parade

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Home : 2004 : January : 21

parade
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I've done the Parade of States with my fifth graders and it is a blast! And you're right, it is a culminating activity. What I did was had each student select a state they were interested in. Then I passed out a packet
for them to collect notes on. The packet included general, economic, and cultural data. The research is put into a report and the kids are quite knowledgeable on the state. Then at the very end of the research, usually in the spring, we had a "Parade of States". The students made a float using a wagon, baby stroller, suit case, anything with wheels really and make a float of something

that their state was well known for! The students make them 3D so you can see the float from both sides. We used to invite the entire building to meet us outside at 12:00 in the parking lot so we could show them off. The parents dropped the kids off in the moring with their floats and picked them up either that day or later in the week. We then go around the block of our school where many of the students live. In the past I've had some excellent floats. For example, blow up palm trees in a wagon with orangs to represent Florida, a dummy fisherman with a fishing pole from Maine, an active volcano form Hawaii and I even had a mini Hollyoood, California! The kids even dress up too to help represent their state. I usually send this assignemnt home during the long spring break we have and it gives them a good start. Good luck!