CHARLESTON — Fourth-graders at Charleston Elementary School turned a classroom reading project into a schoolwide Robot Parade, combining coding, design, and literature in an innovative celebration.
The event, inspired by the book “Balloons Over Broadway” about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, featured student-designed floats showcasing Red Clover Book Award nominees.
“Our students continue to amaze me with their innovation and dedication,” said Desirae Breault, Technology Integration Instructional Coach for North Country Supervisory Union. “This parade exemplifies the power of collaboration and how we can blend technology and literacy to create meaningful learning experiences.”
Fourth-grade students coded the parade route for Cue Bots, while fifth-graders designed floats using Glowforge technology. Second-graders contributed moving puppets, and third and fifth-grade students performed music under the direction of Leonel Viera.
The parade was part of the school’s Year of the Book initiative, supported by a $25,000 grant from the Children’s Literacy Foundation. Library Media Specialist Teresa Bolton and Breault coordinated the project, which incorporated mathematics, design, and problem-solving skills.
