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The students of Meherrin Elementary School’s kindergarten and first-grade classes, just prior to their fall break, participated in an in-depth unit study about the story “Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade,” by Melissa Sweet. 

A school news release stated that the students enjoyed the reading of the story first, then held a group discussion of key terms, concepts and story information. 

The students were then given the opportunity to plan out the design of their own parade balloon in sketch form. Using classroom materials and balloons provided by the teachers, the students then constructed their parade balloons to share in their very own parade through the halls of the school. 

The students took what they learned home with them, and many held conversations with their own family members while they watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together on television. 

Following fall break, the students returned to school and relayed their experiences of watching the parade with their families to their classmates. 

“Excellent job exploring the love of reading, kindergarten and first grade!” school officials said in the release. “Keep up the great work!”