Annual CES Thanksgiving Balloon Parade STEAMs its way through the halls

On Friday morning, second- and fifth-grade students at Chester Elementary School delighted their classmates by staging the annual Chester Elementary School Balloon Parade, a CES tradition inspired by another beloved seasonal tradition: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! And, as students learn every year, there’s a lot of learning that comes with the fun of staging the yearly march through the halls; the parade is the culmination of classroom learning that combines everything STEAM!
 

The annual Chester Elementary School Balloon Parade stems from second-grade classroom readings of the award-winning children's book Balloons Over Broadway, by Melissa Sweet. The book combines literacy, art, history, and engineering, intertwining innovation and creativity to retell the life of Tony Sarg. Mr. Sarg was the puppeteer who created the giant balloons that have been a hallmark of the Thanksgiving Parade in New York City since their debut in 1927. The students read and discussed the book, its main character, his ingenuity, and the lasting impact of his vision and creations on popular culture.
 

In the school's makerspace—an area filled with tools and materials designed to inspire experimentation and problem-solving—students worked with CES STEAM and robotics teacher Jennifer Rende to channel their inspiration and creativity into colorful inventions. Using rubber balloons, wooden dowels, and various art supplies, the students followed Ms. Rende’s guidance. She encouraged them to think like engineers, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving and collaboration throughout the engineering design process. The students tested different designs to see which would best hold their balloons aloft as they were carried through the school. And, of course, they modelled their balloons after popular characters.
 

Adding to the excitement this year, fifth-grade students participated in the festivities for the first time! Ms. Rende – who also served as this year’s Parade Marshal – worked with them to code robots that rolled along in the procession. It was a fun way to integrate technology into the lesson and the celebration. Their addition showcased Chester’s commitment to teaching students engineering and programming skills from the earliest stages of their academic careers. The students who were lined up outside their classrooms to watch the parade go by were notably surprised by and excited to see this year’s new feature.  
 

For another year, the Chester Elementary School Balloon Parade was more than just a school-wide community-building moment; it was an opportunity for Chester students to proudly display their talents, knowledge, and hard work. There were smiles and cheering, and both Thanksgiving and Hambo spirit commingled in the air with the colorful balloon creations. Altogether, the lesson-turned-celebration continues to be a yearly reminder of the power of knowledge and imagination and the importance of community. The parade has become a cherished CES tradition that shows how learning can be as “uplifting” as a parade, while underscoring the entire district’s commitment to innovative learning that connects subject areas.

 

Watch the 2025 Chester Elementary School Thanksgiving Balloon Parade