Parade Float

STREAM Activity: Tinker a Parade Float

Tinker Your Own Thanksgiving Day Parade Float!

Activity best for children ages four and up

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 as a celebration for the department store’s employees and their families, inspired by immigrant traditions. The parade has since become a Thanksgiving tradition for many families. It has giant balloons, floats, and music! Today, we’re going to be engineers and create our very own floats to celebrate Thanksgiving at home.

VOCABULARY

  • Engineer: a person who designs and builds different things to be creative and solve problems.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

  • What materials can you use to help keep your float sturdy and strong?

MATERIALS

  • Shoe box

  • Recycled materials (i.e. paper towel rolls, plastic fruit clamshells, etc.)

  • Construction paper/tissue paper

  • Tape

  • Glue

  • Crayons

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Gather recycled materials such as a shoe box, empty milk cartons, plastic clamshells, paper plates, etc., and markers or construction paper

Recycled materials

STEP 2

If you have it, use construction paper or tissue paper to wrap your shoe box or empty milk carton.

Don’t have paper? No problem! Skip to Step 3 to start decorating.

Cover shoe box with construction paper

STEP 3

Most floats have a different theme. What do you want to celebrate, or what do you think is fun? Do you want to showcase your family? Maybe your favorite movie or show? Use your recycled materials to decorate, celebrate, and have fun building on the top of your box!

Decorate shoe box with a fun theme