Fourth-grade students focus on the history of New York in their social studies class so what better way to introduce the concept of informational and persuasive writing than by using the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a landmark event in New York.

Students were given a note catcher and access to two digital stories: “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet and “Milly and the Macy’s Parade” by Shana Corey. Their task was to watch the digital stories and gather as much information as they could for a two-paragraph essay they would write about the history of the parade and the changes it has gone through over the years.

When the students completed their informational essay, they researched the balloons for the 2018 parade. The class talked about why these balloons were chosen and then came up with their own ideas for balloons for the 2019 parade. The class worked with Mrs. Butler in art class to help design and draw their own balloons.

The students then wrote persuasive letters to the Macy’s parade committee, making the case for their balloons to be in the 2019 parade.

This mini-unit ended with a PBE balloon parade – its second annual – with each student’s drawing attached to a balloon on a stick for all to see.