Balloons Over Broadway Stop Motion Animation
What if your students could bring their own Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade to life—right from the classroom?
With iPads and the Stop Motion Studio app, they can!
This engaging STEM and literacy activity invites students to combine creativity, storytelling, and engineering design as they create their own stop motion animation parade inspired by Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet.
What is Stop Motion Animation?
Stop motion animation is movie magic made simple. Instead of filming a continuous video, students take a series of still photos—moving their objects just a tiny bit between each picture. When the photos are played quickly, the objects appear to move on their own!
Students quickly learn that patience and precision pay off: the smaller the movements and the more photos they take, the smoother their animation becomes. The process reinforces both persistence and attention to detail—two essential STEM habits of mind.
Balloons Over Broadway Stop Motion Animation
Materials:
iPads or tablets with the Stop Motion Studio app installed
A city background (use the printable skyline or have students create their own)
Mini balloon-making supplies: tissue paper, pom poms, construction paper, tape, pipe cleaners or popsicle sticks, markers
Tripods or stands (or repurpose locker shelves to keep iPads steady)
Optional: the book Balloons Over Broadway for inspiration
Instructions:
Set up the scene: Place the city backdrop on a flat surface and position the iPad securely so it won’t move.
Open the Stop Motion Studio app: Tap the “+” to start a new project.
Start filming:
Place your first balloon at the start of the parade route.
Tap the red camera button to take a picture.
Move the balloon slightly forward and take another photo.
Repeat until your balloon has floated across the city.
Preview and adjust: Encourage students to review their animation. Remind them—the smaller the movements, the smoother the animation!
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