![A young girl prays during the NCCS STEAM parade.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1606834938/ncchristianorg/fseg74jea8wfoqp0nroj/NCCS_LowerSchoolSTEAMParade.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1606834938/ncchristianorg/fseg74jea8wfoqp0nroj/NCCS_LowerSchoolSTEAMParade.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1606834938/ncchristianorg/fseg74jea8wfoqp0nroj/NCCS_LowerSchoolSTEAMParade.jpg","width":594}])
North Cobb Christian School Students Create a STEAM Parade!
North Cobb Christian School held a STEAM Parade for K3 through 4th grade students on November 20, inspired by the award-winning book, Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade written by Melissa Sweet. The book shares how Macy’s Day Parade founder Tony Sarg encountered struggles yet used his problem-solving skills to create a parade that everyone still enjoys today. Students were encouraged to do the same: to harness ingenuity to create a one-of-a-kind parade experience!
Student-Led Design
Students spent weeks prior to the event innovating, brainstorming and creating unique contraptions to share during the parade. Every element of the parade -- from floats to costumes -- was student designed and created utilizing the principles of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Each grade level was given a different STEAM challenge to complete. Preschool students created animal hats and masks, and they rode in wagons that had been transformed by fourth grade students into corresponding Georgia habitats. Students in junior kindergarten decorated tricycles in a Rainbow Fish theme, with coordinating STEAM-designed helmets. Kindergarten students designed rhythm instruments and sang the Spanish Turkey Song, led by NCCS Spanish teacher Lupe Guerrero. The first grade STEAM challenge was to create individual mosaic tiles that were synthesized together to create a Thanksgiving work of art, and third graders collaborated to create oversized parade balloons, which they carried over their heads. Second grade students transformed golf carts into parade floats designed as a turkey, the Mayflower, and a sleigh carrying one of Santa’s elves -- a festive finale!
Environmental Challenge
There was also an environmental aspect to this project. The students’ challenge was to construct everything using only recycled materials.
“You should have seen the joyous gleam in their eyes as students transformed cereal boxes and Amazon packages into a real, live parade,” says Carol Coleman, technology and STEAM teacher at NCCS. “Every student could tell you the intricate thought process and innovative ideas behind their creations. It was the best use for recycling, and the end result was the most creative parade we’ve ever seen!”
The parade was held outdoors on the school’s campus, and parents wore masks and socially distanced along the parade route. Following the parade, parents and students enjoyed a pie picnic together.
STEAM Challenges in Detail
|
Grade |
Challenge |
Constraints + Integrations |
Collaboration |
|
K3 |
STEAM CHALLENGE: Students were tasked to design their assigned animal hat/mask and will ride in a matching Georgia habitat wagon pulled by 4th grade teams! |
Building time: One 30-minute class Materials: Recycled items |
Classroom Project |
|
K4 |
PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES: Lessons focused on learning roles for their Thanksgiving Program and Play! Students will carry balloons and walk in their Pilgrim and American Indian outfits. Students will present a play at 9:00 am before the parade. |
Thanksgiving Play |
Classroom Project |
|
JK5 |
STEAM CHALLENGE: Students designed decorations in a Rainbow Fish theme for their tricycles, which they will ride in the parade! They also created STEAM-designed helmets! |
Building time: Two 40-minute class times Materials: Recycled items P.E. Integration: Learning / practicing riding a tricycle during P.E. class. |
P.E. |
|
K5 |
STEAM CHALLENGE: Student STEAM challenge was to design a rhythm instrument, which they will carry in the parade while singing the Spanish Turkey Song! |
Building time: One 45 -minute class time |
Spanish & Music |
|
1st |
STEAM CHALLENGE: The 1st grade STEAM challenge was to create individual mosaic tiles that synthesize together to create a Thanksgiving work of art! |
Building time: Two 45-minute class times |
Art |
|
2nd |
STEAM CHALLENGE: As a class, students worked together to transform golf carts into parade floats, based on a given theme. Romine: Turkey Float Davis: Mayflower Float Floresta: Sleigh for Elf |
Building time: Three 45-minute class periods. Materials: Recycled items, golf cart. Technology Integrations: Teamwork, class design and planning brainstorms, and STEAM Lab sessions. |
Technology |
|
3rd |
STEAM CHALLENGE: Student teams designed Thanksgiving- themed objects to carry above their heads in a balloon-like fashion. |
Building time: Four 45-minute class periods. Technology Integrations: Teamwork, team design and planning brainstorms, and STEAM Lab sessions. |
Technology |
|
4th |
STEAM CHALLENGE: Student teams designed Georgia habitats on wagons, which will carry K3 students wearing appropriately matched animal costumes. |
Building time: Four 45-minute class periods. Technology Integrations: Teamwork, team design and planning brainstorms, and STEAM Lab sessions. |
Technology |