The Lion S Share

Balloons Over Broadway

By Melissa Sweet

Grade Levels:

All Ages

Synopsis:

Balloons Over Broadway is the true story of Tony Sarg, a puppeteer who created balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in 1928.

Author Website:

http://melissasweet.net/

Curricular Connections:

·  Further biographical research

http://www.tcpuppet.org/NewFiles/Sarg.html

·  Primary Sources (see lesson ideas)

·  Art – creating puppets that move

Lesson Ideas:

·  This Activity Kit has activities for different grade levels. With this kit you can create paddle puppets, stick puppets, finger puppets, or create your own balloon!

http://www.hmhbooks.com/kids/resources/BalloonsOverBroadway_ActivityKit.pdf

·  (Grades 4-5) Use Balloons Over Broadway as a way to explore primary sources (photographs or videos).

o  Search “Vintage Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade” in Google Images to download photographs of the parade or use the links below to investigate videos of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

§  Links to vintage Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoeZafIgzF0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSZdEpm8frE

http://social.macys.com/parade2010/#/history

o  Access the Library of Congress Website for primary source analysis tools (and teacher’s guide) that students may use to gain prior knowledge of the subject or to expand their knowledge of the Macy’s parade:

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/guides.html

Suggested Companion Titles:

·  Milly and the Macy’s Parade by Shana Corey

·  Puppets by Wendy Sadler