Norwood Elementary School Launches First “Balloons Over Norwood” Thanksgiving Parade

Norwood Elementary School in the Comsewogue School District recently brought creativity and school spirit to life with its first-ever Balloons Over Norwood event, a Thanksgiving Day parade designed and created entirely by students.

“This project truly captured the spirit of learning at Norwood,” said Norwood Elementary School Principal Nichole Makarius. “Our students demonstrated incredible creativity and teamwork while applying reading, writing, and problem-solving skills in a fun and authentic way. It was wonderful to see our entire community come together to celebrate their hard work.”

Inspired by the book “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Stewart, students explored the history and design process behind parade balloons before imagining how they would create their own. Through classroom discussions, students considered the materials needed, the construction process, and the overall design of their balloons.

As part of this project-based learning (PBL) experience, students used planning pages to sketch their ideas and wrote clear, step-by-step directions explaining how their balloons would be built. The lesson emphasized creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, empowering students to turn their ideas into a shared celebration.

The culminating Balloons Over Norwood parade allowed the entire school community to enjoy the students’ imaginative work, marking a memorable and meaningful new tradition at Norwood Elementary School.

This innovative event highlighted the power of project-based learning and showcased how creativity and collaboration can bring learning beyond the classroom walls.

For more information about the Comsewogue School District, please visit the District’s website at https://www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us/. Happenings in the District can also be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComsewogueSD.