First graders engaged in some serious design thinking as they practiced the techniques used by Macy's Day Parade balloon designers to create the six-story high mammoth balloons you see floating high above the parade route on Thanksgiving day. The process begins with a pencil sketch, then an exact scale replica is made out of clay before the actual balloon construction begins. It takes a year for a balloon to progress through these stages and finally make an appearance in the big show. Our first graders began their balloon designs the same way: by creating a sketch. They used iPads to sketch out and add color to their designs. Once their design was approved, they began the next stage: creating a three-dimensional clay replica of their drawing. Once the clay models have dried, they will finish their designs with colorful paint. Activities like this allow our students to experience real-world design thinking and step through processes that produce amazing creations like Macy's Day Parade Balloons. #HowSESLearns