Thanksgiving Parade
A KES Tradition that Combines Research, Creativity, History and Technology
KES fifth graders presented American History in approximately 30 thematic floats to a delighted audience of parents and students right before the Thanksgiving break.
The parade celebrated highlights of American history, spanning English colonist John Smith and the Mayflower to gymnastics great Simone Biles, and Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to go to space.
The wonderful KES tradition combines research, history, art and, new this year, technology.
While students holding handmade floats followed the parade route across the stage, their companion Keynote presentation was projected onto the big screen, sharing compelling highlights of their topic.
The Titanic, 1912
Women's Right to Vote, 1920
A project which required students to think deeply about their topic
“The procession was the culmination of a research project which required students to think deeply about the topic of their choice,” said fifth grade teacher Geneve Patterson, giving thanks for the assistance of Librarian Jeanne Hand.
“The students had so much fun working in the studio with Tenesha Mezzo and creating the voice-overs,” said teacher Lynn Garofolo, referring to the school’s technology assistant.
“I loved how each Keynote presentation was different,” said Staff Developer Melissa Brady, who was in the audience. “Some started with a fun fact, while others shared information chronologically. It was great!”
Thank you, teachers Julie Burns, Lynn Garofolo, Sue Hirsch and Geneve Patterson, and teaching assistant Laura Hansen.
