Long before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade steps off in New York City, a smaller but no less joyful procession winds its way through the halls of Walker Gamble Elementary School. Here, third-, fourth- and fifth-graders armed with shoeboxes, cardboard, glue and big ideas – create their own floating wonders for Balloons Over WGE, a STEAM project inspired by Balloons Over Broadway, Melissa Sweet’s picture-book biography of master puppeteer Tony Sarg.
Now in its second year, the shoebox parade has quickly become one of the school’s most beloved traditions. Part engineering challenge, part holiday celebration and completely powered by creativity.
“It was bigger this year,” said STEAM teacher Aunde Harrington, who launched the project after seeing examples online. “I’m a little sad that parents don’t get to see it, because there’s so much work that goes into it. The kids plan everything, and I stay late most nights for two weeks making sure each piece goes exactly where they want it.”
BUILDING THE PARADE
Harrington has been part of Walker Gamble for nearly two decades, but this is only her fourth year leading the STEAM lab. Students rotate through academic arts – PE, art, music, computer lab and STEAM – an hour at a time, giving her just one class period a week to guide the project.
They begin with the engineering design process: researching, sketching, budgeting supplies and mapping out their float. STEAM requires collaboration, so floats are built in small groups.
“You’d be surprised how excited they get,” Harrington said. “Some beg to come during recess or early in the morning. If they finish their work, teachers let them run to my room to keep building.”
This year’s parade featured at least 30 floats, a noticeable jump from the inaugural year.
The academic arts teachers joined the fun too. Art teacher and district arts coordinator Jessie Welch constructed an elaborate cardboard train to pull their collective float. The brightly detailed train engine quickly became a standout piece in the STEAM lab, drawing attention from students and staff as soon as it rolled in.
Harrington also built a float, though she admits she started hers last. It featured Legos, moving gears, and a 3-D printed miniature of her classroom’s printer.
“They teased me for going over the top,” she said. “But it was my idea. I had to live up to it.”
INCLUSION AT THE HEART OF THE PARADE
The parade wouldn’t be complete without Walker Gamble’s self-contained special education class, led by teacher Katherine Coker, whose students decorate hand-held balloons inspired by Sarg’s original designs. Before the shoebox parade began, Coker’s class walked the halls each fall with their own balloon creations.
When Harrington discovered they were working on similar projects, the teachers joined forces.
“It’s important to me that it never seems like this is just my project,” Harrington said. “Miss Coker’s students are a huge part of this parade.”
Coker’s students are the same athletes who competed in September’s Special Olympics Unified Bowling Games, where they and their general-education buddies brought home gold, silver and bronze medals. Inclusion, she often says, is the heartbeat of Walker Gamble and Balloons Over WGE is another way the school places every child at the center of celebration.
Between Harrington’s students and Coker’s class, plus student buddies and support staff, the hallway fills quickly. This year, teachers asked for one improvement: slow the parade down.
“They zip by,” Harrington said. “A couple of teachers told me they want more time to enjoy each float.”
One idea for next year: let Assistant Principal Benny Knowlton serve as parade commentator, just like the hosts of the Macy’s broadcast. Harrington said the idea came from her husband and she’s strongly considering it.
A LABOR OF LOVE
With students only visiting STEAM once a week, the project moves quickly from fun to frantic. After one class period of research and planning, students begin building. It doesn’t take long before Harrington realizes more time – and more hands – are needed.
The academic arts team steps in whenever they see her juggling wheels, hot glue guns or complicated designs.
“They help keep me sane,” she said. “They could look at me and tell, ‘Hey, she needs help.’”
Even with help, late nights are part of the process. Harrington jokes each year that she’s not doing the parade again but the moment the floats roll out, she changes her mind.
“Everybody loves it,” she said. “Seeing the kids so proud of their work – it makes it all worth it.”
A GROWING TRADITION
Harrington said projects like this help students think critically, revise ideas, and work as a team – skills disguised beneath layers of cardboard, paint and holiday joy. The STEAM lab hosts other annual favorites, such as the gingerbread house budgeting challenge, but Balloons Over WGE may be the one students remember most.
“It captures everything I love about STEAM,” she said. “The kids love it, and I love that they love it. This is something they’ll remember for years.”
With a few tweaks – a slower route, a parade host, maybe a bigger path through the new building – Harrington is already thinking about next year.
Just like Tony Sarg’s iconic balloons, the shoebox floats at Walker Gamble keep rising.
