Balloons Over Broadway Stop Motion Animation Parade READ ALOUD STEM Activity

Bring literacy and engineering to life with this Balloons Over Broadway Stop-Motion Animation Thanksgiving STEM Challenge.

This hands-on Thanksgiving STEM activity pairs perfectly with the read-aloud and guides students through the Engineering Design Process while creating animated parade balloons. Aligned to NGSS and TEKS, it’s a ready-to-teach, tech-integrated lesson your students will beg to repeat.

Invite your class to design mini parade balloons and animate them floating through a city scene using the Stop Motion Studio app. Students brainstorm, plan, build, test, iterate, and share their final animations—connecting literacy, art, and engineering. Perfect for makerspaces, STEM labs, or classroom rotations around Thanksgiving.

What’s Included:

• Teacher instructions with step-by-step setup, classroom tips, and success scaffolds.
• Printable backdrops (color + B/W city skylines) for the filming stage.
• Balloon templates & accessories (animals, wings, eyes/ears/noses/tails/feet) for easy, high-impact creations.
• Student pages: challenge letter, “What is Stop Motion?” explainer, engineering design journal (Ask–Imagine–Plan), and narrative writing prompts about a runaway parade balloon.
• Optional link to Canva lesson slides for direct instruction flow.
  

Skills & Standards

• Engineering Design Process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, Improve, Share.
• NGSS: K-2-ETS1-2; 3-5-ETS1-3. TEKS Science K-5 1.G modeling & prototyping.
• Creativity, collaboration, sequencing, media literacy, and storytelling through animation.
  

Materials You’ll Need

• iPads/tablets with Stop Motion Studio installed and a stable stand/tripod (a locker shelf works in a pinch).
• Craft supplies for mini balloons (tissue paper, pom-poms, construction paper, pipe cleaners/popsicle sticks, tape, markers).
• Printed city background (included) or student-created scene; optional Balloons Over Broadway picture book.
  

How It Works (Quick Look)

1. Create: Students design and build mini parade balloons using templates and craft materials.
2. Set the Stage: Position the device over the printed city scene so the camera stays still.
3. Animate: Capture tiny movements frame-by-frame in the app for a smooth, lifelike parade.
4. Share & Reflect: Students present animations and discuss improvements.
   

Perfect For

• Grades K–5 (easy to differentiate with templates and writing pages)
• 1–2 class periods (shorter if building is prepped; longer for redesign/sharing)
• Library/media, STEM lab, or classroom centers around Thanksgiving and parade traditions.
  

Give your students a parade they’ll never forget—and a memorable fusion of literacy, engineering, and digital creativity!