floating, then students pump helium to inflate a balloon themselves
Behind the Scenes: students click the people on the slide to meet six parade jobs, with built-in videos from the Macy’s Parade Studio
A Journey Through NYC: students march a turkey along an animated map of the parade route, unlocking six famous stops
Let’s Have a Parade!: flip cards introduce the parade’s performers, then students build their own parade and watch it march down the street to parade music
Teacher guide with a ready-to-go lesson plan that starts with a map activity to find New York City
Student recording sheet in a digital (Google Slides) version and a printable black-and-white version
Design-a-float template for an extension activity
HOW TO USE THIS LINKtivity
Whole class: project it and explore together during your Thanksgiving lessons
Holiday centers: set it up at a computer or tablet station
Independent work: students explore at their own pace with headphones
Fast finishers: a meaningful, engaging option for early finishers
Morning work: a fun way to start the day during Thanksgiving week
Social studies and map skills: pair it with your geography or “then and now” lessons
Sub plans: easy to leave for a substitute, with no prep needed
Day before break: keep students learning while the excitement builds
WHY TEACHERS WILL LOVE IT
No prep: share the link and students are ready to go
Read-aloud audio on every heading, fact card and direction supports early and struggling readers
Self-paced: students choose any section, and a navigation bar on every slide makes it easy to move around
A complete lesson: the lesson plan, recording sheet and extension activity are all included
Two formats: the student sheet comes in a digital and a printable version
Social studies standards: history (then and now) and geography (maps and location) are woven right in
Videos built in: students never leave the lesson to watch them
WHY STUDENTS WILL LOVE IT
They get to pump helium into a giant balloon and watch it grow
They march a turkey through New York City and unlock each stop along the way
They see real parade workers in action in behind-the-scenes videos
They flip cards to meet clowns, marching bands, Santa and more
They build their own parade by picking balloons, floats and performers, then watch it march by with music
They vote for their favorite balloons in the Then & Now gallery
Everything is clickable, colorful and full of surprises!
Bring the magic of Thanksgiving morning into your classroom with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade LINKtivity®!
THERE’S A WHOLE LOT MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!
Did you know that for about the same price as a single LINKtivity, you can get access to our ENTIRE library of LINKtivities in an all-inclusive subscription option?
INTRODUCING: LINKtivity Learning – your all-access pass to endless engagement. Inside the LINKtivity Learning subscription library, you’ll have instant access to each and every LINKtivity we create PLUS immediate access to all future LINKtivites. We add new LINKtivities each month and our members get them ALL!
