Fun That Flies Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will learn the sequence of how a Macy’s parade balloon is made.

 

Social Studies Focus:

holidays

 

Science Focus:

engineering

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, sequencing, writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

helium, sculptor, sketch

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.3, RI.2.4, RI.2.10, L.2.1

 

Guided Reading Level:

K

 

Lexile level: 

520L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on Macy’s parade balloons.

 

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “Making Macy’s Parade Balloons.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • How are the parade balloons different from birthday balloons?

 

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are helium, sculptor, and sketch.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Have children ever seen balloons this big?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about the steps it takes to make the Snoopy balloon.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

The “Thankful Search and Find” game is not only fun but it also builds vocabulary as it reminds students of what they can be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here's how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words helium, sculptor, and sketch.

Editor’s Pick: Writing (15 min.)

  • The Design a Balloon skill sheet lets children draw and write about their own parade balloon!

ELA Focus: Sequencing (15 min.)

  • The From Paper to Parade skill sheet is a cut-and-paste activity that has students put the steps of creating a parade balloon in order.

 Here is a past issue you can use to extend your lesson on Thanksgiving traditions::

  • “I Am Thankful!” November/December 2020. This issue teaches one of the most important aspects of Thanksgiving— gratitude!

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 610L
  • Lower Lexile level: 470L